Museum of Science and Industry

One of the last surviving carriages, made before the motor car became the main form of transport on our streets, is to be conserved by MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry).

The 'Sociable' carriage, which was made by Manchester-based Joseph Cockshoot and Co, around 1895, was manufactured at the end of an era for horse-drawn vehicles. Cockshoot was one of the few companies that successfully moved from making carriages to building car bodies for Manchester car companies such as Rolls Royce and Crossley.

The Sociable got its name because four passengers were able to sit face-to-face on two seat benches, under a canopy, while the coachman had his own bench. The carriage, which was acquired by MOSI from Tolson Museum in Huddersfield, requires extensive conservation work to help stop deterioration of a variety of materials, including a leather canopy, upholstery, wooden frame and brass fittings. Museum conservator Fran Clarke and conservation student Kirsten Emperle will use a variety of repair techniques to strengthen the carriage, and prevent any further damage or losses.

Fran said: "The Sociable carriage is a fascinating example of the end of an era in road transport, and it is an exciting challenge to help conserve it for future generations. Cockshoot's company was able to adapt to the changing times and turn their hands to the new form of transport - the car. You can see that early models of cars were built in the same way as carriages until engineers realised that it was better to bring the chassis lower to the ground."

She adds: "When we acquired the carriage the fabric had been badly damaged by moths and other insects, the metalwork was partly corroded, and the paint layers were flaking. We aim to improve the overall condition of the carriage to make it stable again and ensure that this important piece of transport history, made by a Manchester company, will be preserved."

Soon after the Sociable was built, the motor car started to become a more popular form of transport. The Locomotives and Highways Act was passed in 1896, which raised the speed limit to 14 mph (previously cars had been restricted to travelling at just two miles per hour in towns!). Suddenly the motor car had a competitive edge over the horse drawn carriage.

Museum conservators will use a variety of specialist conservation methods on the damaged areas of the Sociable, to strengthen and maintain the materials integral to its original construction. The treatments will include humidifying the leather to improve its suppleness, and introducing a transparent support fabric. This will be applied with adhesive in a 'dot matrix' formation to avoid creating holes from stitching, and minimise stress on the existing fabric.

Typically museums aim to conserve an object to keep as much of the original materials intact and arrest further decay, rather than restore it to how it might have looked when it was new. The restoration process can be damaging to fragile objects and the deteriorated state of an object can provide useful clues about its history.

For media information or photos please contact Sarah Roe Tel: 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647.

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