Hame Attachment (1891)
U.S. Patent No. 450,550, granted on April 14, 1891, to William B. Abrams, introduces a versatile, all-in-one draft attachment for horse hames. Abrams, an inventor from Wells, New York, sought to create a “universal” hardware piece that could be applied to any type of hame—the wooden or metal bars that follow the curve of a horse’s collar—to streamline how traces and straps are connected.
Before this invention, attaching different parts of a harness (like the breast-ring, back-strap, and traces) often required multiple separate pieces of hardware bolted into the hame, which could weaken the wood or metal. Abrams’ design consolidated these points of contact into a single, durable casting.
The Innovation: The Multi-Step “Adjustable Draft”
The defining feature of the Abrams attachment is its ability to change the height of the draft. Depending on the size of the horse or the weight of the load, the point where the trace (the strap that pulls the wagon) connects to the horse needs to be higher or lower to ensure maximum efficiency and animal comfort.
1. Perforated Steps (D) and Headed Bolt (F)
The plate features a series of “steps” or brackets. A long, threaded bolt passes vertically through these steps. By removing this bolt, a farmer could slide the trace attachment up or down to a different step, providing a custom fit for the specific work being done.
2. The Integrated Breast-Ring Flange (I)
Unlike previous designs where the breast-ring (used to help stabilize the harness across the chest) was a separate piece of hardware, Abrams cast a flange directly onto the front edge of the plate. This ensured the breast-ring was always perfectly aligned with the trace attachment.
3. The Universal Back-Strap Eye (B)
At the very top of the plate is a dedicated eye and ring for the back-strap. By placing this at the top of the same plate used for the draft, Abrams ensured that all forces acting on the hame were distributed along one solid piece of metal.
Key Technical Components
The attachment was designed as a “casting” (a single piece of molded metal) for maximum strength:
| Component | Function |
| Longitudinal Plate (A) | The curved base that contours to the shape of the hame; secured via screws or bolts. |
| Perforated Steps (D) | Multiple brackets that allow for vertical adjustment of the trace connection point. |
| Headed Bolt (F) | A removable rod that secures the trace attachment into the desired step. |
| Cockeye (G) / Ring (H) | The specific connectors for the traces; designed to allow the traces to move freely up or down. |
| Flange (I) & Ring (J) | The forward-facing attachment point for the breast-chain or strap. |
| Eye (B) & Ring (C) | The uppermost connection point for the harness back-strap. |
Versatility in the Field
Abrams designed the attachment to be compatible with various industrial harness styles of the late 19th century:
- Chain Tugs: The steps were spaced so that a chain link could be inserted directly between them and secured by the bolt.
- Clip Tugs: The attachment ring (H) acted as a joint, allowing leather traces to pivot, which prevented the harness from binding as the horse moved.
- Ease of Maintenance: The bolt (F) featured a hole in the head, allowing a farmer to use a simple nail or pin as a lever to unscrew it if a wrench wasn’t available in the field.
About the Inventor: William B. Abrams
William B. Abrams was a practical inventor from the Adirondack region of New York (Hamilton County).
- Practical Engineering: His work focused on “draft” efficiency—ensuring that the energy exerted by a horse was transferred to the vehicle as effectively as possible without causing the animal injury.
- Durability: By moving away from multiple small parts to a single “plate or casting,” Abrams addressed the common problem of harness hardware snapping under the immense pressure of heavy logging or farm work common in upstate New York.
Summary of Claims
The patent explicitly protects:
- A longitudinal plate adapted to be applied directly to a hame.
- A series of laterally-extending perforated steps located between the ends of the plate.
- The specific arrangement of a bolt passing through the steps to secure a trace attachment (cockeye) that can be moved to adjust the height of the draft.
- The inclusion of a forward-facing flange for a breast-ring and an upper eye for a back-strap ring on the same integrated unit.
