What Are Horse Brass Used For?

A horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of horse harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses. They became especially popular in England from the mid-19th century until their general decline alongside the use of the draft horse, and remain collectors items today.

Why do pubs have horse brasses?

The Victorian horse brasses reflected diverse subjects including royalty and significant events. They also became a useful form of advertising. But eventually, working horses fell into decline and many of the brasses found their way into public houses. They are used to decorate licensed premises to this day.

Where do horse brasses go?

These were worn on the bridle where the brow band meets the cheek strap. The beehive pattern was the most common to be found on heavy horse harness. Apart from the pendant type horse brass, there were other forms of decoration produced to brighten the harness.

What are the parts of a horse harness?

Parts

• A collar to allow the horse to push against the harness with its shoulders and chest. Two main alternative arrangements (with some intermediate types):
• Hames (if a full collar is used).
• Breeching /ˈbrɪtʃɪŋ/.
• Traces.
• Harness saddle or “pad”.
• Girth.
• Belly-band.
• Back band.

Why do pub names end in arms?

Why do Pub Names End in Arms? Like the Red Lion, pub names that end in arms are to do with heraldry. ‘Arms’ is referencing the heraldic coat of arms, it represents royal families, towns, cities and historic guilds. ‘Kings Arms’ is in the top 10 most popular British pub names.

Why are pubs called The Three Horseshoes?

The name was derived from the belief that when a horse lost its shoe, the horse’s owner would stop at the inn to re-shoe his horse and thus when they came, the horse only had three shoes. The pub itself has had many landlords over the years but was kept in one family for over one hundred years.

How do you clean old horse brasses?

Mix together 1/2 cup of vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and a sprinkling of flour until it forms a paste. Spread the mixture on the brass and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Rinse with cool water and dry. (This method also works on corroded brass.)

Are horse brasses collectible?

Horse brasses are still used today, and have also become popular as decorative items. Apart from the exceptionally rare brasses, fine examples can be still bought relatively cheaply and the diverse nature make them an ideal collectible.

How do you polish horse brass?

Make your own brass and metal cleaners.
Add one teaspoon salt to 1/2 cup vinegar, and add enough flour to make a paste. Rub on, leave 10 minutes, rinse and buff out. Use your soft rag to buff and your toothbrush (an old one….) to get into grooves and attack those sparkly browbands that are popular.

What does curry a horse mean?

The horse is rubbed or “curried” to help loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, plus stimulate the skin to produce natural oils. The currycomb is usually used in a circular motion to work loose embedded material. Alternatively, you can use multiple short but swift strokes, following the direction of hair growth.

What are the metal things on horses feet called?

Horseshoes are curved pieces of metal that cover the bottom of a horse’s hoof. A person called a farrier uses small nails to hold the shoe on the hoof.

What are snips on a horse?

A snip is a patch of white on the horse’s nose. It may be a small spot between the nostrils, or it may extend over the whole nose.

Why are pubs called black boy?

Pubs across England called The Black Boy are generally named after King Charles II. It was a nickname coined by his mother because of the darkness of his skin and eyes. King Charles is credited with popularising champagne drinking and yachting in England.

Why do they ring the bell in a pub?

What does it mean when the bar staff ring the bell? Last orders are usually around 11.00pm or 10.30pm on a Sunday. A bell is rung to signal that it’s time to place your last orders at the bar. It’s then rung again to signal the bar is closing.

What are the rooms in a pub called?

Pub room names

Why are pubs built on corners?

Why are London pubs so often situated on corners? Landowners controlled large pieces of land and worked with developers through the leasehold system. The landowners let plots out to the developers, who paid for the construction of long terraces, and the developers borrowed to pay construction costs.

Why are pubs named Green Man?

The Green Man is quite a common name for a pub; London itself has 30 pubs with this name alone! The original name comes from images in churches as a face peering through, or made of, leaves and petals. But, The Green Man in more modern times is associated with Robin Hood and his men dressed in Lincoln green cloth.

Why are pubs called White Lion?

Many signs have royal links: for instance, most ‘White Lion’ inns date from the time of Edward IV and the ‘White Boar’ was the emblem of Richard III. Pubs are also named after famous people in history, for example, The Duke of Wellington and Shakespeare.

Does WD 40 clean brass?

We like to use WD-40. It is not only very easy to use, but is also quick and very effective. All you need to do is coat the gold and brass lamp with a layer of WD-40, which is a great to clean brass and let it sit for about 15-30 minutes. Take a clean cloth and rub the lamp in circular motions drying and buffing it up.

Does vinegar make brass shine?

Use a salt-and-vinegar mixture with one cup of white vinegar and one tablespoon salt. The mixture will create a paste that you can rub on your brass to remove the green coloring. After the green oxidation has been completely removed, you can rub a little olive oil on your brass to make it shine like new.

Does vinegar restore brass?

HOW TO CLEAN BRASS WITH VINEGAR. To make an inexpensive homemade brass cleaner, mix equal parts salt and flour with enough vinegar to make a thick paste. Rub on vigorously with a damp cloth. Then wash, rinse, and dry thoroughly.