Horse-Drawn Implements in Small Scale

By Bill Vossler
Published on October 25, 2011
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John Klaassen with his horse-drawn, 2-bottom plow. 
John Klaassen with his horse-drawn, 2-bottom plow. 
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The hay loader shown here is one of the many horse-drawn model farm toys John has made in part or entirely.
The hay loader shown here is one of the many horse-drawn model farm toys John has made in part or entirely.
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John made this stagecoach as a reminder of days gone by.
John made this stagecoach as a reminder of days gone by.
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John’s handcrafted planter and harness. Farm equipment operator manuals have been a handy resource as he crafts scale models.
John’s handcrafted planter and harness. Farm equipment operator manuals have been a handy resource as he crafts scale models.
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John’s handcrafted leatherwork. He says people can’t believe that the harness work is not professionally made. “I tell them it was done with these hands and these fingers,” he says.
John’s handcrafted leatherwork. He says people can’t believe that the harness work is not professionally made. “I tell them it was done with these hands and these fingers,” he says.
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John made this log sled out of various kinds of wood.
John made this log sled out of various kinds of wood.
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When John crafted this side-delivery rake, he made it with four bars instead of three. Horse drawn rakes typically had three bars but rakes designed for use with tractors had four bars, and John appreciated the smoother operation they delivered. To add realism, he tossed in grass to look like hay. 
When John crafted this side-delivery rake, he made it with four bars instead of three. Horse drawn rakes typically had three bars but rakes designed for use with tractors had four bars, and John appreciated the smoother operation they delivered. To add realism, he tossed in grass to look like hay. 
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A top rear view of the 2-bottom plow showing how the plow turns the soil.
A top rear view of the 2-bottom plow showing how the plow turns the soil.
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The horse-drawn cultivator, a standard feature on old-time farms. Note the bib overalls on the man; John had multiple sets made for his “farmers.”
The horse-drawn cultivator, a standard feature on old-time farms. Note the bib overalls on the man; John had multiple sets made for his “farmers.”
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As shown here, hay loaders were typically pulled behind the hayrack. Windrows were picked up and the hay moved to the top, dropping into the hayrack, where the hay was forked into place.
As shown here, hay loaders were typically pulled behind the hayrack. Windrows were picked up and the hay moved to the top, dropping into the hayrack, where the hay was forked into place.
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These horses are pulling a manufactured Whitewater cast-iron wagon. John made the harness for the horses. 
These horses are pulling a manufactured Whitewater cast-iron wagon. John made the harness for the horses. 

John M. Klaassen grew up at the end of the horse-farming era. He not only saw how his parents dealt with it, but got involved himself.

“The toy equipment I make is the same equipment we used on our farms,” he says. “The cultivator or disc, the plow and hay loader, the side-delivery rake, all were practical on the farm I grew up on. I got just old enough to barely get in on some of the horse work. I never actually plowed with five horses on a plow, but I remember my dad and hired help used horses for plowing. Mostly what I did with horses was rake and mow hay. I mowed a lot of acres of hay because I was too young to drive the hay loader or pitch the hay.”

But what really solidified his love for horses was a Christmas gift. “When I was 6,” he recalls, “I got my first Shetland pony, a small black colt.” At the same time, John’s mother began making harness for the plastic, toy horses she’d bought him. “We didn’t have toys like kids do now,” he says. “We used 1- or 2-pound cheese boxes for wagons and things like that. I always had a love for horses, and I still do.”

That’s evident in the horse-drawn implements and harness John has made. He began after seeing another craftsman’s work. When that man retired and sold out, John bought some of his equipment and material.

Leather, though, remained a very expensive component – until he came up with the idea to recycle used leather purses. “I buy them for 50 cents and take them apart,” he says. “They are very well made. It takes me two days to dismantle one.” Harness reins are too small and delicate to be cut from the purses, so he orders those from Tandy Leather Co.

Beginning with wagons

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