Non-Valk, Non Political, Kept me captivated

[Skinhead]

How many have watched/remember a show called Death Valley Days, and the 20 mule team US borax commercials?  I came across this video series on Youtube from Engles Coach shop.  They do horse drawn restorations.  This is a series of videos of a ground up build of the wagons used in Death Valley California to haul the borax from the mine.  There is an original wagon at the resort in Furnace Creek, but it is in pretty sketchy shape.  Any way, I was just fascinated by the old school craftsmanship involved in this project and can only imagine the work and craftsmanship involved in manufacturing the originals back in the 1800's, before they had power tools.  If they were lucky, they may have had flat belt steam powered tools, but even those ...WOW!

I spent weeks in Death Valley doing hot weather testing, below sea level, I've seen the original wagons and spent days running up and down the grades in the valley.  It's pretty easy in a modern truck, I can't imagine doing it with a team of 20 mules hauling wagons.  The mule farts alone would be unbearable, throw 120+F degrees on top of that!

Any way, if your into this kind of thing enjoy, if not, go back to arguing politics.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3Qu3GIvx73EgVa8dYcN_e9ps2BDMO9j3

[¿spoom]

How many have watched/remember a show called Death Valley Days, and the 20 mule team US borax commercials?  I came across this video series on Youtube from Engles Coach shop.  They do horse drawn restorations.  This is a series of videos of a ground up build of the wagons used in Death Valley California to haul the borax from the mine.  There is an original wagon at the resort in Furnace Creek, but it is in pretty sketchy shape.  Any way, I was just fascinated by the old school craftsmanship involved in this project and can only imagine the work and craftsmanship involved in manufacturing the originals back in the 1800's, before they had power tools.  If they were lucky, they may have had flat belt steam powered tools, but even those ...WOW!

I spent weeks in Death Valley doing hot weather testing, below sea level, I've seen the original wagons and spent days running up and down the grades in the valley.  It's pretty easy in a modern truck, I can't imagine doing it with a team of 20 mules hauling wagons.  The mule farts alone would be unbearable, throw 120+F degrees on top of that!

Any way, if your into this kind of thing enjoy, if not, go back to arguing politics.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3Qu3GIvx73EgVa8dYcN_e9ps2BDMO9j3
Many Conestoga wagons used by western settlers were made by Studebaker in South Bend, IN, and I know many heavy cargo ones were sent to Death Valley, as well as up & down the Pacific Coast and gold/silver mining areas.

[Skinhead]

The videos of them making the wheels (rears ended up weighing 1080 lbs each with the Iron tires) and axles were fascinating.  I learned a lot about forging watching these.  I would not have wanted to get into it with an blacksmith back in the day.

[baldo]

That is fascinating. SO MUCH WORK !

My arms are jello just watching these guys.

[Robert]

Great to learn about thanks