Okay... here we go again. This is thread #9 in the "Tool Collection" series. All photos were taken at Mr. Bob Armstrongs home in Bethel, Ohio (Clermont County) and represent his current collection. Just a reminder that Bob has expressed a desire to sell his entire collection so, everything you've seen is for sale. He'll sell individual pieces, lots, or the entire collection.

Tonight I'll start with a few shoes Bob has in his collection. Some interesting for their ingenuity and some, interesting for just how bad they are!

Note that not all of these shoes represent "great craftsmanship". I'm posting them because they are interesting. Sometimes they're interesting for how bad they are!

That said... check the next post for shoe #1.

Cheers,
Mark

Circa 1930's to 1940's. Calk inventer and patent holder is Author Swanstrom, founder of the Diamond horseshoe and tool company.

Notice the directional heel calks.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/Day-Two/IMG_0024.jpg?t=1225945313


http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/Day-Two/IMG_0026.jpg?


http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg181/msgough/Blacksmith-Shop/Day-Two/IMG_0025.jpg?

I can't figure out what was going on with this shoe. It appears as though the farrier started quarter clips, then stopped before drawing his bubble. Also looks like a clip had been started at the toe, then bumped back. Maybe a shoe that had been clipped, then restored to other use? Maybe someone else knows.

I've seen several of these 'wry footed', really long heeled shoes. Long, tapered, pointy heels. I have no idea what type foot or use they were intended for. Was this meant for a hind? What do you think or know that you can share?

We'll need some help with this one too guys? What the heck was the intent?

Okay... we've got what appear to be very course nail holes.. but maybe not as much as you think at first glance. The web is really thin, so the nails will line up at the inside edge of the whiteline. Basically, this shoe covers the whiteline and the hoof wall, with nearly no steel (except the fisheyes) extending over the sole region. Maybe to reduce weight? Certainly a perimeter fit!

What's up with the heels? Yes, they're turned up! Was this someones attempt to create a spoon-heel effect so the horse didn't pull the shoes?

What do you think?





Ground surface up in this photo.

Now this is an interesting shoe!


Nice nail hole placement, huh?



Heel 'calks' are about 1 1/4" in length.



So, why did they use this rockered extension? Imagine the breakover mechanics.



Check out that toe extension. How many extensions can you get out of an old rasp?!

Go on to "Tool Collection #10" for more shoes and tools!

Cheers,
Mark

Mark_Gough wrote:

It looks like a toe weight for a saddlebred (or something). The shoe is meant to fit long with some pads.

It looks like it had side clips at one time. Just a guess but the little bent over toe clip may have been where the maker had intended to forge weld a toe clip on...you draw a small clip from the ground surface that blends in with the clip stock which is welded to the foot surface.