Girthing Chain
By Tim Huppe
Reprinted from Small Farmer’s Journal, Fall, Vol. 32, No. 4
If you are browsing through an antique store or walking through an old barn, keep your eyes open for this unique item. It is likely that many were in use in years past, but were discarded because those that had them did not know their function.
Butchers and official weigh masters used them, cattle dealers, drovers, and operators of fattening operations used them. There were few weight scales large enough to weigh cattle in the early days. Feed manufacturers had not yet begun handing out cattle weight tapes. So, if you wanted to measure the girth of a bovine, you used a girthing chain. Measuring the girth gave a fair approximation of the animal’s weight.
The chain is nine feet long. It is made of brass or steel jeweler’s chain. In line in the chain is small round or oval brass tabs stamped with numbers five through nine. At the beginning of the chain there is a small wire ring which the person held while unraveling the chain.
The first brass tab is at five feet, and of course, it is stamped with a five. There is a tab each foot thereafter with corresponding numbered tabs up to nine. Half way between each numbered tab there is an extra link affixed to the chain indicating the half foot.
Just like the weight tapes we use today, the chain is wrapped around the girth of the ox directly behind the front legs. With the zero ring in hand, the other end is brought up around snug to the aligning point on the chain. The old saying goes that ‘how snug the chain was pulled depended on if you were buying or selling’.
A six foot ox weighed approximately 1,000 pounds and an eight foot ox weighed 1,900 pounds. After, the chains were usually wrapped around a wood thread spool to keep from tangling. These chains were well cared for by their owners.
Many of the stories written about the ox teams of old refer to them in feet. Now you know that it is girth and not height that they are talking about.
If you come across one of these chains and are lucky enough to become the owner of it, take good care with it. With the transfer of ownership of these chains there is often a good story that goes with it.
Butchers and official weigh masters used them, cattle dealers, drovers, and operators of fattening operations used them. There were few weight scales large enough to weigh cattle in the early days. Feed manufacturers had not yet begun handing out cattle weight tapes. So, if you wanted to measure the girth of a bovine, you used a girthing chain. Measuring the girth gave a fair approximation of the animal’s weight.
The chain is nine feet long. It is made of brass or steel jeweler’s chain. In line in the chain is small round or oval brass tabs stamped with numbers five through nine. At the beginning of the chain there is a small wire ring which the person held while unraveling the chain.
The first brass tab is at five feet, and of course, it is stamped with a five. There is a tab each foot thereafter with corresponding numbered tabs up to nine. Half way between each numbered tab there is an extra link affixed to the chain indicating the half foot.
Just like the weight tapes we use today, the chain is wrapped around the girth of the ox directly behind the front legs. With the zero ring in hand, the other end is brought up around snug to the aligning point on the chain. The old saying goes that ‘how snug the chain was pulled depended on if you were buying or selling’.
A six foot ox weighed approximately 1,000 pounds and an eight foot ox weighed 1,900 pounds. After, the chains were usually wrapped around a wood thread spool to keep from tangling. These chains were well cared for by their owners.
Many of the stories written about the ox teams of old refer to them in feet. Now you know that it is girth and not height that they are talking about.
If you come across one of these chains and are lucky enough to become the owner of it, take good care with it. With the transfer of ownership of these chains there is often a good story that goes with it.
Brass Horn Training Knobs
By Tim Huppe
Reprinted from Small Farmer’s Journal, Fall, Vol. 32, No. 4
It is rare that a team of oxen naturally have horns that match one another. Teamsters often use various methods to manage the growth of a horn. The most common method is to use horn weights to pull the horn downward.
The training knob pictured below had two uses. The mounting of the knob is quite simple. The knob is placed over the tip of the horn and the small bolt threaded into the knob is tightened against the horn.
One application for this unique knob was to pull horns together. The knobs are mounted on the horns with the eyelets facing inward. Piano wire is fastened to the eyelets and strung across the front of the forehead. The wires are fastened to a turnbuckle. As the horn was pulled inward, the turnbuckle was tightened. It was left in place until horns were the desired shape…Piano wire was used, because it broke easily if the ox got tangled up.
Another application for the knob is to turn the horn upward.
A teamster choosing to use a head yoke or attempting to lift a horn from eye level or simply likes the look of turned-up horns, would use this knob.
The knob is mounted on the horn with the eyelets turned upward. The ox is tied into its stall. On the ceiling, pulleys are hung. Small stranded wire or light rope is tied to the knobs, run up and over the pulley and down to a weight. The pulley system allows the ox to move its head all the while with a continuous upward pull.
This method requires constant attention from the caregiver, due to its complex nature.
The training knob pictured below had two uses. The mounting of the knob is quite simple. The knob is placed over the tip of the horn and the small bolt threaded into the knob is tightened against the horn.
One application for this unique knob was to pull horns together. The knobs are mounted on the horns with the eyelets facing inward. Piano wire is fastened to the eyelets and strung across the front of the forehead. The wires are fastened to a turnbuckle. As the horn was pulled inward, the turnbuckle was tightened. It was left in place until horns were the desired shape…Piano wire was used, because it broke easily if the ox got tangled up.
Another application for the knob is to turn the horn upward.
A teamster choosing to use a head yoke or attempting to lift a horn from eye level or simply likes the look of turned-up horns, would use this knob.
The knob is mounted on the horn with the eyelets turned upward. The ox is tied into its stall. On the ceiling, pulleys are hung. Small stranded wire or light rope is tied to the knobs, run up and over the pulley and down to a weight. The pulley system allows the ox to move its head all the while with a continuous upward pull.
This method requires constant attention from the caregiver, due to its complex nature.