• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

May 21, 2020 By Nadeem

The Hog Ring - What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

What did auto trim shops look like 150 years ago? See for yourself.

Photographer W. Burman of Fitzroy, a suburb in Victoria, Australia, snapped this photo a very long time ago.

It shows a craftsman and his family standing in front of a carriage workshop. The sign on the workshop is faded, but the words “Bailey,” “Painter” and “Trimmer” are legible.

The Hog Ring - What Trim Shops Looked Like in the 1800s

It’s not clear when the photograph was taken. Our best guess is sometime in the mid to late 1800s. That’s because it’s a carte de visite, a type of micro photograph that was invented in the 1850s, but fell out of fashion by the 1870s.

It wasn’t until 1908 when the first Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line in Detroit, Michigan, that carriages began to be replaced with cars and a new chapter in our craft’s long and storied history began.

Photographer Leigh McKinnon discovered and enhanced this beautiful carte de visite.

Related Stories:

  • Auto Upholstery in the Early 1900s
  • Auto Upholstery in the Early 1900s, Pt. 2
  • Auto Upholstery in the Early 1900s, Pt. 3

Filed Under: Archive, Industry History, THR Favorites Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior

Primary Sidebar

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • MasterTech Expo 2026
  • Hyde Leather
  • Albright's Supply
  • Keyston Bros

THR Favorites

The Hog Ring - Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Veteran trimmer Luis Loyola of Loyola Auto … [more] about Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - RPUI

Talking Shop: Restoration Parts Unlimited

Surely, every auto upholstery professional … [more] about Talking Shop: Restoration Parts Unlimited

Photo: Alligator-Grain Vinyl Top

No this isn’t a wild aftermarket upgrade. In … [more] about Photo: Alligator-Grain Vinyl Top

The Hog RIng - How to Bind an Isolated Hole in Carpet

How to Bind an Isolated Hole in Carpet

Want to learn how to bind an isolated hole in … [more] about How to Bind an Isolated Hole in Carpet

The Hog Ring- First Project Car 1969 Dodge Charger

THR’s First Project Car: 1969 Dodge Charger

Big News! The Hog Ring just acquired its … [more] about THR’s First Project Car: 1969 Dodge Charger

Auto Upholstery News - The Hog Ring - Carlex Design - Mercedes-Benz SLS Black Series

Carlex Design Trims a Mercedes SLS AMG

What happens when Polish automotive trim shop … [more] about Carlex Design Trims a Mercedes SLS AMG

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Choosing the Right Grommet for Long Lasting Performance
  • The Iran War and a Texas Plant Fire are Driving Foam Prices Higher
  • Register Now for the 2026 AAPEX Show
  • 2026 SEMA Show Registration Now Open
  • Keyston Bros Drops 10 New Carbon Fiber Vinyl Colors and They Pop

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2026 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in