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Suspension Breakhrough
The Concord coach was superior to all previous stagecoach designs because of its suspension system, according to the Abbot-Downing Concord Coach website. The Concord coach used thick leather straps called "through braces" strung in pairs lengthwise on the chassis. These heavy straps, each one made from six cured oxhides, supported the coach body and allowed it to swing back and forth in a cradle-like motion that absorbed road shocks.
Coach Construction
Abbot-Downing built Concord coaches to order. Coach buyers such as Wells, Fargo &Co. could specify a four-, six- or 12-passenger model to be drawn by teams of four or six horses. The coach wheels were made of oak and elm. The bodies were framed in ash, with basswood body panels that were steam-bent to the proper shape. Metal fittings were hand-forged. The driver's seat and luggage boot were made of wood and hard-cured leather.
Many Options
The buyer could specify the paint scheme and seat cushion fabric and had many options for decorative ornamentation. A finished coach weighed about 1,500 lbs. and was run by a crew of two who rode up front but outside. The Abbot-Downing Company produced around 3,000 Concord stagecoaches and at its peak in the late 1800s employed 250 people. Abbot-Downing shipped coaches worldwide.