This is the assembly process of the 20 mule team Borax wagons rear axles. Because of the 10 ton load on these wagons, the irons are extra heavy to stabilize these gears. Thank you for watching and I hope you enjoy it.
What an amazing gentleman with a skill set that very few men in this world possess! Not just in what he makes but you can tell that his true honesty comes through in what he does. The world is a better place with men like this in it, I say this from the bottom of my heart!
Ever since seeing the introduction to 'Death Valley Days'; back in the mid 1950s I have been fascinated by those wagons and now 60 years later, I get to see such an in depth instruction into the building of those wagons and that is even more fascinating. Thanks for Sharing it
Your videos are freakin' awesome! It's fantastic that there are still true artisans keeping these vocations alive! For me, even just watching this work helps keep me grounded and aware of what it took to create this country, and still takes today. Keep 'em coming!
I am amazed with all its complexity, but do appreciate the knowledge that ended up being used as a baseline for automotive design. I hope there are new interests by the new generation to learn all these skills. A lucky one ends up being a master of all skills.
Dave, I am so happy too see you have someone that will carry on your art. I have been concerned about this for some time and today I see you have Calvin working with you. You are a true artist in the truest meaning.
Many Years Ago, I Visited The Borax Open Pit Mine in Boron, CA. I Saw A Borax Wagon At A Distance But Wasn't Able To Inspect It Up Close. Your Video Leaves Me Dumbfounded. The Under- Structure Is Massive And Strong. By The Way, Your Workmanship Is Amazing. Has The Detail Of A Swiss Watch. You Do A Wonderful Job On The Video Production Too. Enjoyed It Immensely.
I have been watching Engels Coach Shop since you fitted the rims to the wheels and completed the Borax wagons so i have never seen you doing the undercarriage work before. You are absolutely bloody brilliant. It seems there is as much steel on these wagon front and rear axle assemblies as in a modern day motor car. I have been following you for a couple of years and I marvel at your skills. To talk about how the west was won, it was up to guys like you that could turn their hands to anything that needed doing. I am a tradesman have had a varied life in different fields but you have my total respect. Thankyou.
Hey John I’m a machinist tool/die and do a lot of work at home and work with metal. This guy is a true craftsman in a lot of trades. I also started watching with the Borax Wagons but had not seen this one.
I've been watching your video's and greatly admiring the high level of craftsmanship you have. Your ironwork and woodwork are amazing. But it just occurred to me that our ancestors figured all this out and hand-forged the iron and hand cut the timbers. Respect level just increased dramatically.
This is 1800 era Composite Engineering level stuff right here! Instead of modern Carbon Fiber and Closed Cell Foam its Carbon Steel and Bio-Foam construction. Same idea, different era. Amazing work!
All design is a process of continual evolution and improvement. At this stage on cannot help but think that the designer of this wagon was beginning to wonder why he was using wood at all. If he'd had a Mig welder, I think he would have done away with all the wood.
Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful to watch you crafting 1/2" plate steel to 2" square rods drawing them out to 1" brackets. One question comes to mind, which granted you may have answered elsewhere. You went to Death Valley and photgraphed and measured EVERYTHING. Did you then have a Draftsman draw up blue prints to build by?
As I watch the iron being formed for beefing up attachments points and such, I am wondering. Not being any sort of knowledgeable on wagons, would you say these methods grew out of more trial and error, or was this method of using iron engineered on paper then implemented during production? I ask as I am dumbfounded at the amount of knowledge and skill needed to produce such a heavy duty wagon. Bravo sir. Bravo....
Once again another absolute piece de resistance from your shop!. Do you know how many of these Perry design wagons were built in total? And if they were built some where near the point of use? It must have been quite a large facility and employed rather a large crew of craftsmen; doubt if they had power hammers then......
In other words the back axel was hooked to the front bolsters (there was not coupling pole between the front and back of the wagon. (Like a normal farm wagon that I was used to)
wonderful job. love watching you work.. I would realy like to know who was the original designer of those wagons? was it trial and error? or some engineer and architect /
