OX CART FACTORY IN COSTA RICA!
Posted: January 30, 2019 Filed under: Costa Rica, Uncategorized | Tags: Costa Rica, Ox Carts, Sarchi, waterwheel Leave a comment »
In December, 2018, I visited the Ox Cart Factory in Sarchi, Costa Rica. It was established in 1923 and operates today much as it did then. Wheels were made with steel rims and were huge. The most interesting thing about the factory is that is was a pre-industrial revolution factory. The power for the line shaft came from a stream that flowed for 2 miles before turning a large waterwheel which in turn powered numerous belts throughout the factory. These belts ran all the machines in the factory including saws, drill presses and stamping machines.
They only make large ox carts today if specially ordered and they cost about $6000; however, they have a huge store with small ox carts for tourists and for tourist rides. They also sell comfortable rocking chairs which they ship to the US. Take a look at Costaricanmarket.com.
The history is set out in the Tico Times, the Costa Rican English language newspaper.
Well worth the trip just to see the waterwheel in operation.
THINK OLD!