"In 1926 the Carriage Builders National Association met for the last time, signaling the automobile's final triumph over the horse-drawn carriage. In the previous century, carriages and wagons had been a common sight on every Main Street in America, and carriage building had stood as one of the largest and most dynamic industries in the country. " "In this study of a forgotten trade, Thomas A. Kinney traces the rise and fall of this heterogeneous industry, from the pre-industrial shop system to the coming of the automobile. Using as case studies Studebaker; Brewster & Company, the New York-based luxury carriage maker; and dozens of smeller firms from around the country, he also explores the experiences of the carriage and wagon worker over the life of the industry. Deeply researched and strikingly original, this study contributes a vivid chapter to the story of America's industrial revolution. "--Jacket.