Thomas, Husband looked at the OPs photo, also thinks the wheels are implement wheels or someone copied implement wheels for putting on this cart. Never had rubber or wood on them. I have never seen older tall wheels with metal looking spokes, except on light old implements. Or even any metal wheels on carriages until more recent vehicles, after CDE came along. Odd looking hubs, sure not the common style found on carriages. He figures someone copied some pictures to make this repo vehicle quite a while ago. It does NOT look like a comfortable ride on those wheels. Wonder how much torque they would take on a sharp turn back?
Quote"The rear “axle” such as it is (it doesn’t move, but that’s what I’ll call it for now) is complemented by a pair of safety chains affixed to the underside of the seat… just in case all that metal came unglued. Guess someone went for a ride without wheels once…"Quote
I am only seeing one axle on the cart, so am thinking you mean “axle in the rear of vehicle, under seat” not a second axle behind a front axle. The chains were not to prevent losing the axle, but to AID the horse in pulling at a lower angle for more efficient use of his power. The chain set-up is shown in the Cocking Cart photos that Thomas posted. The singletree, which is where traces on horse are attached to cart, pulls from the suspended chain amd crossbar. Everything down there is part of the system, not just put on for looks.
With the metal vehicle being so old, the wood singletree could have rotted away, chains removed, leaving no trace to see the system. Pulling with singletree and chains to the axle is called “Axle Draft” in describing how Cart is set up. The metal cart shown now has a singletree mounted on the crossbar. Maybe they didn’t like the suspended style with chains or axle draft pull, removed it all.
Thomas’ photos shows black curved things down under cart, by the axle. Also a yellow bar hung from the crossbar between shafts by black straps. The lower bar is the heavy singletree suspended, with chains attaching in the center, run up from the axle. Chains are black leather covered so maybe not instantly recognized for what they are. Second photo shows chains, singletree, hanger straps, best. All that yellow really blends together! However this is a very classy vehicle, good name maker, restored correctly, including the axle draft chains and singletree.
The old builders had their reasons for proportions, which people looking at photos, may not understand when trying to build reproductions. Even 30 years ago much information was not available to a builder, and sure were not a lot of original Cocking Carts around to measure off of when copying. Even now you often don’t know why that odd item is on a vehicle, until someone tells you.
