Jerald Sulky Company Still Going Strong

By Dominique Martin





Sulkies were first used as a means of transportation in the United States for doctors, tradesmen and others who needed to go as quickly as possible from place to place for their work. Sulkies are carts with two wheels that accommodate only one driver and today they are used largely for harness racing. The Jerald Sulky Company began making sulkies in 1890 and they are still doing so all these years later.



The earliest sulkies used to be heavy contraptions with big wheels made of wood and the driver was perched high above and behind the horse. In the early 1890s the invention of pneumatic tires put the old wooden high-wheels out of use. When manufacturers started using these wheels, the weight of these carts was greatly reduced and their speed increased. By the middle of the 19th century the name was applied primarily to the vehicle used in races, and over the years it was made ever more streamlined and lightweight.



Today there are only six manufacturers of sulkies in the United States. One of them is the company founded by Samuel Sulky. His first cart was designed at the request of a friend and when this design caught on, he was able to go into full time production. He moved to Waterloo in 1898 and set up a small factory.



The company is still going strong all these years later. Fine quality carts of all types, sizes and descriptions are produced. Training and racing carts, miniature show vehicles, pony and horse show vehicles and runabouts are available for purchase.



Customers are given the option of customization of their carts too. They can select various different options such as the length of shafts, the type of undercarriage, the color of the cart, pinstripes and so on. This means that each cart has a unique appearance.



Each cart is painted and hand striped to specification. Customers have different color options for their cart, pinstripes, cushions and covers. The carts come in various colors from cobalt blue and maroon to dark green. Pinstripes are silver, gold, white and more. Even the fabric for cushions can be selected with vinyl, corduroy and velvet options.



The website offers the option of viewing the carts according to price. In the category miniature show vehicles, for example, the mini roadster appears at the top of the list as it is the least expensive option and the Devan Mini Viceroy comes last as the most expensive option. With the choosing of certain options such as deluxe chrome wheels, the price increases.



The website also offers the option of purchasing various accessories. Cushions, whip sockets, boots, stirrups and dashes and a number of others can be purchased. Complete wheels and wheel parts are also available. Products for caring for a cart are available as well such as one for use on chrome parts to seal and protect them.



This company has had many years of experience in developing, designing and producing sulkies. This extensive experience helps in the production of high quality, top performance vehicles. Any repair of vehicles is also made easy as the company website offers the opportunity to purchase spare parts.









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