Horse hitch??

[Coinshooter2012]

I need verification on this one. I found this piece on the banks of the Blackstone River in RI, it was about 4 inches under the soil.

I found this piece in the canal side of the river on the side of a site of where an old 1830's textile mill was. At this location locals tell us that the horses were used to tow boats to the textile mills. I have found a few pics from the Erie Canal that show large draft horses towing barges through the canal.

This piece weighs about 100 pounds, where it was found there was a number of 4-5 inch loops made of iron found. The pics arn't great but im interested to see what you guys think. Im thinking that this was one of the horse hitches used to tow the barges/boats.

 

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[creskol]

It is a buggy axle

 

[Coinshooter2012]

I never thought of it being a buggy axle. The ends are squared off a little, would that accept a wheel? Ill look into that a little further.

 

[creskol]

I never thought of it being a buggy axle. The ends are squared off a little, would that accept a wheel? Ill look into that a little further.

This might help a little:

 

[Coinshooter2012]

Thank you very much. What would the "bow" of metal be for? Figuring this is well over 100 years old. I mean its it's not like I found the whole buggy but I'm interested on how it fit on the buggy.

 

[creskol]

Thank you very much. What would the "bow" of metal be for? Figuring this is well over 100 years old. I mean its it's not like I found the whole buggy but I'm interested on how it fit on the buggy.

What you have is the rear axle.. I have put a photo together below for you to look at. The image shows a heavy wagon chassis rather than a much lighter buggy chassis, but I think it will serve well enough to give you the general idea.

 

[Coinshooter2012]

Thank you very much for all your help. I'm wondering of the front axle is there too. Now I understand what I'm looking at. - Alan

 

[Gunrunner61]

Great Id's Guys ya'll are Fantastic!!!!...............When I grow up Id like to be that good................................HH

 

[skeeterd]

Don't EVER grow up Gunrunner! It's not nearly as great as all those grownups claim it to be!