American Carriages conveys us into the 1800s for a close look at the horse-drawn vehicle in selected counties of New York state and Long Island. This handsomely illustrated book probes the effects of America's growing industrialization on the manufacture of carriages, and furnishes an unusual and often amusing study of the relationship between horse, carriage and driver. American Carriages reveals the increasing use and popularity of carriages as industrialization allowed the production of better and more affordable vehicles. It also examines the proportions and aesthetic charm of these vehicles, providing full-color illustrations of advertised paint and fabric samples and closeups of artistic detail.