Float
Offord
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
Unknown
Materials
Varnished (grained brown paint finish) wood body with leather cloth upholstery and two rubber shod wheels.
Measurements
139.5 x 307.5 x 161.5cm (4ft 7in x 10ft 1in x 5ft 3 1/2in)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
NT 285888
Caption
Floats are a simple two wheeled country vehicle that were often seen being pulled by a steady cob type horse around the villages delivering milk. Their low floors meant that the customers could reach into the back of the float to have their pails filled with the milk from the churn.
Summary
Float built by Offord of London. Float (two wheels) for a single horse. This float has a body sprung on two side springs and a cross spring with a curved sheer to the upper sides, a rounded top to the front board and curved wood wings. There is a folding seat with metal framed back supports. The iron fittings on the undercarriage are painted black, the body is varnished wood.
Full description
This is a simple but well-proportioned example of a humble carriage type, with curved sheer to the upper sides, rounded top to the front board and curved wood wings. Floats were mostly used by tradesmen who delivered their goods around the villages. They have low floors so that customers could reach into the back of the carriage to fill their pails with milk for example. They are heavy carriages and require a sturdy steady horse to pull them.
Marks and inscriptions
On nearside axle cap.: OFFORD & SONS LTD LONDON
Makers and roles
Offord, coach builder