Serial No. 25429
Brewster & Co.
New York
April 1906
Type:
In the Brewster records, this carriage is described as a “three-
spring turn-under rumble basket phaeton” and it was sold on April
17, 1906, to E.B. Smith, The Bourse, Philadelphia. The body was painted
black with no striping and the basket work (rattan cane) was stained
green. The carriage part (undercarriage) was painted primrose yellow
with medium broad black striping. It was trimmed with green broadcloth
and a plain carpet. Linoleum was fitted on the floor of the groom’s
seat. Such a carriage was designed for driving by a lady in summertime,
always accompanied by a groom.
Provenance:
The phaeton was given to Mr. Seabrook in 1954 by John Story Smith and
Edward Brinton Smith of Philadelphia, two of the sons of Edward Brinton
Smith, the original owner. It was not possible to completely clean off
green paint that had been applied to the canework during the Second
World War; consequently, it was repainted in dark green in 1968.
Builder:
This is a fine example of the great range of high-class carriages made
by Brewster & Co. for more than half a century. We are fortunate
that some of their order books still survive in which details of original
orders are recorded.
|
