Ulster American Folk Park

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Running Gear

Running gear, Ulster American Folk Park Transport Collections

Pictured above, Running gear.

Wheel hubs were made from the black gum or sour gum tree, as the interwoven grain of these trees does not split. Straight white oak was used for the spokes, and the felloes, which form the outer ring of the wheel, were also made from oak. In cross section the wheels were triangular, the strongest structural shape, and dished, so that pressure from the side would not cause them to buckle. A wagon on a rough road, with one side lifted higher than the other, would develop a huge sideways thrust on its lower wheels. The spokes on a dished wheel would press downwards against the heavy iron tyre, rather than buckle outwards.

The wheels were mounted on a carefully shaped axle. It had a slight downward dip and was conical, but horizontal at the end to ensure that the hub did not rub against the lynch pin holding the wheel on the axle. This had the effect of slightly inclining the dished wheel away from the wagon, so that the spoke meeting the ground would be vertical, and transferring the weight of the wagon directly down the length of the spoke.

Early wheels had iron tyres of several pieces, each the size of individual felloes. These were fitted to the wheels with spikes so that they overlapped the felloes. Later they were made with a single piece of iron heated and then cooled as it was fitted to the wheel. The end of the wooden axle was fitted with iron on the top and bottom where it fitted into the hub, but it was not encased in iron. The axle and axletree were made of white oak or hickory. The iron rubbing plate on the front axle, used to allow it to turn, was constantly greased.

Because the pull required to haul the wagon decreased as the size of the rear wheel increased, wheels were usually six feet wide for roadwork with a three-inch tread, and five feet wide with a five-inch tread for farm work. The front and rear axles were fitted to two triangular frameworks. The rear axle framework was joined to the front by a short coupling pole like the tongue that extended from the front axle that the horses pull on. This was a very strong but flexible assembly.

The brake was operated by a large lever on the left. This operated a rocker bar which pulled a break beam that made contact with the tyres. This was a classic feature of later Conestoga wagons. Before this, wagoners relied on chopping down a heavy tree and tying it to the back of the wagon.

Replica Conestoga wagon at the Ulster American Folk Park, showing red and blue paintwork. All the running gear was painted red by the wagon makers, in common with other farm equipment. The bodies were normally painted blue. Iron work was painted black. The tar box was black, the feed box was blue, the bucket was red or unpainted with the owner's name, and the jack was marked with the maker's initials and date of manufacture.

The wagon beds were stored at the end of the wagoning season by tying them to the roof of the barn. The running gear could then be used for other farm work.

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