Regency Travel: The Britzschka

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Plate III represents a Britzschka It is little more than ten years since this carriage or rather the original model of it was first introduced from Germany and now after many succeeding modifications it has become the most common of all carriages The reason of this is its
exceeding convenience and adaptability to a great variety of purposes This drawing shows a Britzschka after the best models as adapted for travelling The body and seats all swing alike on the C springs The boot behind will accommodate two persons The body when the knee flap is open will hold four but in wet weather it is only fitted for two The step is outside to leave the interior less cramped The front part of the head has a calash attached to it which is easily put up and down whereby the facility of entrance is increased as the head does not slope too far forward The access of rain is thus carefully guarded against and in case of cold weather there is an ingeniously contrived glass shutter which folds up in a recess of the head and which when let down will fill the whole front closing with an air tight joint in the front of the knee flap The sword case behind is large and convenient and the leg room in the interior is abundant for reclining at full length if necessary when constructed without a front seat in the interior The front trunks can be taken off and replaced by a driving seat The lines of this carriage are pleasing to the eye and harmonise well together The marked distinction between this and the foregoing carriages is the adoption of a straight bottom line This and the end curves together with the deep panel behind and the long elbow sweep before tend to give it a ship like and fast going appearance while the foot board in front points the line of progress The sword case is unpleasing in its outline beauty having given place to convenience The lamp is well arranged for use A defect in this carriage is the unequal size of the front and hind springs The motive is to balance the weight more equally This defect would have been more per ceptible had the largest spring been in front but the small wheel and small spring being together the de fect is lessened What adds very much to the ge neral good effect of this carriage is the broad elbow line which forms a distinct outline like the shear line of a ship It is said that the first German Britzschka was brought to England by the Earl of Clanwilliam who liked it for its lightness for which reason it probably obtained amongst coachmen and mechanics the translated name Brisker or Brisky But the German carriage was light being intended only for three persons with little luggage therefore its low wheels were not a very serious objection English convenience afterwards required that greater accommodation should be provided both for persons and luggage but the carriages though they have attained great convenience combined with grace have become in reality as heavy to the draught as ordinary Posting Cha riots Some of them are now occasionally made with additional under springs like the Chariots This increases the weight and height at the same time Owing to its movable head and greater exposure of the lining to the air the wear is considerably greater than that of a Chariot There are two slight defects in this drawing the curve of the hind spring and the bottom line of the body Britzschkas are also made without a perch and support ed on elliptic springs The locker behind has a door to put in luggage It is also sometimes made to open at the top to form a servant's seat In this case the front seat can be taken away and a cap case and imperials substituted for it This carriage has a pleasing light appearance in its general lines but in the fore part there is a great defect of construction In the hind part the body rests on a curved block which is bolted to the centre of the spring In the fore part there are two curved blocks on which the body rests but instead of being placed over the centre of the spring or the wheel plate above it they are usually placed behind whereby a considerable amount of mischievous leverage is produced and a most unsightly effect which must imme diately become apparent to a practised eye This kind of carriage is calculated to run very light but must necessarily be very noisy English Pleasure Carriages (1837)

For more on Regency conveyances: Regency Fashion: Carriages, Coaches and the Barouche 

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