Calk and Caspers Calk Wrench

[Wrenchmensch]

J. Caspers calk wrench was more complicated than most calk wrenches.  The unused horseshoe calk was included in the photo for folks who've never seen one.

[Nolatoolguy]

Cool, can I ask about how long is it?

[lzenglish]

J. Caspers calk wrench was more complicated than most calk wrenches.  The unused horseshoe calk was included in the photo for folks who've never seen one.

Nice! This is the first time I have heard the term "calk", and seen it and the wrench. Thanks for sharing. I had to google it, and have attached a photo for the benifit of others who are not aware of its use. Would these be used in Icy conditions?

Wayne

[Papaw]

Here are two I have-

Neverslip calk wrenches by Noel C. Hankamer, on Flickr
The Neverslip Horseshoe Co. of New Brunswick, NJ , began offering in 1880, a special wrench for tightening calks. in 1897, they offered a new design patented by James W. Johnson in August 1897. here is one with that patent on it, and one without.

[Branson]

J. Caspers calk wrench was more complicated than most calk wrenches. 

Something about that wrench makes me want to find one.  Thanks for the picture.  It sure looks purty!

[Wrenchmensch]

Calks were used to improve a horse's traction in mud, on icy surfaces, etc.  There are different shapes of calks for different conditions. Obviously, the shoe has to be one that will accept calks.  Diamond Calk Horseshoe Company of Duluth, Minnesota may still manufacture horseshoes and calks. Neverslip and Giant Grip are two other calk manufacturers.

The J. Caspers calk wrench is 13" long.  Mine still has green paint on it.
 

[64longstep/Brian]

This thread reminds me of the fun task I helped out with when I was crossed the big pond in Germany back in the late 70’s. My dad and I helped ark weld calks onto the shoes of six horses that had just been shod and there wasn’t time to refit them with shoes with calks. These horses were going to be ridden in a big ST Martens Day pride. You haven’t seen a jittery and upset house until you start welding on a horse shoe that is still attached to a horse.     

[Aunt Phil]

This thread reminds me of the fun task I helped out with when I was crossed the big pond in Germany back in the late 70’s. My dad and I helped ark weld calks onto the shoes of six horses that had just been shod and there wasn’t time to refit them with shoes with calks. These horses were going to be ridden in a big ST Martens Day pride. You haven’t seen a jittery and upset house until you start welding on a horse shoe that is still attached to a horse.   

I've been in a lot of places and welded more things than I can count, but somebody would have to do a lot of convincing to get me to strike an arc on a horse.

[Lewill2]

Attaching the ground must have been fun too.

Not all calks threaded in. some were peened into the shoe. I have to get some pictures of 2 other style of calks when I get back home in a few days.

[64longstep/Brian]

This thread reminds me of the fun task I helped out with when I was crossed the big pond in Germany back in the late 70’s. My dad and I helped ark weld calks onto the shoes of six horses that had just been shod and there wasn’t time to refit them with shoes with calks. These horses were going to be ridden in a big ST Martens Day pride. You haven’t seen a jittery and upset house until you start welding on a horse shoe that is still attached to a horse.   

I've been in a lot of places and welded more things than I can count, but somebody would have to do a lot of convincing to get me to strike an arc on a horse.

Necessity will always win out…

Attaching the ground must have been fun too.

Not all calks threaded in. some were peened into the shoe. I have to get some pictures of 2 other style of calks when I get back home in a few days.

It was, I had to hold the ground in place as wall as the calks...

[Lewill2]

Well I finally got around to taking a few pictures of my Ice Calks and my Mud Calks. As always they are on a cutting mat that has 1 inch graduations. Both types are unthreaded.

[Wrenchmensch]

Thanks for showing the unthreaded calks. 

[gibsontool]

I have had one of these tools for many years, today I found out what it is for.Thanks folks, This is a great site.  Jim

[johnsironsanctuary]

One of my favorite little 4" wrenches is made by those folks.  Diamond Calk and Horseshoe Co. I had trouble getting the letters to show, so I rubbed it with chalk.

[Wrenchmensch]

That's a nice little wrench!