Description
Waggonette omnibus circa 1877 with box seat, suggesting coachman driven. McNaught & Smith was formed in circa 1865, Mr Thomas Lamb Smith was partner for a short time. They had premsises at No. 45 Park Lane, Piccadilly, London. The McNaught name was reveared, acquired a world-wide reputation for building coaches & state chariots.
This vehicle is numbered 3572 on the heel board and various parts of the collinge axle.
We acquired this useful vehicle in 2005 from Bill Palmer's retirement sale near Hull. We have used it for winter & summer Weddings, wet & dry picnic days out.It also has an accompanying board to take a coffin.
We commissioned the well respected Phillip Holder from the Wellington Carriage company to carry out some refurbishment. This Included the very important revamping of all the wheels and fitting rubber tyres to make it much quieter for the occupants when the head was on, as it originally had iron tyres. Most of the undercarriage and associated metal work was sandblasted, painted black and red with coachlining. On return we had it reupholstered with green melton coth, during which we revealed on the boarding the name of the original trimmer, in pencil with the date 1877.
Other worthy notes:- The position of 4 brass spacers to stop the head scuffing paintwork on the wagonette body which would be deemed unsightly in the victorian era. The hand brake must be well before it's time
We were told that this vehicle was used during the First World War for the transportation of wounded soldiers to hospitals at Hull. Its next life was an icecream van in that area, this was confirmed when it was revamped, with sure signs of gordy, yellowing / gold paint.
14.2 - 15.2
Sold with :- Pole, shafts, swingle trees, 7.6' x marine ply, oak vaneered & edged coffin platform.
