Fitting the outer rim to the completed wheel was the final operation. In the old days the wheel was straked--that is, overlapping iron plates were nailed to the rim of the wheel. About 1850 the hoop tire began to supersede the strake. Here the length of iron was welded into a hoop, heated so that it would expand and then dropped onto the wheel. It was cooled with buckets of water and after shrinking made a tight, secure metal rim for the wheel. _Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb_ [Illustration: (Above) The Webb head coachman holding the pony and Frederica, aged 4 and J. Watson Webb, 2 years old, each with one of the reins. Even before children could walk, they were given their first driving and riding lessons.] [Illustration: (Below) Frederica has graduated. She is now 5 years old; her gentle pony is Frieda and she can drive alone. Both these pictures were taken at Oakledge, in Burlington, Vermont and show the little Tub Cart designed by Dr. Webb.] [Illustration] KENTUCKY BREAKING CART _Body painted red. Trimmed with brown leather._ Not a carriage in the true meaning of the word, this type of vehicle was intended solely for breaking horses. The very long shafts kept the float body and its occupant at a comfortable distance from the heels of the young horse being schooled, and because of the placement of the seat, the driver was given better control and greater security. This cart could also be used for exercising horses. Manufactured by the H. H. Babcock Company of Watertown, New York. _Gift of Dr. Stuart Orton, Rahway, New Jersey._ [Illustration] CONCORD WAGON _Body originally painted old blue color._ The concord wagon was the name given to this type of vehicle, although companies other than the Concord, New Hampshire firm of Downing and Abbot manufactured them. In 1813 Lewis Downing started building vehicles in Concord. He formed a partnership with Stephen Abbot, which was later dissolved. Abbot continued manufacturing vehicles and later a new company, Abbot-Downing Company of Concord, New Hampshire was formed. Stage coaches, mountain wagons, horse-drawn barges, even horse-drawn street railway cars were manufactured at the Abbot-Downing shops over the years. _Gift of Mr. W. B. Hill, Tilton, New Hampshire_ [Illustration] PLEASURE WAGON _Green, red wheels, picked out with black._ This vehicle, with its light green acorn stencilled pattern, is one of the oldest carriages in this collection. It was licensed in 1815 in Vergennes, Vermont by Beldon Seymour. It is of hand construction and follows the principles of early framing with the use of mortising and pegging the parts together.