Hickory Wind Forge Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 One of my repeat customers is making a post-retirement career out of his pet draft-horses... carriage rides, horse-logging and haying - now he's getting into sleigh-rides. He recently dropped off the yoke-pole from a newly-acquired sleigh for some repairs. This has become more and more fascinating the deeper I get into it. At first glance I just thought "well, that's pretty old." But when I started looking harder it started looking really old... and when I got through the layers of paint I was amazed to find that all the metalwork was hand-forged wrought-iron! My first experience with WI - actually had to call a blacksmith friend to verify my suspicions. Here are 3 pics of the original ironwork. This piece was beyond reusing - forged a mild steel replacement, scarfed the ends and welded together. There was serious splitting at this pull-point. Made up top and bottom plates and butt-welded them to the originals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 That's pretty cool. Is that the only broken weld or is there more needs the blacksmith's gentle touch? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hickory Wind Forge Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 Here you can see the original forge-weld on the brace-piece and pivot. The craftsmanship in the steam-bent oak also amazes me. There was more splitting on the cross-tree ends. Made up tapered collars so that the torque doesn't center on the split wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 That's a cool project. You do get a sleigh ride when it's done right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcostello Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Drive it home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hickory Wind Forge Posted January 19 Author Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, mcostello said: Drive it home? Just as soon as I find 8 willing reindeer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 The Reindeer Farm in Palmer Ak. might be able to set you up. https://youtu.be/8IwGX-JH_-8 We'll take you out if you drop by, it's about 25 miles from us. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluerooster Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Looks like an interesting project. I would put it at close to 120 years old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hickory Wind Forge Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 I need to see if I can get any hard info on it but my smithing friend and I both guessed right around 1900 also - although it is only a guess. Here's the last piece: this is called a bird's mouth. It sits on the very front of the pole to help hold-back on a downhill. The chain and ring are something I came up with a couple of years ago for his other poles. They function somewhat like a tavern-puzzle: when the chestbar pushes on the chain, the ring locks in place completely; but at a standstill you can flip it off with one hand. Really glad I had the chance to get my hands on this old sleigh. - Matt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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