A. The Brewster side-bar gear was patented by James B. Brewster in 1872. The gear was made up of two side-bars, made of wood, two end springs, two cross springs and two axles. The advantages claimed for it were that these four half-elliptic or grasshopper springs provided as much ease and comfort as the two elliptic end springs normally used on buggies. Brewster also claimed that they were lighter in weight and hung lower, at the same time being just as suitable as elliptics on rough country roads. they were, in fact, very effective and they gave a neat appearance to the carriage.
There were actually two types of Brewster gear, the Windsor gear being the other type. This was intended for speeding wagons and the end springs were dispensed with. This made the gear lighter and with less flexion, both desirable qualities in a speeding wagon.
These Brewster gears were made under license by several firms of spring makers and they had a long run of popularity. Naturally, there were many imitators and a large number of side-bar gears were exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876.
James B. Brewster was the eldest son of James Brewster, the founder of the carriage building firm of that name. James B. joined his father in the business and was made head of the firm in 1838. In 1814 the elder Brewster rejoined the firm and the name then became James Brewster & Son. James B.’s younger brother, Henry, became a partner in 1848, and John W. Britton was made a member of the firm in 1853. In 1856 the firm was dissolved. Britton and Henry Brewster started a new concern which became the Brewster & Co. of Broome Street, the famous one. Meanwhile, James B. continued the old company as James Brewster & Son until the salesrooms were moved to East 25th. Street, when the name was changed to James B. Brewster & Co. This company filed in 1895 but was reorganizes and continued n business under the same name. James B. Brewster died suddenly in March, 1902.
From The Carriage Journal, Vol. 21, NO 2, Autumn 1983