The rockaway was a popular close carriage of both the affluent and not so wealthy American family; in the year 1900, for instance, only 846 broughams (a comparable close carriage) were built as compared with 3,166 rockaways turned out that year. This vehicle is elegantly fitted out with leather card case, as well as clock case built into the interior lining. It was used by the Wells family of Burlington, Vermont, and was a product of Kimball Brothers Company, Boston; Z. Thompson & Bros. Builders, Portland, Maine. The Wells monogram painted in red on the door panel adds an extra touch of tasteful decoration. [Illustration] SIX-PASSENGER ROCKAWAY _Body painted dark green. Trimmed in eggshell corded broadcloth, embroidered with green leaf motif on corded silk fabric._ Although in excellent condition, this rockaway is one of the older vehicles in the collection and was used prior to 1858 by Gen. J. Watson Webb. His daughter Catherine married James G. Benton of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in 1858, and the Bentons used the rockaway when they lived in Washington, D. C. Benton, a West Point graduate, was the author of many valuable reports on ordnance and wrote the course of instruction in ordnance and gunnery used by the cadets at the U.S. military academy. Col. Benton’s experiments on a new type of rifled musket led to the development of the Springfield rifle, and he superintended the construction of the early models of this gun at the Springfield Armory where he served as commanding officer. _Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb_ [Illustration] BUCKBOARD PHAETON _Natural color varnished body. Trimmed in tan cord, black leather top._ This buckboard was made by Joubert & White of Glens Falls, New York and was used by Dr. Webb in this community for many years. The natural varnished body was a deceptively simple vehicle finish. In the _Coachmaker’s Illustrated Handbook_, published in 1875, the chapter on painting pointed out the hazards of the clear varnish finish: “The varnish can crawl, run, enamel, pit, blotch, sag down and hang on the lower edge; smoke or cloud over; appear as though dust had been dredged on it through a piece of fine mull, or gather up and hang in heavy ridges or beads along the center part of the spokes and other carriage parts. These irregularities will happen with the best quality of varnish and with workmen of undoubted skill, and are caused by atmospheric influences alone.” The English varnish was preferred by carriage painters, for they believed it possessed a secret ingredient which made it the finest available at that time. _Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb_ [Illustration] PONY BUCKBOARD