The word ‘buggy’ first appeared in the late 1700’s in London (England) slang for a phaeton or chaise. William Fenton, coachmaker, wrote in the Treatise of Carriages, “They are principally intended for lightness in draught, for the rider to sit snug in, and to preclude the possibility of an associate.” The typical American version holds true to this form, being a owner-driven, four-wheeled vehicle of simple construction for one or two people. It wasn’t until the 1850’s that they began to carry additional passengers. This is an important evolution in design because it complicates exactly what a buggy is.
At the end of the day, manufacturers name their vehicles and if a particular maker decided to call a vehicle a buggy then suddenly the term changed to encompass that vehicle. There are many varieties of ‘buggy’ most named after their looks or other key feature: Coal-Box Buggy, Buggy-Boat, Fantail Buggy, Doctor’s Buggy, etc. They were made as cheaply as $25, with the average price being in the $40 range. Carriage makers all over the United States made them, from the highly respected Brewster & Co of New York to the carriage maker on the corner and they all had a slightly different design.
In Carriage Terminology by Berkebile, there is a story regarding the Coal-Box Buggy –
So named from a fancied resemblance in shape to the ordinary grocer’s coal box. The successor to the Yacht Buggy, it was the result of an attempt to introduce a radical change, and produce a wagon less sportinglike in its character. It was made with a body about 10 inches high in the rear, and cut down in front as much as possible, leaving only a sill. It had a straight, square dash, and was often made without a top. Designed by James W. Lawrence, of Brewster & Co., of Broome Street, New York, about 1862, it was first introduced as “The Gentleman’s Wagon,” under which name it was advertised. This induced a rival house to introduce a smiliar buggy, which was advertised as “The Coal-box,” intended in derision of the name used by Brewster & Co. By 1874 it had lost much of its popularity, for Harness & Carriage Journal reported that in the city trade, the square-box type was leading ten to one.
So how do you know if a vehicle is a buggy, a wagon or a phaeton? There is no easy answer as the designs were so different. A good rule of thumb – if it looks like a compact vehicle then it may be a buggy. Wagons typically have more space in the bed, like a pickup truck. What we refer to as a phaeton today tend to be a bit sportier.
One of the most unusual buggies made is the Buggy-Boat. Designed by Perry Davis of Providence, Rhode Island in 1859. You can see the patent here. The springs were thick strips of rubber, the body looked like a boat, and the rear wheels converted into paddle wheels that were powered by hand cranks. Quite the unusual vehicle.
