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1865. Charleston, South Carolina. Archibald McLeish's Vulcan Iron Works on Cumberland Street. Left half of glass-plate stereograph, from photographs of the Federal Navy and seaborne expeditions against the Atlantic Coast of the Confederacy, 1863-1865. View full size. Note the unusually elaborate sign, as well as what seem to be the giant wheels of an artillery carriage.
is likely something called just that, also called a ship's mast wheel, used to haul whole logs. A log or logs is/are chained to the middle section and is hauled by a team of horses/mules. The other end of the log is dragged.
I figure these are here at the ironworks to get metal tires applied as they would do for any carriage wheel.
Dave, this is a gorgeous piece of history. I collect stereograph cards and I would love to see this image in three dimensions. If possible could you also post the right plate of the stereoscopic pair?
[Both halves can be found here. - Dave]
That is really a great photograph, what shorpy should be more of.
A cannon *and* an anvil suspended above the street on that awesome sign? Man, if that thing pulled out of the wall those horses would be paste!
They seem so rickety!
I wonder if the sign survives? I imagine a museum would kill for it....
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