Original leaf spring re-arching

[OldDinger]

Thanks Wes, I get it now.

[Brian]

Local spring shop info:

Heritage Machine & Welding
1001 W Locust
Bloomington, IL 61701
800-274-0440


Automotive Springs
3724 N New York Ave
Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 688-8781

Good Luck!

Brian

[BullRun]

Great article awhile back on a world famous Netherlands restoration shop who always re-arches their leaf springs. They pointed out that the process they use does not come from the automobile industry but the horse and buggy days of the local blacksmith.

Apparently there exists a mostly forgotten manual process that coach and buggy makers used to re-arch original leaf springs when rebuilding wagons.

The blacksmiths would re-arch leaf springs by beating the spring on an anvil in a specific way with the right hammers and tempering making the leaf springs regain their correct arch from manufacture.

The article showed the process and it worked! Good as new!

The restorers argument was that leaf springs unless damaged were never intended to be replaced but as the technology of the automobile advanced, the knowledge of the coach and body builders from earlier times of the local blacksmith was lost.

When the local blacksmith went the way of the buggy whip maker so did the knowledge of the process.

[RICKG]

When the local blacksmith went the way of the buggy whip maker so did the knowledge of the process.

As a "muleskinner", teamster and owner of a few vintage wagons and buggys I am in awe of the intracacies and quality of the hand forged
parts of days gone by.