Why?

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  • This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by jac.
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  • October 15, 2010 at 12:42 am #42042
    grey
    Participant

    Can someone explain this to me?

    194.jpg

    197.jpg

    277.jpg

    Two sets of shafts on each of these heavy freight wagons, rather than a single tongue. Is this because they preferred the weight of shafts on the horse’s backs rather than a single tongue suspended from the collars? Is it for additional strength (four shafts perhaps being stronger than a single tongue)?

    Also, note the “legs” that are folded against the underside of the shafts; I assume they can be dropped down to hold the shafts in place while they are being secured to the harness.

    October 15, 2010 at 8:11 am #62651
    CharlyBonifaz
    Member

    as solid/rugged as the shafts are build I suspect it must have been quite a job to turn those wagons in deep mud……
    another thought going along with this: here the front horses may have been able to help pulling in the turns, while with a single tongue and the front horses pulling you run danger of breaking the tongue

    October 15, 2010 at 11:20 am #62657
    mitchmaine
    Participant

    i agree. the horses seem set a little ahead for more leverage. the whole apparatus seems built for turning and stopping.
    grey, it looks like a museum? of some kind. any description of where the wagons came from or specific use? interesting hubs. must have been quite a good job pulling those wagons empty.

    mitch

    October 15, 2010 at 2:53 pm #62644
    Scott G
    Participant

    It is prettycommon in some parts of Europe & Scandanavia to hitch a team in double shafts vs a pole. I think Simon L.’s forwarder is set up that way. Not sure of the history, guess that is just the way it developed back in the day when we all were pretty isolated from one another.

    October 15, 2010 at 3:57 pm #62646
    grey
    Participant

    http://www.thehorseandcarriage.com/sched1.htm

    “HORSE DRAWN VEHICLE AUCTION SALE

    SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2010 AT 11AM
    AT YEPPOON, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

    THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES IN QUEENSLAND”

    October 15, 2010 at 4:22 pm #62659
    jac
    Participant

    English farm wagons made in hilly regions were made with double shafts. These wagons in the foto have been made for heavy road freight.. perhaps moving boilers or other heavy equipment.. at a walk.. The cart saddle with the ridger chain was not suited to fast road work. I agree on the easier turning also think they thought twin shafts would offer more stability and perhaps easier to hitch extra horses up front. ..
    John

    October 15, 2010 at 6:57 pm #62652
    CharlyBonifaz
    Member

    the more and more I think of it, the more I’m convinced those carts were used with oxen; considering were the auction is and knowing they worked with long oxen-trains that might just have been the waggon for it…..

    October 16, 2010 at 12:34 pm #62648
    Ira
    Participant

    The english tended to use single horses more than teams. So when they needed a team they put on an other set of shaves rather than adapt harness. As scott pointed out they still do

    October 16, 2010 at 3:32 pm #62660
    jac
    Participant

    Have to politely disagree there Ira.. There is about 12 ???? mabey.. people in the UK that use draft horses for real work.. most of those hitch teams in the American style or Scandanavian in the timber job like Simon. All the rest are used in show wagons with a mix of American or English style harness with a pole. I cant think when I last saw double shafts used for anything other than an old English farm wagon in a show ring.. Best regards
    John

    October 16, 2010 at 10:25 pm #62645
    Scott G
    Participant

    I’ve seen a double set in a recent pic of a modern forwarder. Scandinavia or Slavic Country maybe?? I’ll see if I can find it again in the next week or so…

    October 17, 2010 at 4:37 am #62649
    Ira
    Participant

    John, guess i should amend that to read, “as scott pointed out ,they still do occasionally;)

    Could you post a pic of the Scandinavin harness in team mode?

    October 17, 2010 at 6:36 am #62661
    jac
    Participant

    My appologies Ira, I thot we were talking English harness. As far as I can see the Scandanavian harness that Simon uses has the shafts effectively replacing the traces from the pad backwards and wouldnt suit what we would think of as team harness.
    John

    October 17, 2010 at 10:21 am #62653
    cousin jack
    Participant

    http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=93

    I will try to get a close up of scandanavian double shafts, this afternoon, only trouble is I am a bit slow getting around

    October 17, 2010 at 11:08 am #62654
    cousin jack
    Participant

    http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=496http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=494http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=495

    October 17, 2010 at 11:13 am #62655
    cousin jack
    Participant

    http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=494

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