To Build a Wagon

 Sommer Park, Peoria, IL. Wonderful example of the type of cart pulled by many Mormons on their journey west. Others used this type of cart but it was not as common. The balance is amazing and without a load it is easy to pull. That being said, I was struck by the number of questions that entered my mind while examining this mid-nineteenth century means of transporting goods.

First, the cart:

1. What was the best type of wood?
2. What kind of saw was used to cut the various sizes used? 
3. How long did it take to dry the wood? Air dried or had kiln drying become common?
4. How heavy could the load be and still have a single man handle it?
5. How easily could a harness be attached and an animal used? Was this impossible?
6. Pegs or hand made nails? Glue? If so, what type would hold up to the elements?
7. How much did this cart cost if you bought it new in 1850?

The wheel:

1. Again, what is the best wood? Oak, maple, pine, hickory?
2. How did the builder decide the number and size of he spokes?
3. Would thicker spokes and fewer be a better wheel? What would thicker do the width of the wheel? Did the width of the wheel make it easier or harder to pull? If the cart, fully loaded, weighed in at 500 pounds how much force would it take for a 165 pound man to pull it on the level prairie? Don't get me started on the amount of force needed to pull it up the hills, across the streams, rivers, and through the mud after a rain.
4. How often did the hub have to be greased? What was the grease made from in 1850? How much did the grease impact the energy needed to pull the cart?
5. What held the spokes in place? How long did a wheel last on the trip west? How thick was the axle?
6. What tools helped shape the spokes? Were they turned on a lathe? Start thinking about the ways to power a lathe in 1850?
7. What finish was applied to the wood? How often did it need reapplied?
8. How thick was the metal rim put over the wood and how long did that last?
9. What are the angle sizes created by the spoke? If the wheel has a diameter of 4' can you figure out the specific size of each angle?
10. Why didn't they attach one of the old Roman measurement tools to the wagon so it would drop a little rock every mile? How would that be done?

The people:

1. How many calories per day would a person burn pulling this cart fully loaded on the way west?
2. How much would it help the person pulling the cart to add a leather "harness" over their shoulders to help distribute the weight?
3. How many miles per day could a person travel? How long would it take to travel from Nauvoo, IL to Utah, pulling one of these?

Another combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics.