Sleds, Carts and Waggons

By Cyril Fox

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473355927

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Sleds, Carts and Waggons

BY

CYRIL FOX

Contents

Sleds, Carts and Waggons

Sleds, Carts and Waggons

by CYRIL FOX

Director of the National Museum of Wales

WHILE engaged in field work near Llanbister in Radnorshire, the writer saw by the roadside, near a country wheelwright’s shop, a remarkable vehicle the like of which he had never imagined. On being questioned, the wheelwright said that it was a ‘wheel-car’ and was of a standard type used throughout the Radnor forest area (and indeed, as was afterwards learned, throughout the central moorland of Wales). It had been made entirely by himself and his smith. He drew attention to a second example, half completed, in the shop. This was purchased for the Welsh Folk Collection of the National Museum of Wales.

THE WHEEL-CAR

The special features of the wheel-car are shown in the photograph (plate I). These are (a) the great length (13.6 feet) of the body in proportion to its breadth (3.2 feet); (b) the position of the axle-tree above, not below the main beams of the frame; (c) the bumpers attached to these main beams at one end—the front—of the wheel-car; and (d) the embryo cart structure—standards at each corner, rails opposite the wheels, and cage forward. The bumpers are shod with iron: other interesting details are the slightly-dished, ten-spoked wheels also shod, with five iron strakes (not hoops) centred on the joints of the felloes and affixed with wrought-iron nails with large square-crowned heads¹; and the hubs, of a pattern formerly widespread but rarely found in 20th century work.

One horse is harnessed to the car, by chain traces,