Chapter I: Preface

This Handbook contains, in form convenient for everyday use, a comprehensive digest of the knowledge of harness making, scattered over more than twenty thousand columns of WORK—one of the weekly journals it is my fortune to edit—and supplies concise information on the details of the subjects of which it treats.

In preparing for publication in book form the mass of relevant matter contained in the volumes of WORK, much had to be arranged anew. However, it may be stated that the greater part of the contents of this Handbook consists substantially of matter contributed by a working harness maker.

Readers who may desire additional information respecting special details of the matters dealt with in this Handbook, or instructions on kindred subjects, should address a question to WORK, so that it may be answered in the columns of that journal.

P. N. HASLUCK.

_La Belle Sauvage, London,
May, 1904._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.—Harness-makers’ Tools 9

II.—Harness-makers’ Materials 30

III.—Strap Making and Stitching 49

IV.—Looping 57

V.—Cart Harness 62

VI.—Cart Collars 75

VII.—Cart Saddles, Reins, etc. 86

VIII.—Fore Gear and Leader Harness 101

IX.—Plough Harness 107

X.—Bits, Spurs, Stirrups, and Harness Furniture 111

XI.—Van and Cab Harness 127

Index 157

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FIG. PAGE
1.—Paring Knife 10
2.—Hand Knife 10
3.—Round Knife 11
4.—Head Knife 11
5.—Cutting Gauge 11
6.—Plough or Plough Gauge 12
7.—Side Elevation of Plough Gauge 12
8.—End Elevation of Plough Gauge 13
9.—Slitting Machine 13
10.—Spokeshave 13
11.—Edge Trimmer 14
12.—Washer Cutter 14
13.—Round Punch 15
14.—Oval Punch 15
15.—Buckle Tongue, or Crew, Punch 15
16.—Girth Chape Punch 15
17.—Brace End Punch 15
18.—Forepart of Brace End Punch 16
19.—Hand Punch 16
20.—Hand Punch Nipple 16
21 to 24.—Scalloping Irons 16
25, 26.—Rosette Punches 17
27.—Lead Piece 17
28.—Wooden Mallet 17
29, 30.—Useful Wooden Mallets 17
31.—Saddlers’ Hammer 18
32.—Pricking-iron 18
33, 34.—Wheel Prickers 18
35.—Screw-race 19
36.—Single Crease 19
37.—Screw-crease 19
38.—Checker 20
39.—Beveller 20
40.—Compasses 20
41.—Race Compasses 20
42, 43.—Awl Blades 21
44.—Sewing Awl 22
45.—Bent Awl 22
46, 47.—Harness Needles 23
48, 49.—Seat Awls 23
50, 51.—Hand-irons or Palm-irons 24
52.—Clamp or Clams 24
53.—Clamp for Sewing Shaft-tugs 25
54.—Home-made Clamp Holding Work 25
55.—Jaws of Clamp 25
56.—Nail-claw 26
57.—Cutting Pliers 26
58.—Iron Collar Rod 27
59.—Steel Seat-iron 27
60.—Loop-stick 28
61.—Rubber 28
62.—Straining Fork 29
63.—Cutting up Hide 39
64.—Plain Waist Belt 53
65.—Fancy Waist Belt 54
66.—Waist Belt with Pockets 55
67.—Box Creased Loop 58
68.—Box Creased Loop 59
69, 70.—Box Creased Loops 60
71.—Horse in Cart Gear 62
72 to 75.—Scotch Brass Gear Buckles 63
76, 77.—Brass Face-pieces 64
78.—Brass Face-piece 65
79.—Bells and Brush 65
80, 81.—Brass Hame Plates 65
82.—Brass Oval 66
82 to 85.—Brass Octagons 66
86.—Brass Heart 66
87, 88.—Brass Stars 66
89, 90.—Brass Hame Knobs 67
91, 92.—Brass Swing 67
93.—Ear-piece 67
94.—Corner-piece 67
95.—Cart Collar without Side-piece 75
96.—Cart Collar Lining 79
97.—Cart Collar Side-piece 83
98.—Cart Saddle Tree 87
99.—Cart Saddle Panel 89
100.—Cart Saddle Hind Housing 93
101.—Cart Saddle Front Housing 95
102.—Set of Leader Gear 103
103, 104.—Hip-strap Chains 105
105.—Plough Back-band Hook 109
106 to 108.—Pelham Bits 111
109.—Hackney Bit 111
110.—Bridoon 111
111, 112.—Ladies’ Horse Bits 112
113.—Pelham Snaffle with Indiarubber Mouth 112
114.—Hackney Bit with Indiarubber Mouth 112
115.—Gig Snaffle 113
116.—Wilson Snaffle 113
117.—Liverpool Bit 113
118.—Globe Check Curb Bit 113
119.—One-horn Bridoon Bit 113
120.—One-horned Bridoon with Indiarubber Mouth 114
121.—Gig Curb Bit 114
122.—Buxton Bit 114
123.—Swivelled Bridoon Bit 114
124, 125.—Breaking Bits 114
126.—Breaking Bit 115
127.—Snaffle with Indiarubber Mouth 115
128, 129.—Exercising Bits 115
130.—Show or Stallion Bit 115
131.—Double-mouthed Snaffle 116
132.—Ordinary Spur 116
133.—Officer’s Regulation Spur 116
134.—Dress Spur 116
135.—Lady’s Spur 117
136.—Trousers Spur 117
137.—Solid Stirrup 117
138.—Open Button Stirrup 117
139.—Waving Bar Stirrup 117
140.—Lady’s Stirrup 117
141.—Stirrup Slipper 118
142.—Safety Stirrup 118
143.—Flat Side Wire Front Buckle 118
144.—Front Bevelled Buckle 118
145.—Bevelled Flat Top Buckle 118
146.—West End Bevelled Flat Top Buckle 118
147.—Spade Buckle 119
148.—Square Wire Buckle 119
149.—Chatham Buckle 119
150.—Flat Top Turned-up Buckle 119
151.—Fluted Buckle 119
152.—Swelled Front Bent-leg Buckle 119
153.—Flat Top Cab Buckle 119
154.—West End Whole Buckle 119
155.—Chased Buckle 120
156.—Melbourne Buckle 120
157.—Square Buckle 120
158, 159.—Covered Buckles 120
160, 161.—Part-covered Buckles 120
162.—Shaft Tug Buckle 121
163.—Burgess’s Buckle 121
164.—Ball Terret 121
165.—Plain Terret 121
166 to 168.—Ball Terrets 122
169 to 172.—Hames 123
173, 174.—Bearing-rein Swivels 123
175, 176.—Roller Buckles 124
177.—Hame Clip 125
178, 179.—Breeching Dees 125
180, 181.—Winkers 129
182.—Van Saddle 131
183.—Van Saddle Flap 131
184.—Van Saddle Panel 131
185.—Chain and Leather Gig Front 140
186.—Chain and Leather Gig Front 141
187.—Chain and Leather Gig Front 143
188.—Crupper Dock 147
189.—Breeching, etc. 147
190.—Back-band 147
191.—Shaft Tugs 147
192.—Four-wheeled Cab Saddle 153
193.—Cab Saddle Tree 153
194.—Hansom Cab Saddle 154
195, 196.—Rein Stops 154
197.—Hansom Cab Harness 155

HARNESS MAKING.