Why Is A Surrey Called A Surrey ?

[Guest Phil_h]

Hi Guys,

 

Something has been puzzling me. One of them annoying questions that just pop into your mind for no apparent reason.

 

Why is a surrey top called a surrey ?

 

Thanks to anyone out there who can help solve this great problem

 

Phil

[Guest gdc]

cos its not a kent?????????????

[Grizzly]

I think it's called a Surrey because it's derived from the following of the same name:

SURREY. A small light American vehicle with four wheels carrying a driver and three, or more, passengers. drawn by one or two ponies with, or without, a head (q.v.). There were several varieties, the Auto-top, Fringe-topped, the Pony among others.

http://www.guildofmodelwheelwrights.org/ne...pas_4wheel.html

... and that's my final answer

 

Oh OK more proof:

The Surrey Type

Another type of carriage was the surrey with its fringed canopy held aloft by slender iron supports at the corner. Much more common was the one-seated wagon with its diminutive iron step to accommodate the descending passenger, located in rather perilous proximity to the horses heels. Lacking a helping hand from below there was nothing to lean on except the muddy or dusty edge of the front wheel-or Dobbin's hindquarters and not all horses cared to serve as a substitute balustrade. The really correct way of making the descent was to step out and down with a graceful nonchalance which required almost the balance of a tight rope walker; and the timid or awkward generally waited for the top buggy with its step between the wheels or took the more commodious" democrat." The latter were two seated affairs, their leather upholstered cushions long enough to accommodate three at a pinch and considered extremely suitable for family use. The back seat was removable arid nervous matrons always insisted on a preliminary inspection of the fastenings of the second seat before starting off, since if these accidentally loosened en route when Dobbin shied, the occupants of the back were pretty sure to get out suddenly on their heads, seat and all. The Kimball carriage factory stayed in Portland for many years, growing from a single building to the group seen in the picture. Finally Mr. Kimball removed his business to Chicago, where the firm he founded is today building automobile bodies under the guidance of his son.

http://www.carriagemuseumlibrary.org/kimballs.htm

[Guest Phil_h]

Thanks for that grizzly. Who'd have thought it would have been named after a type of carriage.

 

Well another of lifes mysteries solved. I can feel a peaceful nights sleep coming on now

[Grizzly]

Sleep Tight Phil.

I bet you don't know where that comes from??

[Guest Phil_h]

Well I was getting worried that my peaceful nights sleep would be ruined with yet another question I didn't know the answer to but this time google toolbar auto suggest thing came up trumps with sleep tight origin :-

 

http://ask.yahoo.com/20020917.html

 

It didn't do such a good job with surrey top though

[Peter Bell]

And if you were old enough, there was a musical, a couple of years ago called Oaklahoma and one of the songs was about 'A surrey with a fringe on the top'!

[peter_m7uk]

I think it's called a Surrey because it's derived from the following of the same name:

SURREY. A small light American vehicle with four wheels carrying a driver and three, or more, passengers. drawn by one or two ponies with, or without, a head (q.v.). There were several varieties, the Auto-top, Fringe-topped, the Pony among others.

http://www.guildofmodelwheelwrights.org/ne...pas_4wheel.html

... and that's my final answer

 

Oh OK more proof:

The Surrey Type

Another type of carriage was the surrey with its fringed canopy held aloft by slender iron supports at the corner. Much more common was the one-seated wagon with its diminutive iron step to accommodate the descending passenger, located in rather perilous proximity to the horses heels. Lacking a helping hand from below there was nothing to lean on except the muddy or dusty edge of the front wheel-or Dobbin's hindquarters and not all horses cared to serve as a substitute balustrade. The really correct way of making the descent was to step out and down with a graceful nonchalance which required almost the balance of a tight rope walker; and the timid or awkward generally waited for the top buggy with its step between the wheels or took the more commodious" democrat." The latter were two seated affairs, their leather upholstered cushions long enough to accommodate three at a pinch and considered extremely suitable for family use. The back seat was removable arid nervous matrons always insisted on a preliminary inspection of the fastenings of the second seat before starting off, since if these accidentally loosened en route when Dobbin shied, the occupants of the back were pretty sure to get out suddenly on their heads, seat and all. The Kimball carriage factory stayed in Portland for many years, growing from a single building to the group seen in the picture. Finally Mr. Kimball removed his business to Chicago, where the firm he founded is today building automobile bodies under the guidance of his son.

http://www.carriagemuseumlibrary.org/kimballs.htm

 

 

Yeah, but why was that called a Surrey?!

[Guest peter2b2002]

It may be like a lot of horsey things,they were named after the place where they were from, i.e. a market harbrough or a fulmer snaffle

pete2b

[Swan Jnr]

sounds like you're right peter,

 

according to the 1930's OED a surrey cart was "originally an English pleasure cartwith an open spindle seat first built in the county of surrey and then introduced to the USA by a JB Brewster & Co of new york in 1872"

 

It first appears in print in this use ten years later

 

paul

[Guest Phil_h]

On this site we come to build cars and educate our minds

 

Thanks for all the replies guys can't wait to get my Surrey made now

[Guest Bazwaz]

can't wait to get my Surrey made now

 

Are you going to have a fringe on the top of yours?

 

Barry