Antique Tire Chains!

[Dougie Webb]

Still searching for signs of Civil War activity on the undeveloped properties in my area. Yesterday evening went for about an hour to an old dam that was a private road many years ago (thanks, www.historicaerials.com). I've found some old iron objects dating back to at least 1850 there, so I figured I would just turn off discrimination and dig everything. Yet more hand-forged/primitive nails, a few shell casings and these cool things, which appear to be some very old tire chains from 1920-1930. Made my day on a short little hunt.

 

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[Gare]

NICE find. Thoise chains look small like for a lawn tractor or a walk behind plow,. If you look on the one side of the chains it looks like they have grippers attached to the chains . What is the length of the chains

 

[cudamark]

If those are tire chains, they're for a real small tire......like 6" diameter ones.

 

[Norwichnut]

NICE find. Thoise chains look small like for a lawn tractor or a walk behind plow,. If you look on the one side of the chains it looks like they have grippers attached to the chains . What is the length of the chains

That's what I thought ..being 17 inches , they aren't gonna fit a normal car size tire

 

[cudamark]

It looks like there should be some other pieces to them. It doesn't look like they would wrap around something and have one end attach to the other without something in between. the ends just aren't oriented correctly to do that. There sure would be a heck of a bump if you had to drive over that big joint on the one end. Maybe they go the other way.....as in through a spoked wheel where they would wrap around between the spokes. It would take a bunch of those things to do one tire though........

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Wouldn't they go around the tire and through the spokes? There may be 6-8 of them for one tire.

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Cuda beat me to it.

 

[cudamark]

Yup, just googled "antique tire chains" and up popped photos just like your chains. They go through the spokes and it takes many such chains to complete one wheel.

 

[Dougie Webb]

NICE find. Thoise chains look small like for a lawn tractor or a walk behind plow,. If you look on the one side of the chains it looks like they have grippers attached to the chains . What is the length of the chains

I was thinking that too - they're only about 16 inches long. I've found several other old farm implements in the area.

 

[Dougie Webb]

it takes many such chains to complete one wheel.

Ohhhh - I was wondering why they were so short. At that length they would only fit a 5 inch wheel if it were only one per wheel

 

[Dougie Webb]

If those are tire chains, they're for a real small tire......like 6" diameter ones.

Yall beat me to it

 

[Gare]

Ohhhh - I was wondering why they were so short. At that length they would only fit a 5 inch wheel if it were only one per wheel

maybe a small snowblower ? 5 inch wheel is pretty small. Turn them over and take a picture of the cleats attached to the chains

 

[Dougie Webb]

There sure would be a heck of a bump if you had to drive over that big joint on the one end.

Right?! I think the way you described them must be at least close to how they worked

 

[alloy_II]

Those truck chains are intended to get you out of a pinch, not for extended travel.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Cool!

 

[Digger RJ]

Still searching for signs of Civil War activity on the undeveloped properties in my area. Yesterday evening went for about an hour to an old dam that was a private road many years ago (thanks, www.historicaerials.com). I've found some old iron objects dating back to at least 1850 there, so I figured I would just turn off discrimination and dig everything. Yet more hand-forged/primitive nails, a few shell casings and these cool things, which appear to be some very old tire chains from 1920-1930. Made my day on a short little hunt.

View attachment 2008256

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[OH..POPS]

I agree with Gare they are probably for a snow blower.
Nice find

 

[Gare]

Most Semi's (TRUCKERS) have dual rear wheels. it would be ALMOST impossible to put them on a semi wheel. All the ones i seen for semis go on BOTH rear wheels not just one and they are not large enough to go on 2 tires


ALSO look at the chain sizes stated

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/arnold-snow-thrower-tire-chains-16-in-x-4-3-4-in-1164512?cid=Shopping-Google-Product1164512&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgP6PBhDmARIsAPWMq6lbo2og0uPE4UtzA_kQUA79brk68Jw40-FBAkii_2vv4N5J_2PfA70aAsyaEALw_wcB

 

[Dougie Webb]

I think this probably solves the mystery - as @cudamark pointed out, they strap on to the spokes and are perpendicular. to the tread of the tire itself. Mine are just missing the leather. Thanks all!