Wagon Wheel Jacks (3)

These devices at Smith’s Tavern are various sized wooden wagon wheel and/or buggy jacks.  They were used in the 1800s to raise different sized carts to change wheels and grease axles.  When a wagon or buggy was empty, greasing was generally done by manually lifting one corner of the vehicle, sliding the wheel partially off the iron skein and putting grease only on the exposed section.  Later, after the wheel was reinstalled and began rotating, the grease would work its way over the whole wheel bearing.

Catalog Items:

Item T258 (Small Size)

Location:	Floor, Panel 14
Length:	54 cm
Width:	3 cm
Height:	80 cm

The smaller of the jacks is of wood construction with iron bolts and features a handle with a rounded end on a hinge and a series of support notches in graduated heights.  The front of this jack has a wooden wheel for better maneuvering and a wooden block at the other end for balance/stability.  This tool was most likely handmade versus mass manufactured.

Reference:  https://www.ebth.com/items/5874300-antique-wooden-wagon-jack

Item T258 (Medium Size)

Location:	Floor, Panel 14
Length:	55 cm
Width:	11 cm
Height:	75 cm

The medium sized jack is made of hardwood (maybe oak) with iron bolts and an iron strip of graduated nocks on top, also with a rounded handle.  This jack’s base is composed of two parallel wood boards to provide better stability.  This tool appears to have been potentially mass manufactured vs handmade.

Reference:  None

Item T258 (Large Size)

Location:	Floor, Panel 14
Length:	88 cm
Width:	7 cm
Height:	75 cm

The larger sized jack is also made of hardwood (maybe oak) with more modern iron bolts and other metal hardware, also with a rounded handle.  It stands on a wood plank in a pedestal-like structure.  This tool appears to have been potentially mass-manufactured vs handmade.

Reference:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/254285697864