A wheelwright is a craftsman who builds or repairs woodenwheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the word "wright", (which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or shaper of wood) as in shipwright and arkwright.[1] This occupational name became the English surnameWright. It also appears in surnames like Cartwright and Wainwright. It corresponds with skilful metal workers being called Smith.
Worldwide Wheelwright Phill Gregson fitting iron "strakes" to a traditional wooden wheel
These tradesmen made wheels for carts (cartwheels), wagons (wains), traps and coaches and the belt drives of steam powered machinery. They also made the wheels, and often the frames, for spinning wheels for home use. First constructing the hub (called the nave), the spokes and the rim segments called felloes, (pronounced fell low),[2] and assembling them all into a unit working from the center of the wheel outwards. Most wheels were made from wood, but other materials have been used, such as bone and horn, for decorative or other purposes. Some earlier construction for wheels such as those used in early chariots were bound by rawhide that would be applied wet and would shrink whilst drying, compressing and binding the woodwork together. After many centuries wheels evolved to be straked with iron, a method of nailing iron plates onto the felloes to protect against wear on the ground and to help bind the wheel together. Straking was considered to be a less skilled practice and could be done with less knowledge and equipment, this made the wheels easier to service without the need for a blacksmith.
Over millennia the overall appearance of the wheel barely changed but subtle changes to the design such as dishing and staggered spokes helped keep up with the demands of a changing world. These small changes in design made a massive improvement to the strength of the wheel whilst reducing its weight; vehicles then became more efficient to build and use.
During the industrial age, iron strakes were replaced by a solid iron tyre custom made by a blacksmith after the wheelwright had measured each wheel to ensure proper fit. Iron tyres were always made slightly smaller than the wheel in circumference. They were expanded by heating in a fire, and while hot they were hammered, and pulled by a levered hook, onto the rim of the wheel. The hot tyre was then cooled by placing it into water. This shrank it onto the wood, and closed the wooden joints. Tyres were fastened to the wheels with nails, or tyre bolts. The metal tyres were drilled before being placed on the wheel. Tyre-bolts were less likely than tyre-nails to fall off because they were bolted through the felloes. Both countersunk and flush finished to the wheel's outer surface.
This plate published in a volume of Encyclopédie in 1769 shows both methods of shoeing a wheel. In the centre the labourers are using hammers and "devil's claws" to fit a hoop onto the felloe, and on the right they're hammering strakes into place.
During the second half of the 19th century, the use of pre-manufactured iron hubs and other factory-made wood, iron and rubber wheel parts became increasingly common. Companies such as Henry Ford's developed manufacturing processes that soon made the village wheelwright obsolete. With the onset of two world wars, the trade soon went into decline and was very rare by the 1960s and almost extinct by the year 2000. However, owing to the efforts of organisations like the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, wheelwrights still continue to operate in the UK.[3]
In modern times, wheelwrights continue to make and repair a wide variety of wheels, including those made from wood and banded by iron tyres. The word wheelwright remains a term usually used for someone who makes and repairs wheels for horse-drawn vehicles, although it is sometimes used to refer to someone who repairs wheels, wheel alignment, rims, drums, discs and wire spokes on modern vehicles such as automobiles, buses and trucks. Wheels for horse-drawn vehicles continue to be constructed and repaired for use by people who use such vehicles for farming, competitions and presentations of historical events such as reenactments and living history.
Wheelwrighting today
A modern wooden wheel generally consists of three main parts, the nave or hub at the centre of the wheel, the spokes radiating out from the centre and the felloes or rims around the outside. Generally the wheel would be bound by a steel or iron tyre depending on its historical period and purpose.
The main timbers used in a traditional wooden wheel are Elm for the nave, Oak for the spokes and Ash for the felloes although this can vary in some areas depending on availability of timber, climate and style of production. Sometimes Hickory is substituted for Oak and Ash as it is easier to bend for mass production and is quite springy for light wheels that require a bit of flexibility.
The Elm is used for its interwoven grain, this prevents the nave from splitting with the force of the spokes being driven in tight.
The Oak is used because it doesn't bend, compress or flex and transfers any load pressures directly from the felloes to the nave.
The Ash is used for its flexibility and springy nature, this acts as a form of suspension and protects against shock damage.
The future
In the second half of the 20th century, wheelwright training faded away due to a lack of demand for new wooden wheels. The skills were kept alive by small businesses, museums, societies and trusts such as The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (USA) and The Countryside Agency (UK).
The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights in London (UK) maintains a flourishing (government-backed) apprenticeship scheme that began in 2013.
Colonial Williamsburg (USA) has an ongoing apprenticeship program and has recently (2016) taken on new apprentices.
^"Oxford English Dictionary". www.oed.com. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
^David Einhorn (2010). Civil War Blacksmithing. CreateSpace Publishers. ISBN978-1456364816.
Further reading
Hendrikson, M.C. (1996). The Secrets of Wheelwrighting: Tyres. Australia: M.C. and P. Hendrikson. Kariong, N.S.W. ISBN0-646-31201-4.
Morrison, Bruce; Morrison, Joyce (2003). Wheelwrighting : A Modern Introduction. Cottonwood Press. pp. 371 (Spiral-bound). ISBN0-9731947-0-7.
Peloubet, Don, ed. (1996). Wooden Wheel Design and Construction. KY: Carriage Museum of America. pp. 248 (paper). ISBN978-1-879335-73-8.
Sturt, George (1923). The Wheelwright's Shop. Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-09195-0. OCLC 919297923. OL 1171822W.
Wright, John; Hurford, Robert (1997). Making a wheel, how to make a traditional light English pattern wheel. UK: Natural England Countryside Agency. ISBN1-869964-57-8.
External links
"An Old Craftman Preserves." Popular Mechanics, October 1947, p. 144-145.
Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights
Phill Gregson, Wheelwright
Worldwide Wheelwright study
January 26, 2023
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For other uses see Wheelwright disambiguation A wheelwright is a craftsman who builds or repairs wooden wheels The word is the combination of wheel and the word wright which comes from the Old English word wryhta meaning a worker or shaper of wood as in shipwright and arkwright 1 This occupational name became the English surname Wright It also appears in surnames like Cartwright and Wainwright It corresponds with skilful metal workers being called Smith Wheelwright reenactor New Salem Illinois Wheelwrights Workshop at the Amberley Working Museum West Sussex England Worldwide Wheelwright Phill Gregson fitting iron strakes to a traditional wooden wheel These tradesmen made wheels for carts cartwheels wagons wains traps and coaches and the belt drives of steam powered machinery They also made the wheels and often the frames for spinning wheels for home use First constructing the hub called the nave the spokes and the rim segments called felloes pronounced fell low 2 and assembling them all into a unit working from the center of the wheel outwards Most wheels were made from wood but other materials have been used such as bone and horn for decorative or other purposes Some earlier construction for wheels such as those used in early chariots were bound by rawhide that would be applied wet and would shrink whilst drying compressing and binding the woodwork together After many centuries wheels evolved to be straked with iron a method of nailing iron plates onto the felloes to protect against wear on the ground and to help bind the wheel together Straking was considered to be a less skilled practice and could be done with less knowledge and equipment this made the wheels easier to service without the need for a blacksmith Over millennia the overall appearance of the wheel barely changed but subtle changes to the design such as dishing and staggered spokes helped keep up with the demands of a changing world These small changes in design made a massive improvement to the strength of the wheel whilst reducing its weight vehicles then became more efficient to build and use Contents 1 Industrial age 2 Wheelwrighting today 3 The future 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksIndustrial age EditDuring the industrial age iron strakes were replaced by a solid iron tyre custom made by a blacksmith after the wheelwright had measured each wheel to ensure proper fit Iron tyres were always made slightly smaller than the wheel in circumference They were expanded by heating in a fire and while hot they were hammered and pulled by a levered hook onto the rim of the wheel The hot tyre was then cooled by placing it into water This shrank it onto the wood and closed the wooden joints Tyres were fastened to the wheels with nails or tyre bolts The metal tyres were drilled before being placed on the wheel Tyre bolts were less likely than tyre nails to fall off because they were bolted through the felloes Both countersunk and flush finished to the wheel s outer surface This plate published in a volume of Encyclopedie in 1769 shows both methods of shoeing a wheel In the centre the labourers are using hammers and devil s claws to fit a hoop onto the felloe and on the right they re hammering strakes into place During the second half of the 19th century the use of pre manufactured iron hubs and other factory made wood iron and rubber wheel parts became increasingly common Companies such as Henry Ford s developed manufacturing processes that soon made the village wheelwright obsolete With the onset of two world wars the trade soon went into decline and was very rare by the 1960s and almost extinct by the year 2000 However owing to the efforts of organisations like the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights wheelwrights still continue to operate in the UK 3 In modern times wheelwrights continue to make and repair a wide variety of wheels including those made from wood and banded by iron tyres The word wheelwright remains a term usually used for someone who makes and repairs wheels for horse drawn vehicles although it is sometimes used to refer to someone who repairs wheels wheel alignment rims drums discs and wire spokes on modern vehicles such as automobiles buses and trucks Wheels for horse drawn vehicles continue to be constructed and repaired for use by people who use such vehicles for farming competitions and presentations of historical events such as reenactments and living history Wheelwrighting today EditA modern wooden wheel generally consists of three main parts the nave or hub at the centre of the wheel the spokes radiating out from the centre and the felloes or rims around the outside Generally the wheel would be bound by a steel or iron tyre depending on its historical period and purpose The main timbers used in a traditional wooden wheel are Elm for the nave Oak for the spokes and Ash for the felloes although this can vary in some areas depending on availability of timber climate and style of production Sometimes Hickory is substituted for Oak and Ash as it is easier to bend for mass production and is quite springy for light wheels that require a bit of flexibility The Elm is used for its interwoven grain this prevents the nave from splitting with the force of the spokes being driven in tight The Oak is used because it doesn t bend compress or flex and transfers any load pressures directly from the felloes to the nave The Ash is used for its flexibility and springy nature this acts as a form of suspension and protects against shock damage The future EditIn the second half of the 20th century wheelwright training faded away due to a lack of demand for new wooden wheels The skills were kept alive by small businesses museums societies and trusts such as The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation USA and The Countryside Agency UK The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights in London UK maintains a flourishing government backed apprenticeship scheme that began in 2013 Colonial Williamsburg USA has an ongoing apprenticeship program and has recently 2016 taken on new apprentices See also EditArtillery wheel Wheelbuilding Worshipful Company of WheelwrightsReferences Edit Webster s New Collegiate Dictionary 1976 ISBN 0 87779 338 7 Oxford English Dictionary www oed com Oxford Oxford University Press Retrieved 8 May 2022 David Einhorn 2010 Civil War Blacksmithing CreateSpace Publishers ISBN 978 1456364816 Further reading EditHendrikson M C 1996 The Secrets of Wheelwrighting Tyres Australia M C and P Hendrikson Kariong N S W ISBN 0 646 31201 4 Morrison Bruce Morrison Joyce 2003 Wheelwrighting A Modern Introduction Cottonwood Press pp 371 Spiral bound ISBN 0 9731947 0 7 Peloubet Don ed 1996 Wooden Wheel Design and Construction KY Carriage Museum of America pp 248 paper ISBN 978 1 879335 73 8 Sturt George 1923 The Wheelwright s Shop Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 09195 0 OCLC 919297923 OL 1171822W Wright John Hurford Robert 1997 Making a wheel how to make a traditional light English pattern wheel UK Natural England Countryside Agency ISBN 1 869964 57 8 External links Edit An Old Craftman Preserves Popular Mechanics October 1947 p 144 145 Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights Phill Gregson Wheelwright Worldwide Wheelwright study Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wheelwright amp oldid 1129984570, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
