All hardware is of bronze, of best quality and heavy pattern,
including locks, pulls, handles, sash fittings, window guards, railing
brackets and sockets, bell cord thimbles, chafing strips, hinges, and
all other trimmings. The upright panels between the windows and the
corner of the car are of plain mahogany, as are also the single post
pilasters, all of which are decorated with marquetry inlaid. The end
finish is of mahogany, forming a casing for the end door.
[Illustration: FRAMING OF PROTECTED WOODEN CAR]
[Sidenote: _Steel Cars_]
At the time of placing the first contract for the rolling stock of the
subway, the question of using an all-steel car was carefully
considered by the management. Such a type of car, in many respects,
presented desirable features for subway work as representing the
ultimate of absolute incombustibility. Certain practical reasons,
however, prevented the adoption of an all-steel car in the spring of
1902 when it became necessary to place the orders mentioned above for
the first 500 cars. Principal among these reasons was the fact that no
cars of this kind had ever been constructed, and as the car building
works of the country were in a very congested condition all of the
larger companies declined to consider any standard specifications even
for a short-time delivery, while for cars involving the extensive use
of metal the question was impossible of immediate solution. Again,
there were a number of very serious mechanical difficulties to be
studied and overcome in the construction of such a car, such as
avoidance of excessive weight, a serious element in a rapid transit
service, insulation from the extremes of heat and cold, and the
prevention of undue noise in operation.
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