Skip to content

Antique Expertise Requested

8 comments

ONE OF OUR READERS, Richard B. took this photo of a hose cart at the Bodie State Park in California’s Gold Rush country.

hose cart b

He would like to know why that reel of rope is mounted just under the drawbar.  This was obviously a hand-drawn cart, as just about all of them were, so it probably has nothing to do with harnessing.

If you know why the rope is there, please tell us in the Comments section.

Bodie is a gold-rush era ghost town.  In 1962 the State of California took possession of it and preseved it in toto as a State Historic Park to illustrate the way of life during those heady years of the mid- to late-19th century.  They have an excellent website HERE that is worth the visit.

Posted by on March 14, 2010 • Filed under: antique apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics • Tagged: ,
  • gregmccarraher

    The rope is to allow more people (probably men and boys back in the day) to pull. It looks like a “Racing Reel” the type used in musters etc. I was on a Reel Team in college in N.C. We were told what distinguished the racing reels was the size of the wheels. It could be all wrong but that is what I was told and we did in practice and competition back in the mid seventies. (1900 not 1800)

  • cfd37buckeye

    The rope underneath the hose cart was indeed part of the towing or pulling system. Our 1873 Silsby Steamer has a similar reel underneath it as it is a hand drawn steamer. The rope would normally have rope “rungs” tied to it, so that each person that would run along and join the brigade would be able to grab hold of the 3000+ pound steamer and drag it to the fire scene.

  • Legeros

    The lamp pots on the reel suggest to me that it was a regular-duty reel, versus a racing reel.

    The rope indeed allowed a couple dozen of volunteers to pull, and was likely knotted every foot or so, to help for gripping.

    Here's a picture showing a racing team with a reel and rope in Raleigh, NC: http://legeros.com/ralwake/raleigh/history/muse…

  • NLCFP

    Besides Being a hand drawn real. This hose real could also be attached to the coal bin of a steamer and be towed for longer distances. With the rope the real could be pulled by 2 to 20 firemen. I like the lamps not too many had them mounted like that.

  • carlavery

    It is my understanding that the rope could be used for “extra” help in pulling the hand drawn cart, in other words when all the positions were filled on the “tongue of the hose cart, the rope could be paid out for additional assistance, I would assume this rope could be used in other circumstances for pulling the cart over hills and through mud etc. I may be wrong, would love to hear other postings on this

  • joebideau

    There is only 4 or six handles on the toung of the hose cart, so the rope can be pulled out so many more men can pull, and the men on the toung steer and brake. I restored one like this many years ago and it is in an insurance co museum in Rockford IL.

  • Chris

    I also noticed the spring attached on the bowed crossbar which was probably used to hold a small bell. As the cart is pulled, the spring would flex, allowing the bell to ring.

  • Chris

    I also noticed the spring attached on the bowed crossbar which was probably used to hold a small bell. As the cart is pulled, the spring would flex, allowing the bell to ring.