N° d'objet
54/393/1-2
Description
These wagon wedges are for use in the wheel box, the cast iron centre of the hub which turns around the axle arm. Wedges such as these are hammered into the hub to ensure that the hub box is firmly wedged into the hub and able to withstand the weight of tons without moving. As soon as the box is made immovable, the ends of the wedges are removed with a chisel and finally smoothed with a spoke shave. The wedges should be so tightly fitted that only the difference between the grain of elm and oak shows where they are. These wedges were found in the builder's yard of Fowler and Company, in West Harptree.
Description physique
2 wheel box wedges: oak
Historique d'archive
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘The box of a wheel is the cast iron centre of the hub which turns around the axle arm. In order that the wheel will bear the weight and heavy use of the cart or wagon for many years, the box must not only be securely fastened to the hub but it must also pivot correctly. The construction of the box is an intricate operation, requiring a considerable degree of skill and judgement. The box is fitted on loose and gradually tightened by means of trial and adjustment. The axle arm is provisionally screwed on to the craftsman's bench, high enough to let the wheel that is lifted on to swing around clear of the ground. A small block of wood is placed on the ground, its corner just touching the tyre. Slowly, the wheel is turned around, and as it swings away from the blcok the wheelwright hammers in a wedge, hand carved from the heart of oak, as he thinks fit. The process is continued until the box is firmly wedges [sic] in the hub, and able to withstand the weight of tons without moving. It is important that the wedges themselves do not touch the brittle cast iron box. The iron hub bands prevent the elm hub from spreading outwards, and only by spreading inwards can the elm make way for the wedge, which is exactly what the wheelwright requires. As soon as the box is made immovable all that remains is to chisel off the ends of the tightly fitting wedges, to be finally smoothed with the spoke shave. The wedges are so tightly fitted, that only the difference between the grain of elm and oak shows where they are. // These two wedges were found in situ at the builder's yard of Fowler and Company, West Harptree Somerset.... Both are coloured with red lead. //
Date
1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Période de création
Nineteenth century
Nom d'objet
Matériel
Document électronique
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_13195.tif - High resolution image
