[Manuscript] Design & order record, 1865 - 1908 for Boon & Son, coachbuilders of East Sussex, UK

Worthing, East Sussex, UK. Original sheep backed plain boards.. Good; the binding showing signs of shop use and wear; contents clear; text block broken; hinges cracked; occasional rumpling to extremities of a few pages.. Small folio notebook; 207 pp. (recto and verso) with a 5 page alphabetical index. Heavily illustrated with detailed notes on design, structure, and materials.

A superb and apparently complete record of orders for this firm of specialty coachbuilders (still in existence as J S Arnold) during the last half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The output is presented in chronological order.The record is meticulous in describing each of the carts, carriages, wagons, and vans for private and commercial use. It is illustrated throughout with sections, plans, and design notes. Most of the jobs undertaken were for special purpose vehicles, e.g., furniture van, scavenger cart, miller's cart, butcher's cart etc. Renovation or alteration of older carts or re-purposing of the same are given in detail with extreme care given to specifications (e.g. providing direction for the size of the horse to be used), materials, construction (with small drawings of particular fittings where necessary). The text was apparently also used as a pattern book for prospective customers. An incredibly useful resource.