Let's visit on the Porch II (Kalispell: inspectors, emissions, hear)

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Here's some pics. This is the same wagon I posted pics of about 3 weeks ago, only a lot more complete.

Ready to roll out of the shop.




Drivers seat.




Whole wagon.




Cruising down the road.

..........Is there any reason why you are sitting on the "right side of the "drivers seat"?.....or is it just a matter of choice as to where the driver sits? .......and I assume the "item sticking up in the center", is used for a place to wrap the reins around when you're stopped for a length of time.

Do the horses always get "rigged up" on the "same side" each time, or can they switch sides?

Nice looking set-up ......... Oh, and is that silver colored disc on a 'Rod' (shaft) pointing down (about 1/3rd of the way in from the R/S of the wagon)...........is that the "Brake Peddle"?

Best of luck on the forth-coming trips>

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

..........Is there any reason why you are sitting on the "right side of the "drivers seat"?.....or is it just a matter of choice as to where the driver sits? .......and I assume the "item sticking up in the center", is used for a place to wrap the reins around when you're stopped for a length of time.

Yes, but that's a temp thing. That front is only half there. We are going to hinge another half so that you can raise it up, snap it in place and then be able to stand and drive. We have some old Hame's that I am currently shining up and we're going to mount one up front and that will be where you wrap the reins, while stopped. Mike has always drove from the right side.

Do the horses always get "rigged up" on the "same side" each time, or can they switch sides?

Yes, they stay where they are at. This team was trained as a swing team on a six up. Jane and Suzie. Jane stays on her side, left, because she is a very stable horse and never spooks when traffic streaks by. We have harnessed on opposite sides and if you are out in the fields, you are fine, but get on the road and have traffic and it gets a little dicey.

Nice looking set-up ......... Oh, and is that silver colored disc on a 'Rod' (shaft) pointing down (about 1/3rd of the way in from the R/S of the wagon)...........is that the "Brake Peddle"?

Best of luck on the forth-coming trips>

Yup, thats the brake peddle. We tried it several times and it's plenty enough to wake up the team if needed, and it's also plenty enough to keep the wagon from running over them. However, at a walk you can hit the brakes and the team will only lean a little and they are dragging it down the road with all 4 wheels slding.

We put it through the paces, from the horses to a hard gallop to tight bends. We even took it through an irrigation ditch about 4 times, at different angles and she rides nice. One place, we cross railroad tracks and as you can imagine, it's rough. It's not a normal crossing. The horses got that front set of tires against a rail and leaned into it and up and over we went. This wagon turns considerably sharper than any of the other wagons and we never even put the tongue against the stop blocks, so we're still not sure exactly how far or tight we can turn it. We took it in and out of ditches. We even took it down a two track road and run the left side on the road and the right side through the irrigation ditch next to the end fo the culvert. Road like a dream.

We didn't get home until 10 or so. Very properouse run. You see the tub and cooler? We came home with both of those full of cucumber, acorn squash, peppers, etc... That's what happens when we get out after dark.

[jasper12]

Just a note, one of our regular posters, from Great Falls, Walter Greenspan, has passed away. In July.

[Reziac]

Oh no -- Walter, we'll miss you... shalom, our friend.

[Threerun]

Wow.. That's sad. I enjoyed his posts and will continue to do so..

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Very sad news. Thanks for letting us know. Apparently it was quite sudden:

RootsWeb: MTCASCAD-L [MTCASCAD] Walter GREENSPAN--20 DEC 1945 - 13 JULY 2012

[Montana Griz]

......Sad news indeed..............may He Rest In Peace...............

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Yes, but that's a temp thing. That front is only half there............................................. .................................................. ............................
Yes, they stay where they are at. This team was trained as a swing team on a six up. .................................................. .................................................. ..............................

Yup, thats the brake peddle. .................................................. .................................................. ..................................... We tried it several times and it's plenty enough to wake up the team ............................................
You see the tub and cooler? .Oh yeah...........figured they'd be full of "empty" amber bottles................'course, it was then I remembered you "like your veggies" We came home with both of those full of cucumber, acorn squash, peppers, etc... That's what happens when we get out after dark.

Thanks for the info EH............an old Fogey is never too old to learn something new

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

Thanks for the info EH............an old Fogey is never too old to learn something new

Well, when we left here the coolers were full of beer, but when we got back they were full of veggies.

On the Amish wagons, if you order the brake kit, the brake pedal and master cylinder are one unit, as in connected together. It is made to mount right to the floor with a 3/4 inch hole for the brake pedal rod to come through. Really a nice setup, however, you have to make a little trap door so that you can get at the Master Cylinder reservoir. Here's a picture. Kind of hard to see it, it's setting in a chair. Same thing, you can remove the pedal, mount it backwards and instead of the pedal, put a hand rod for a hand brake. It comes with a little valve that when you step on the brake, turn the little valve handle and release the brake, the pedal stays down. It acts like a parking brake. Or, if you are going down hill, you can step on the pedal a little, set the valve, and keep the tugs loose and the wagon not running over the horses.

[MTSilvertip]

I am really sorry to see that Walter has traveled over the great divide.

He was always a great source of informaion about the Jewish religion and People in Montana. I will certainly miss his wisdom and insight.

Just for Walter, Happy Rosh Hashanah everybody.