IN 1875,
A local wheelright named silas overpak in manistee. michigan,
originated the design for the Big Wheels when a farmer asked him if he could fashion a larger set than the eight foot high wheels he had made for him earlier . Curiosity led Overpak to inquire what they were being used for . The farmer replied "Skidding logs". Silas quickly saw what a profitable business the wheels could be in the logging industry . He unveiled his "Michigan Logging Wheels" at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago . They were a huge success even though there were at least 25 patents registered for the wheels at the time . The wheels — 9 to 11 feet high and weighing between 1,200 to 1,500 pounds — were ordered and shipped to lumber companies across the U.S. A design change came at the turn of the century when John Webb Sr., owner of Redding Iron Works in California, developed , patented and manufactured his Slip Tongue High Wheels . Unlike Overpak’s stiff "stinger" tongue, the slip-tongue was a vast improvement in that it provided better braking over steep slopes.:biggrinbounce2: :biggrinbounce2:
A local wheelright named silas overpak in manistee. michigan,
originated the design for the Big Wheels when a farmer asked him if he could fashion a larger set than the eight foot high wheels he had made for him earlier . Curiosity led Overpak to inquire what they were being used for . The farmer replied "Skidding logs". Silas quickly saw what a profitable business the wheels could be in the logging industry . He unveiled his "Michigan Logging Wheels" at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago . They were a huge success even though there were at least 25 patents registered for the wheels at the time . The wheels — 9 to 11 feet high and weighing between 1,200 to 1,500 pounds — were ordered and shipped to lumber companies across the U.S. A design change came at the turn of the century when John Webb Sr., owner of Redding Iron Works in California, developed , patented and manufactured his Slip Tongue High Wheels . Unlike Overpak’s stiff "stinger" tongue, the slip-tongue was a vast improvement in that it provided better braking over steep slopes.:biggrinbounce2: :biggrinbounce2:
