Saddlers' Tools

These are scans from the Handbook for Quartermasters, 1930.

Plate 148. – Saddlers’ tools, set

Plate 148. – Saddlers’ tools, set list

Plate 148. – Saddlers’ tools, kit

Plate 148. – Saddlers’ tools, kit list

SADDLE, RIDING, MULE, M1913

The mystery of the usage of the Saddle, Riding, Mule, M1913 is finally solved! In the Handbook for Quartermasters, 1930, Plate 105.-- Harness, pontoon, 6-mule, wheel (near set of double harness).

Detail view of the M1913.

Plate 106.-- Harness, pontoon, 6-mule, swing (half of double set)

HANDBOOK FOR QUARTERMASTERS-1930

Handbook for Quartermasters,

Parts I to V, Quartermaster General, GPO, 1930

I. Administrative
II. Supply
III. Transportation
IV. Construction
V. Miscellaneous Information

These scans are from the Handbook for Quartermasters, 1930:

Plate 119. Cantle bag, M-1917.



Plate 120. Cavalry bridle, M-1909


Plate 121. Field Artillery Bridle (for individual mounts), M-1914.


Plate 122. Bridle and martingale, M-1920.


Plate 123. Riding bridle, quartermaster.

Plate 124. Halter, complete, M-1904.

Plate 125. Halter, headstall, quartermaster.


Plate 126. Leading harness, veterinary (half of a set).

Will some knowledgeable person please explain what this is for?

Plate 127. Pommel Pockets, M-1917.


Plate 128. Saddlebags, M-1904.


Plate 129. Quartermaster saddlebags.


Plate 130. Officers’ field saddle, M-1917.

Plate 131. Cavalry McClellan saddle, M-1904.


Plate 132. Cavalry McClellan saddle, M-1904 modified.

Note that it is not yet called the M-1928.

Plate 133. Field Artillery McClellan saddle, M-1904.


Plate 134. Riding saddle, mule, M-1913.


Plate 135. Riding saddle, packers’, full rigged.

Plate 136. Riding saddle, packers’, skeleton rigged.


Plate 137. Training saddle, M-1916.

Plate 138. Training saddle, M-1926.

Plate 139. Watering tank, M-1925.

The watering tank is one of the loads carried on the Phillips Pack Saddle (Cavalry type).

My Grandfather’s Syrup Mill

The enclosed are photographs of my Grandfather, Ulysses Samuel Couvillion’s syrup mill on Yellow Bayou in Central Louisiana. He is the one in the middle with the white apron, a neighbor, Joe Voiselle, is to his left. The rollers are used to crush the sugar cane, fed into the machine by the small boy in the middle of the photograph. Note one cane is going through the crusher. The mule, or mules, walks around the mill to provide power for the crusher.

From the left: Lyman Voiselle; Unknown, possibly Albert Moreau; Lester E. Couvillion; Henry “Guy” Couvillion leaning on his crutch and Joe Voiselle.

The caption on the back reads: “U.S. Couvillion, Jr. (Brother), Huey Riche, (Neighbor) and Joseph Bordelon (neighbor) at Syrup Mill.”

The juice from the crushed cane goes through a pipe to a holding barrel and is let into a baffled pan. The fire under the pan was maintained by Jules “Sweet Papa” DuFour at about 1,000°. As the juice traveled through the pan the water was boiled off and thickened. Using a hygrometer and a lot of experience Papa Sam drained the syrup. It was canned by Henry “Guy (pronounced “Gee”) Couvillion.