Craftsmanship
The great authenticity of our restoration work, the careful finish and attention for detail has brought us customers from all over Europe, the United States and the Middle East.
RESTORATION
Located in the heart of Europe, we specialize in the restoration of valuable old carriages for museums, private collections and driving amateurs. The vehicles are completely dismantled and cleaned thoroughly. Worn parts are replaced and missing parts made to measure. The great authenticity of our restoration work, the careful finish and attention for detail brought us customers from all over Europe, the United States and the Middle East. Our highly qualified craftsmen offer their traditional skills to the carriage amateur.
COACHBUILDING
By the end of the 19th Century, the carriage builders had reached the peak of their art. The well-known craftsmanship of the Belgian coachbuilders was a guarantee for marvellous and durable creations. At Carriages Schroven, we aim to keep this tradition alive. Over forty years of experience allow us to reproduce faithfully any kind of antique carriage. In order to maintain their unique character, we have built not more than 3 or 4 of each type, and even these are different to each other in minor details. Because of their great authenticity and their rarity, they represent as an even interesting investment than the old ones.
BLACKSMITHING
We can reproduce any missing part of your antique vehicle. Forged by hand or cast in steel and brass, these copies are undisting uishable from the old ones. The quality of our steel springs is remarkable!
BRUSHPAINTING
We still use the traditional method of brush painting. More than 12 layers are applied all by hand with utmost care to obtain a deep and lasting gloss and the old shades of colours
LEATHERWORK
For hoods, dashboards, and mudguards, we use the best English Leather – plain, patent, or grained - all hand sewn. The restoration of antique harnesses is another activity that we carry out with great pride!
WHEELWRIGHTING
An important section of our business is repairing and building wooden wheels for which we use well-seasoned ash, elm, hickory, and acacia. We carry an extensive range of clincher type rubber and channel–wired–on rubber, and channel is a speciality of the house!
UPHOLSTERY
Only the best quality woollen cloth, silk, Bedford cord, Tapestry, velvet, and real leather…are used. We are able to reproduce to order any cloth to match your antique upholstery. Authentic pasting, piping, broad lace and all kinds of passmentery are a speciality of the house. Horse hair and sea grass stuffed cushions, woollen carpet woven after old patterns, ivory fittings, calling card cases, an endless variety of linoleums, rubber mats stamped out with an antique design…all antique upholstery can be restored or reproduced by our craftsmen with only one aim: to restore your valuable carriage to its original appearance!
LAMPS
Need your lamp reflectors resilvered - bevelled, bowed, engraved glasses replaced – a copy made to your single lamp? We repair and build carriage lamps using the age-old tools and techniques.
ACCOUTREMENTS
We keep a large inventory of quality driving related items: whips, horns, wicker baskets, leather hat cases, carriage books, bronzes, engravings, travel accessories, models… We can make to measure all kinds of livery and historical uniforms.