Saturday, March 08, 2008

John Robinson Military Elephants 1918


Scan000010938, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Dan "Curley" Noonan poses with "Tony". "Tillie", "Pitt" and "Clara" while appearing with the C.A. Wortham Shows.

Posted by Buckles at 3/08/2008 06:43:00 AM

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm curious, he's holding a whip rather than a hook or cane. Don't think I've noticed that before in old photos. Wondering if he presented some portion of the act while riding?

08 March, 2008 09:08
Anonymous said...

Ben Trumble,
How you doing buddy? This has been a discussion in the past, but nothing wrong with asking.
What I am relaying was relaid to to for what it is worth.
That is called a "Lockhart lash/hook."
Apparently named after a gentleman named Eugene Lockhart, who was the first to recognize it's benefits, and I was told brought the tool from either Europe or England. It's use's and benifits, working larger groups of elephants with less manpower helping, not having to go up to the animal in the ring. ie. standing on one side of the ring, and reaching another on the other side. Being able to "suggest" to something that is dangerous, and unapproachable, etc. etc.
I never used anything but a Lockhart around elephants, and used right the public didn't seem to object. some European trainers prefer hook and twisted willow, and Axel Gautier, and GGW were masters at it. I was taught different, and preferred one hand free, to aid in signing autographs. LOL
I was shown how to make one in 1975 by Lou Regan. A piece of hickory was cut to a length of 3 foot, and shaved to a taper, with a piece of broken soda bottle, and the rubbed with wood preservative, and then varnished, and a 4 in. copper pipe was put on the wide end to prevent splitting of the wood in the following step, and to act as a hand grip when it was used. The hook was shaped from a garden rake tine, and a hole was drilled in the wide end of the wood, and the hook was driven in, and then soaked in a bucket, for a few days causing the wood to expand and secure the hook, which had nicks filed on the shaft to grip the wood, never to come out again. A lash was then added on the narrow end with a keeper. You had a hook, and a whip, for the reasons suggested above, and one hand free.
The Lockhart, Lou and I made in 1975 served me faithfully, until 2006, when a bonehead elephant ate it, because a bigger bonehead laid it by the tub, as he was grinding her nails. With the exception of 2 weeks, until "you learn to use it right, boy" when Lou took it away from me, because I picked up a leg chain with the hook end.
I down loaded some photos to this blog a couple of day's ago. If they went through, and if they are published, you will see a Lockhart in action, and I will be happy to answer any more question, with what I know.
Be safe,
Wade Burck

08 March, 2008 15:00
Anonymous said...

Thanks Wade. Have seen a hook/lash, but the one in this photo looks much longer and I thought it might be an adaptation of some other standard whip. Like your description of constructing the whip lash. Nicely done.

08 March, 2008 15:55
Anonymous said...

Thanks, Wade
My dad has one of these. As I was growing I alway wanted to know what it was call and how it was use. I known it was for Elephants. Thanks again

D. Powell

10 March, 2008 20:08
Anonymous said...

Mr. Powell,
Do you still have the Lockhart, or do you know where it came from, or whos's it was? I have one I bought in an antique store, in Portland Oregon, in 1976, minus the lash. It has the initials WM carved in the wood just above the copper tube ferrel. I have always been afraid to ask who's it might be. In my mind I just want to "assume" it was Walter McLains.
My best,
Wade Burck

11 March, 2008 01:16
Anonymous said...

I have made a number of elephant hooks over the years, some good craftmenship, but mostly bad, but the did the job. i HAVE HEARD THE NAME Lockhart associated with elephants and also the term ,Lockhart Hook, but have no idea what makes them different than any other "bull Hooks" First time I ever heard of a lash hook referred to as a Lockhart. Does it mean that it is a crescent shape with no pointed front or top. Please explain.

11 March, 2008 09:29
Buckles said...

A Lockhart hook is nothing more than a blade with a piece bone pinned on each side so it wouldn't bend.
They were in fashion as late as the 1910's. My dad said they were very severe.
They are not to be confused with lash hooks which are bull hooks with a whip on the end. Ted Gallop made me one of those once and I thought I looked real cool.

11 March, 2008 09:49
Anonymous said...

Ben Trumble and Powell,
With respects to Buckles and John Milton. Christ, there is enough testosterone here to choke an elephant. Lol
Wade Burck

P.S. Buckles, I was the one who said they looked cool first!!!!

11 March, 2008 10:45
Anonymous said...

John Milton,
I think because it was tapered, by shaving with the glass, is why it was called a whip. That and the leather lash, attached to the keeper made it seem so, all attributed to Eugene Lockhart as I was told, and repeated here. Surely you are not insinuating that history has been written wrong? Don't take my word for it. Ask Roy if he remembers what Lou used to call it. Before this goes south, you indeed were/are a good elephant trainer.
Wade

11 March, 2008 10:58
Anonymous said...

Buckles,
Speaking of which? Who was Ted Gallop? Lou used to mention him alot
Thanks
Wade Burck

11 March, 2008 11:13

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