We regularly receive inquiries as to how to perform a number of necessary jobs related to antique horse drawn vehicles. From wheel repairs to general maintenance, the search for the best ways to approach a variety of challenges is as earnest today as it was a century ago. With that as our backdrop for this week’s blog, it’s interesting to see how some of the same tasks were handled ‘back in the day.’ On page 301 of the February 1907 issue of “The Carriage Monthly,” the problem of removing a tight tire from a wheel was discussed. Below was the recommended solution...
“If a tire is very tight and must be removed for any cause, it is sometimes a very difficult task. The removal can be affected by placing the wheel in a warm place and allowing it to dry out. To aid in the drying process, take pieces of tires ½ x 2 inches and about 18 inches long, put against the shape of the tire to be removed. Heat them to a red heat and place them against the tire, but take care not to injure the paint on the rims. This will expand the tire somewhat, and the tire puller will do the rest of the business.”
Clearly, history can be a remarkable teacher. It’s one of the reasons we’ve devoted so many resources to saving and sharing so much obscure and previously lost portions of America’s first transportation industry. We’ll reinforce this truth again next week when we unveil another exclusive discovery involving an increasingly well-known St. Louis wagon maker.
