![]() It is rare that a team of oxen naturally have horns that match one another. With the transfer of ownership of these chains there is often a good story that goes with it. If you come across one of these chains and are lucky enough to become the owner of it, take good care with it. Now you know that it is girth and not height that they are talking about. Many of the stories written about the ox teams of old refer to them in feet. ![]() These chains were well cared for by their owners. After, the chains were usually wrapped around a wood thread spool to keep from tangling. The old saying goes that ‘how snug the chain was pulled depended on if you were buying or selling’.Ī six foot ox weighed approximately 1,000 pounds and an eight foot ox weighed 1,900 pounds. ![]() With the zero ring in hand, the other end is brought up around snug to the aligning point on the chain. Just like the weight tapes we use today, the chain is wrapped around the girth of the ox directly behind the front legs. Half way between each numbered tab there is an extra link affixed to the chain indicating the half foot. There is a tab each foot thereafter with corresponding numbered tabs up to nine. The first brass tab is at five feet, and of course, it is stamped with a five. At the beginning of the chain there is a small wire ring which the person held while unraveling the chain. In line in the chain is small round or oval brass tabs stamped with numbers five through nine. It is made of brass or steel jeweler’s chain. Measuring the girth gave a fair approximation of the animal’s weight. So, if you wanted to measure the girth of a bovine, you used a girthing chain. Feed manufacturers had not yet begun handing out cattle weight tapes. There were few weight scales large enough to weigh cattle in the early days. It is likely that many were in use in years past, but were discarded because those that had them did not know their function.īutchers and official weigh masters used them, cattle dealers, drovers, and operators of fattening operations used them. If you are browsing through an antique store or walking through an old barn, keep your eyes open for this unique item.
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