[TheForge] Conestoga wagon jack

[wmullett at bright.net]

I've been given the opportunity to make a new ratchet gear for a Conestoga wagon jack.  The owner has two - the one with the missing ratchet is dated 1787 and the other one he gave me to use as a pattern is dated 1819.

The 1819 one has a 1/8" hole on the gear side - not sure why - but through that I was able to determine the gearing.  The crank has a 4 tooth gear engaging another gear that lays just beneath the face plate and it has 18 teeth.  On the same shaft, is a gear with 3 teeth that engages the rack.  Thus the mechanical advantage is 6 to 1.

Looking at these two and the 5 shown in Plummer's "Sorber Collection", I wonder if the gears were bought?  None of the shafts run front to back so there has to be a separate box inside.  

Does anyone on-line know any more about these?

Walt - Ohio