Brewster Park Drag

We were on a search for a unique Park Drag for a client. This one surfaced and from a size and history standpoint it really fit the bill. The coach was acquired in Virginia and had not been driven in a number of years. An exterior restoration was completed many years prior. The leather interior was original and unusually clean in design and simple.



The original Brewster marked lamps were on the coach and in very good condition. The exterior of the lamps were showing some age and surface rust but all in all very solid and clean. The interior plating and all exterior brass was outstanding and well cared for over the years.



Restoration of the lamps was one of our first orders of business and they are now sitting completed and ready to place back on the coach. This shot of the interior shows the original Brewster marking.



The exterior of the coach was in excellent mechanical condition. There was one panel crack but other than that the body was solid and tight. The exterior had been redone a number of years back. The original finish had been stripped and the body was done in a clear over natural wood. This was not in keeping with the original finish which was paint. We will be duplicating the original finish scheme for our client as the restoration continues.



The wheels are of traditional construction with one big exception. Few Brewster coaches were made with roller bearing hubs. The bearings are a tapered roller much like modern automotive bearings used today. The original bearings were manufactured by Timken which is still a leading producer of bearings today.



Brewster numbered this coach 25895. Upon researching it was but in 1912 for D.R. Hanna. We are quite confident that this is the last coach built by Brewster. The list of notes on the build sheet for this coach is quite unique. There were a number of items deleted from this coach originally in an effort to make it extremely light. Small things such as hand holds on the toe board are missing. Large items like an interior void of tufted and button upholstery saved weight. As we progressed with the restoration we found very thin body panels where heavy solid wood panels would normally be found.



The interior is dark maroon leather. It was done in a clean smooth style with no buttons. The bottom cushions are a thin, light almost pillow style design. I doubt that the original purchaser ever placed a passenger inside the coach.

We have reached a point in this restoration where the chassis is completed and the body is ready for interior and trim. We will be posting progress shots of this project as it went through the stages of restoration all the way through to completion.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd