2009 Show Special - British Driving Society

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British Driving Society Swiss Ingenuity Impresses Carriage Foundation The landscape offers a clue to the adaptability of the Swiss. Anyone who lives in such vertical neighbourhoods must develop a greater sense of three dimensional space than most of humanity. The carriage collections viewed on the Foundation’s April visit bore witness to the ingenuity required to cope with mountain and valley. Braking systems are frequently doubled up, traces attach to swingletrees by rope connectors for greater flexibility, teams of five are more prevalent in some areas than four and even the mail coach may be narrowed to a meter wide with the passenger cabin facing sideways to cope with mountain pathways. With a round trip of more than 3,000 miles this is the furthest flung venture so far for the Foundation. The main body set out from Darley Dale at a horrendously early dark hour to reach Dover by 9.30 am. It was here that your less than intrepid reporter joined after exercising his senile railcard for a civilised daytime run followed by a decent evening meal, a luxurious night’s sleep and a slap up British breakfast to set him up for the ferry and the long haul through the Verdun battlefield to Metz. It is an unintended benefit of these expeditions that the route to the collections frequently takes us through areas and cities which the normal tourist might not see. Although Metz crops up frequently in history as the seat of powerful bishops and the location of medieval summits it is not a destination city. Nevertheless it proved to be full of interesting Germanic architecture and to boast some most acceptable restaurants. Monday brought another long haul, noticing Swiss Customs only because we stopped there to enable a mysterious exchange of packages with the Niederbergers’ car – Susan sourcing fabrics for her restoration work? Beat and Susan were to be our indispensible guides and hosts in Switzerland. Their work brings them into contact with most of the main collectors in Europe and here on their home territory they had lined up access to private collections rarely displayed – as one collector put it “because all they (the public) want to know is the price of everything...” With an introduction from Susan and Beat and our genuine interest and knowledge such reservations were soon set aside and we found all our collector BDS PROFICIENCY EXAM DAY – October 27th 2009 Red House Stables, Darley Dale, Derbyshire. DE4 2ER. Tel 01629 733583 BDS News | page 6 hosts happy to share their pleasure in and knowledge of their vehicles and accoutrements. Having skirted Basel and crossed most of Switzerland we arrived at Amriswil and the collection of Herrn Robert Sallmann, a major figure in the Swiss carriage world. His collection ranged from family vehicles such as an American style buggy, a picnic wagon and sleds to a landau expanded to act as an omnibus for the Interlaken Hotel. Here we were introduced to the Swiss post coaches in their distinctive black, yellow and red livery, each with its own registered number. Unlike the British post system which ran with road coaches of a single basic style, the Swiss utilised whatever vehicle might be most suitable for its particular task and route. So they came in all shapes and sizes but a common theme was essential simplicity of construction to enable repairs by local blacksmiths. The larger vehicles would be hauled by hefty Frieburger horses. The harness would be of the typical Swiss type with pointed wooden hames and traces connected to swingletrees by rope adjusters. Splinter bars were, and are, used only as supports from which swingletrees hang on broad, sturdy leather straps. The national postal system was established in 1848 and many of the post coaches continued in use well into the twentieth century. The livery has carried forward to the current motorised fleet. In the room for family style vehicles we noted the utilisation of work vehicles for family use on Sundays with convenient convertibles. A style which became most familiar was that of the small wagonette or dog cart with the rear seats so configured that they fold to create a small compartment to keep the shopping or sale goods protected from the weather. In the basement we found special purpose vehicles, some of which caused some head scratching before we ascertained their uses. The fire engine, ambulance and hearse were easy but the variety of muck and slurry spreaders was less familiar and the leather apron attachment for the bowser to spread water to the land was novel to all. The wooden snow plough was massive and required a six horse team. Also in the basement we found an ancient Sicilian two wheeler highly decorated in the bright south Mediterranean style. Tuesday morning found us in Appenzell at the collection of Herrn Daniel Fuchs with a discerning selection of vehicles for all levels of society but it was the higher echelons who drew the interest with Colin Henderson called upon to explain how the gradations of European aristocracy are imparted through their family crests so often displayed on carriage doors. It is, apparently, all about balls. The more you have the higher you rank. Once you are really up the hierarchy you modestly show only half your balls. And there are some lowly characters with no balls at all. The Appenzell region is what we all imagine Switzerland to be. Green hillsides dotted at all altitudes with decorated wood built farmhouses, cows with substantial and musical bells, massive snow capped rocky mountains providing the backdrop. The village is beautiful and tantalised as it offered what was to turn out to be the only shopping opportunity of the trip – but the Swiss adhere to the view that lunchtime is for lunch so all shops close. The afternoon produced another disappointment (rather to your trepid reporter’s secret relief) as the clouds surrounded the peak of Säntis rendering an ascent by cable car pointless – the televised picture of the view from the top showed 360 degree grey. The silver lining lay in a return to St Gallen just in time for Susan to lead a small group of the still active on a brisk walk to the Abbey of St Gall and the Baroque Library Hall. Set now in the tranquillity of an United Nations World Heritage Site this Library had its origins in the solitary cell founded by the Irish monk Gallus in 612 and developed under St Otmar into a Benedictine Abbey after 719. It went on to become one of the major centres of learning protecting the knowledge of the ancient world through medieval vicissitudes and even now is a scientific lending library open to the studious public. The Hall itself is an artefact of great beauty in the early baroque style with a patterned inlaid wooden floor, elaborate columns and decorated ceiling. The tomes lining the walls are redolent with names familiar to students of medieval scholarship. The exhibition in the displays was of the curriculum of the school setting out the seven liberal arts – a curriculum which stood for centuries. A brief pause for contemplation in the vast Abbey Church – another example of the best of baroque while it retained classical restraint – ended this peaceful interlude. Colin Henderson shared his memories of coaches he has known that evening demonstrating his depth of knowledge and almost total recall of vehicles, horses, whips and even passengers. Herrn Ivo Huber’s collection of mainly Swiss vehicles, gathered together on a hillside location drawing the bus onto tracks unknown to sat-nav, is the result of a horse lover acquiring carriages to suit his horses then finding himself becoming sentimentally attached to the vehicles for the memories they hold. For us it was an opportunity to compare the styles of several Swiss coachbuilders with examples from Kaufmann of Basel, Geissberger of Zurich and Heimberger of Basel. There were also locally built wagonettes put together by blacksmiths or, in at least one case, by a saddler. From similarities in the metalwork your reporter surmised that there was a thriving mail order industry in carriage parts in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some modern country vehicles offered comparisons and demonstrated the adaptions suitable for the Swiss environment with strong braking and provision for sheltering goods. On to Einsieldeln for lunch but unfortunately no time to visit what may be the oldest working stud in the world at Einsiedeln Abbey. We are here to view Herrn Zachi Kalin well presented group of vehicles representing many styles with a strong emphasis on Swiss builders. A classic comparison was a set of three landaus, one from Kaufmann of Zurich, one from Hohener of St Gollen and the last from Binder Frères of Paris. With carriages from New York, Brussels, Newhaven, Connecticut, London and Paris it was possible to see the influences travelling among builders. There was particular interest in a “Coupe” or Bow-fronted Brougham built in Riga for Tsar Nicolas II. Zachi also fosters current craftsmanship by commissioning scale models of examples from his collection. Thursday was a special day as we were guests of Sattlerie Niederberger. Many of us have come to know and cherish Susan who has accompanied us on our forays for some years always enlightening us with her profound knowledge of the fabrics used in old vehicles and igniting us with her enthusiasm to know more and to find sources for such fabrics for her restoration work. Now we were in her lair to see how it was all brought together to weave the magical revivications of carriage interiors and hammer cloths. Susan demonstrated the re-upholstery of a vintage Thorn car with traditional button back leather. Wherever possible the original fabrics are recycled but if new is needed it is sourced from the most authentic resources. As for the horsehair, Susan emphasised that the best comes from a blonde, preferably live, horse. Beat demonstrated the rolling of the straw into a collar and explained some of the mechanics of building a saddle. Meantime the young ladies of the Sattlerie worked patiently sewing leather and textiles as if the invasion wasn’t happening.
continued ➢ The Niederbergers have their own small collection of vehicles and work sporadically on them. This is an occupation where time is far less important than accuracy and authenticity and a project may lie for months until Susan and Beat are satisfied that they have the best solution. This perfectionism pays off when the major collectors seek restoration work. Lunch was a fun buffet in the Sattlerie garden with the atmosphere enhanced by the triumphant return of one of the Niederberger sons having just passed his driving (car) test. He received an ovation which also expressed our gratitude to Susan and Beat for their hospitality both here in their home and workshop and throughout Switzerland. On to Bern where, by coincidence the Equestrian Centre was holding a “Drivers’ Challenge” event so the horses vied with the Carriage Museum for our attention. There was no Achenbach (“English Coaching Style”) here. It was all two handed action leaving your reporter somewhat baffled at how reins could be shortened in a hurry. The Centre began as cavalry barracks and the Carriage Museum is under the capable charge of Herrn Herman Most who started here as stable lad forty years ago. This is a very tidy display of private carriages, many donated by former cavalry and artillery officers so they had been maintained to high standards. One coupe in particular stood out for its excellent condition, especially the interior which is a reference for fabric specialists such as Susan. It had been donated by a cavalry officer in 1950. Cavalry General Clavel who had been instrumental in developing the Bern museum was also responsible for setting up the Carriage Museum at Bruglingen in the grounds of his country house. Here we found the narrowed post coach. Among many interesting vehicles your reporter was taken by a very good example of a basket weave vis-a-vis with a canopy. We had seen several of these but this was in the best condition and evoked Impressionist picnics of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. The Museum is set within botanic gardens and many members found relief from museum pounding in a leisurely stroll by the stream to the orangerie. Lunch at the very, deservedly, popular ZumSchützenhaus, a former shooting lodge now sadly surrounded by Basel suburbia, then on to a tour of the premises of Settelen, a firm of furniture removers and warehousemen. In 1907 these were built to accommodate 120 French cold blood heavy horses and 85 grooms. They are still in use, converted for motorised use, but showing how they were operated in the heyday of horse haulage. Only one room was heated and that was to keep the muscles supple on horses who had completed one journey and were awaiting the next. On again to M. Trapp’s collection just over the border in France. A Wendover Coach with original interior and original but unusual boot boxes – the drawer for wine glasses at the Introduction to Showing a Success Mr. Stuart Johnstone Over a period of three months starting in March, we had introduction to showing sessions, and what fun we had learning how to show an exercise and pleasure turnout, the first one we even had a fashion show on what and what not to wear, and we all tried on some super hats. Our judge, Caroline Douglas explained about harness and all the accessories, should we have lamps, what about the whip, holly or not? The list was endless. The second one in April we were lucky enough to have a fine evening and I was the guinea pig to show a turnout completely all wrongly put together to be picked to pieces by the future competitors. In May on a bright Saturday afternoon, four brave people brought their turnouts prior to attending the Cadnam driving show in June. Many thanks to the Cadnam show committee for allowing us to have the special class for those that have attended the Lowhill sessions, culminating in Mr Stuart Johnson being presented with the Grayswood Carriage Driving Centre shield. Congratulations to him and all the other competitors. Stuart was heard to say after the class it was nerve racking, and didn’t get much sleep the night before, worrying if he had remembered to put everything in the lorry. At tea on the last day someone suggested we next had an introduction to pairs, and hopefully, at the end of the session, a have a go at pair driving, so watch your newsletter if interested, sure it will be an entertaining afternoon Very many thanks to Caroline and should we do it again next year, would anybody be interested? Roger Page AC bottom, not the top – much expert chin stroking. An omnibus with unusual round ended side windows built in Newcastle-upon-Tyne by Atkinson & Philipson in the late 19th century for Lord Lonsdale in original condition and in need of a careful clean-up. A very knowledgeable collection, described by the lady of the house (his daughter- inlaw) as an obsession, spreading through many sheds but not the last to which the ladies shepherded us which turned out to be a cod Mexican estancia where we found sparkling wine and delicious cake, both savoury and sweet. Saturday morning and in a suburb of attractive timbered houses we find the farm of Jacque Butz with yet another intriguing collection where the un-catalogued and unorganised accoutrements to carriage driving created an atmosphere of discovery – Kevin delighting in his find of a World War II horse gas mask in perfect condition. The coach horn with a mouthpiece too large for Caroline to blow. We learned that the Butzes regard Geissberger as the most authentic Swiss coachbuilder. We inferred that others such as Kaufmann were regarded as compilers of foreign kits rather than as original builders in their own right. But there was no prejudice against the genuine foreign article for here was a splendid Tandem by Guiet of Paris – best described by M. Trapp who arrived just as your reporter was gazing at it “Superbe, Ha?” Also attracting all was a gentleman’s road coach built in the late nineteenth century by Joseph Cockshot & Co of Manchester. We had seen several British Driving Society coaches which the experts had considered “interesting” but this was described as “the coach which has everything it should have and it’s all there”. It also had electric lighting and a flushing loo and wash-hand basin, with the added original refinement of an indoor snib so that one might complete one’s ablutions in the assurance of privacy. The roof chest was complete and the opportunity was taken to open it up to demonstrate its use as a rooftop table. There can be no better way to go to the races. This was a very enjoyable collection to complete our tour. There was the added attraction of the Confisserie 50 yards down the road. It was good to learn that Herrn Butz’s son had decided to continue as a lawyer for three days a week to fund the remaining days devoted to the collection. Then we crossed the Continent for a stopover at Reims – no time for the cathedral and no we can’t even drive round it in the morning as the area is pedestrianised. FOOTNOTE This was the most ambitious venture to date by the Foundation. We covered over 3,150 miles Sunday to Sunday. We visited 10 establishments. We saw an amazing array of carriages and kit. We were doing 12 hour stints. We had swollen ankles and cramping calf muscles... Yes we’ll be back for more next year when we hope to visit north Germany, but maybe we’ll allow ourselves the odd moment to, literally, get our feet up? A Mighty Fine Victory for HorseHage and David Boyd The record books were again re written at this year’s Royal Ulster Show. For the first time ever a four year old hackney harness pony won the Supreme Championship. On this his second ever show, David Boyd’s new American bred Champion Hackney Pony, Heartland Mighty Fine, stepped to glory in what the show commentator described as one of the finest performances by a hackney pony ever seen at any Royal Ulster Show. Bred in Iowa by Darren and Sandy Kolkman, Heartland Mighty Fine simply blew away the opposition to give David Boyd his 9th Supreme Royal Ulster title in eleven years. David Boyd hit the record books by being one of only a few trainers in the illustrious history of the Royal Ulster Show to win the Supreme Hackney Championship with four different animals. Firstly, he won it with the mare Forwood Tara Maiden, then on five occasions the pony stallion Sunbeam Venture took the colours. The exotically named Pot Pourri Farm Comin Thru took the title for two years and now the four year old stallion Heartland Mighty Fine has added another Supreme Championship to David Boyd’s Chestnut Hill Stables. For Champion Trainer, David Boyd there is simply nothing that comes near to the thrill of winning the Supreme Championship at the Royal Ulster Show. The Co. Down man tells us “Many trainers strive to win the Royal Ulster once in a lifetime, to win on nine occasions sets something of a record of which I am very very proud.” The Supreme Championship will be coming home to the Castlereagh Hills for yet another year. page 7 | BDS News
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2009 Show Special - British Driving Society

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