Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
2007.012.001ab |
Object Name |
Bench, Harness Maker's |
Title |
Horse Collar Stretcher (Shaper) |
Lexicon category |
4: T&E For Materials |
Date |
19th-century |
Made |
Unknown |
Place of Origin |
Unknown |
Description |
Ernst Kuglin's horse collar stretcher (shaper). A. HORSE COLLAR STRETCHER: Table is supported by four thickly-turned wooden legs. The legs are braced with bent iron rods screwed to them with slotted screws. The two shorter ends have crossed rods, while the long sides have angled rods. When disassembled, one can see that the table has a long central slot with a small ovoid slot beside it. Bolted to the table is a wooden frame with some dovetail joinery. Inside this is a metal screw which protrudes outside the frame. No labels or maker's name observed on the underside of the table, where the large bolts, washers and square nuts secure the wooden frame around the screw. The end of the screw item is hexagonal. The other end of the frame has a thick round iron plate through which the screw's other end is visible. The plate has 3 holes spaced around it. There is a heavy, hinged iron shaping piece. It has two square-shaped ends and is rounded at the hinged end, and can be expanded. No lettering observed on this piece. There is still a piece of one inch-thick rope attached to the apparatus, which looks old. There is a thick, U-shaped wooden item (likely called a block). It is built from pieced wood and has a black finish. No lettering observed. There is a cast iron item that is heavy and thick, with a curved "U" shaped area. It has a threaded post sticking out of its center. There is a large, protruding square nut, and four protruding bolt-holes. The piece is attached with a threaded screw piece to a wooden piece. There is a bent rod-style handle at one end. The other end has a grip-handle style handle present. When assembled, the thick rope crosses over and knots hold it in place. The rope goes around the leather horse collar, and is a tensioning device. B. KUGLIN HORSE COLLAR: The horse collar has a strap at the top with 7 holes and a roller buckle with one tine. There is another leather item attached at the top. No maker's identification observed. The collar looks utilitarian, but has a curving pattern of squarish leather lacing detail. The collar is likely stuffed with horsehair (item has some hairs sticking out). |
Provenance |
Unknown. Likely dates to the 19th-century. It belonged to Ernst Kuglin (1856-1955), who apprenticed as a harness-maker in Germany and briefly served with the Prussian Army. He emigrated to Buffalo, New York, circa 1885, and came to Canada shortly after, where he owned a harness shop in Williamsford, Grey County. He was a pioneering member of the St. James Lutheran Church at Williamsford, and was at one point its longest-serving member of the congregation. This church's services were conducted in German until 1927. Ernst and his wife Amelia (neé Kawental, b. 1859-d. 1928) are buried at the St. James Lutheran Cemetery. This item was last owned by Dennis E. Kuglin of Owen Sound, Grey County, a grand-son of Amelia and Ernst Kuglin. |
Collection |
Harnessmaking Equipment Collection |
Material |
Wood/Metal/Leather/Rope/Finish/Hair, Horse |
Dimensions |
H-106 W-42.5 L-151 cm |
Found |
Williamsford, Township of Chatsworth, Grey County |
People |
Kuglin, Ernst Kuglin, Dennis E. |
Subjects |
Grey County Business Williamsford, Ontario |