Antique Cutters unearthed in the hay loft

[Small_Change]

I have unearthed two beautiful old cutters in our hay loft, and am hoping there might be someone on these forums who could tell me more about what I have found: Antique Cutters

Also, does anyone have suggestions for how I might go about finding these cutters a new home? If I was able, I would love to restore the first cutter (the one with swoopy lines, which I am told is an Albany cutter?), but it simply isn’t a realistic project to take on. It has a small plaque on the rear panel that says it was made by J Lloyd & Sons in Paris ON, so is a very locally manufactured piece of history. I’ve tried Googling the company, but have had no luck finding anything yet.

The second cutter (which I wonder if it is a Portland style maybe?) has an emblem painted on the back that I can’t quite make out. It has a capital “B” with something else painted in a circle over top.

I would really like to find the cutters an appreciative new home where they will be looked after, rather than suffering further benign neglect in the loft. I would sincerely appreciate any suggestions as to where to even begin!

[goodhors]

How very nice they are! I would agree that the first is an Albany cutter, “the Santa model” everyone loves. Second is a Portland, as you said, square backed.

Both look pretty good for their time in the loft, with nice railings, brass rails on them. You could advertise them in Carriage locations, CD-L, ADS site, Carriage Association, and others mentioned on the Harness for Sale post on COTH.

Restored they could be quite beautiful AND useful, but to do it yourself is a lot of work and having them done, is expensive. Some parts may need replacing, with separation or cracking not visible in the photos.

I would probably just sell them, let someone else fix them up, because I have a lot of projects going already, like you. Unrestored sleighs don’t bring a lot of money, but one is tagged and of the Albany style, so it should be worth more than the Portland. Depending on your local market, you might be able to get decent money, from a couple hundred to almost $800-900 as they stand.

If you need to haul them in an OPEN pickup, TIE THEM DOWN firmly. Tie the dashboard back to the handrails, so it is not broken off by force of wind in travel. We hauled our sleighs home backwards, and that seemed to work, along with tying the dashboards to the handrails so they can’t get to bending or flexing.

I know of sleighs like these that just “lifted off the truck and out” to smash badly on the side of the road because they were only held in truck by gravity or bungee cords that were not strong enough to hold them down. There is a LOT of surface to catch the wind and sleighs really don’t weigh much at all, so they DO FLY OFF trucks quite easily when not secured well.

Good luck selling them, hope you make lots of money. They sure are pretty.

Check with the local Historical Society for the carriage maker on the tag, they often have information about old companies in areas.

[mht]

Try calling some local auctioneers. They might be able to put you in touch with the right people, or get them in an appropriate sale.

[Small_Change]

goodhors, thank you so much for that post, it is very helpful! The more my husband and I look at the beautiful Albany cutter, the more we’re considering storing it for another year or two until we could take on restoration. It cleaned up amazingly well from what it first looked like when we found it in the loft under a pile of other equipment. Pulling apart the loft, putting new flooring down and sorting junk from what really should be hung on to is now crossed off the project list, possibly making space for the cutter. It is so beautiful, and the more I day dream, the more I fall in love with it…

The Portland cutter is very pretty in its own right, with the tiny flowers all over, but I haven’t been day dreaming about it the way I have the Albany cutter! I almost think I should just stop rooting through all the things my grandparents packed away over the years - earlier this year I dug out two lovely old side saddles that have since found their way to a new home. They set me on the path of buying my own side saddle though (the two old ones were very fragile park saddles; I managed to find a lovely Champion & Wilton that is reinforced for jumping.), which has lead to a habit, etc. Who knows where hanging onto that Albany cutter might lead! :lol:

mht - Do you have any idea as to which specific auctioneers might be interested or have contacts? I only really know of estate and farm equipment auctioneers, and am not aware of any who deal in things like these cutters. Great thought though, and it never would have occurred to me! Thank you.

[twadwis]

Google Frey Carriages in Columbus. He restores all kinds of horse drawn vehicles as you will see on his website. He sometime buys them also but he is easy to call and find out what you have…I agree it’s an Albany but not sure about the Portland…

[Plainandtall]

Fantastic!! I would hold on to them. The money you could get selling them unrestored is not worth what they are in the grand scheme of things.

I recently saw a college guy hauling a cool old wooden boat on a trailer- his great grand dad had built it (locally) and he was getting ready to restore it. I was so happy that the boat had stayed in the family and had finally made it into the hands of a person who was going to give it the elbow grease and love.

[phoebetrainer]

When I see sleighs I almost want to move to somewhere with snow, just so I could get one for my driving ponies. Sleigh riding must be awesome! I am very jealous.

[mht]

SC…what about contacting Carsons? He does a lot of horse sales, and horse related equipment.

[sk_pacer]

I’m looking at that Santa sleigh (western term for it) and thinking of a line from Jingle Bells: Bought a bobtail bay, 2:40 was his time. Those were, at one time, used as racing cutters.

[pony_grandma]

OMG I would so keep the teacup one! Restore that beauty just to build a large enough porch to set it on at Xmas time and put lights on it and fill it with the presents. :winkgrin:

[fivehorses]

I think they are both quite nice.
You may also want to contact Rick Fallon in VT…google running brook carriages.
He may be interested or be able to give you some contacts.
Or contact the big auction in PA…yikes, forget their name(senior moment)…someone here will know who I mean.

[Christa_P]

[QUOTE=fivehorses;7096610]
I think they are both quite nice.
You may also want to contact Rick Fallon in VT…google running brook carriages.
He may be interested or be able to give you some contacts.
Or contact the big auction in PA…yikes, forget their name(senior moment)…someone here will know who I mean.[/QUOTE]

Martins Carriage Auction in Lancaster, PA

[Small_Change]

Thank you very much for all the suggestions! I have a person locally who will take my Portland cutter, clean it up a bit, then sell on commission. My husband and I have decided now that we’ll definitely hang onto the Albany cutter and see about tackling restoration. It’s so pretty, and those day dreams of heading out across the hay fields just won’t loosen their grip. Thank you again for all the suggestions; they’re so much appreciated!

[Fred]

Small Change, at the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority I used to work with a lovely man named Jim Greene, he live(d) in Dundas. I don’t know if he is still alive, but he is a local expert on carriages and restoration.
At the time he was a member of the Tri-County Carriage Association.

Good luck with the restoration, and remember, Holsteiners make GREAT driving horses!

[Jealoushe]

I would pass on the auctioneer and call and Antique dealer directly. My dad is an antique dealer, he bought many of these in this type of condition and sold them on easily. You can get a good buck for them without restoration.

[fivehorses]

My first driving experience was in a sleigh, one horse Portland cutter. It was magical and one of my best life memory experience. Enjoy the restoration and the fun to follow.

[romewhip]

That Albany Cutter is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen, even unrestored. It’s incredible! I’d definitely hang on to it if it were mine. It’ll be worth restoring and hitching. The Portland is a very pretty example of one, hopefully it can find a home who will restore and use it. What a lovely and exciting find!