Antique Single Tree (Horse Evener) Light Fixture

Intro: Antique Single Tree (Horse Evener) Light Fixture

(Note: People have been correcting me on my title. The sale I purchased the main part of the light from called it a "horse evener". Internet searches under that name brought up images of the same item as I had purchased, so I believed it to be correct. My apologies for getting the name wrong. I have correced it in the title, but did not go through my entire document to change it everywhere.)

I found a small (19”) single tree horse evener and a pair of antique glass globes at an estate sale and started thinking about how I could put them together in a unique way. Other lamp/chandelier parts were scavenged from fixtures I had found at previous garage sales. The results are light fixture I am proud to say is my first ever attempt at anything electrical.

Materials:
Antique Single Tree (Horse Evener) – 19” wide

2 Antique Glass Globes

2 Plain Copper Cups from old chandelier

2 Decorative Copper cups from old chandelier

Light weight chain (8 links) from old chandelier

Medium weight chain (18”) from old chandelier

20’ 18ga Lamp Cord – clear with copper wire

2 40 watt vintage style light bulbs

4 U shaped nails

Cord switch

Plug

6 Set screws

2 each: sockets, 1.5” nipple, threaded spacers, screw collar loop

1 can Antique copper spray paint

STEP 1: Clean & Prep

1: Chain lengths and copper cups (socket covers), both plain and decorative, were scavenged from two old chandeliers. The light weight chains were seperated into two lengths of 4 links each and spray painted antique copper to more closely match the heavy chain and cups.

2: The metal of the Horse Evener had more rust than I wanted showing. I taped over the wood and sand blasted the metal. I ended up taking more rust off than I had intended, but was satisfied with the results anyway.

To clean the wood, I used a wire brush then compressed air to get as far down into the character lines as possible.

3: The antique glass globes had threaded necks that would not fit comfortably in the copper cups. The threads were ground off using a dremel tool with a sanding tip.

4: To make sure the copper cups wouldn’t slip off, four holes were drilled and tapped into each to fit set screws.

STEP 2: Assembly

One end of the lamp cord was threaded through four links of light chain, one screw collar loop, one decorative and one plain copper cup (socket covers), a threaded spacer and a 1.5” nipple. The cord was split and approximately ¾” of each wire stripped. Each stripped cord was wrapped around one screw in the socket and the screw tightened down.

The socket was closed with it’s fiber insulator under the cap. The nipple was screwed into the top of the socket and the threaded spacer screwed about ½ way down the exposed shaft of the nipple. The plain and decorative cups were slipped over the nipple and the screw collar loop secured to the top of the nipple.
These steps were repeated with the other end of the lamp cord and Socket elements.

The remaining lamp cord was then cut in half.

STEP 3:

One end link of the heavier chain was opened far enough to slip over the large center loop on the horse evener and closed again.

STEP 4:

The two socket ends were hung from the hooks at the ends of the horse evener to determine the lengths needed for each side to be spliced to a main cord for power. The extra was cut away and set aside.
In order to keep the cord from the main line to the sockets neatly along the arms of the evener, U shaped nails were used to secure the cord (two on each side of center). Since the evener is made of a hardwood, hammering the nails in place was not successful. Holes were drilled so the nails could be driven in much easier. The cord was then threaded through the nails.

STEP 5:

One portion of the lamp cord that had been cut in the previous step was intertwined with the heavy support chain at the center of the horse evener. The end through the large center loop was split about 1.5” and the two ends stripped about ¾”. The two cord ends from the sockets were also split and stripped about ¾”. One end from each of the three cords were spiced and soldered together with this process repeated for the second set of three. Each connection was covered with clear heat shrink tubing.

STEP 6:

The connections were hidden by tucking the wires down between the wood and center cradle of the evener. Clear silicone was applied to keep the wires tucked in to place.

STEP 7:

A basic rocker style cord switch was installed along the loose section of lamp cord about ½ way between the chain and end of the cord. The switch case was opened and a slit was cut in the cord about 2” long. One side of the wire was cut and stripped. The stripped ends were wound around the posts of the screws in the switch and the screws tightened onto the wire. The portion left in tact was tucked into the opposite side of the switch casing. A strip of metal along each end of the case interior held the wire in place and the case was closed with the included screws.

STEP 8:

A standard electrical plug was installed on the loose end of the cord. The end of the lamp cord was threaded through the plug housing, split about 2” and each end stripped ¾”. The stripped ends were each wrapped around and secured to the prongs by a screw. The prongs were then placed back into the housing and secured by the yellow stopper.

STEP 9:

As a final touch, I chose 40 watt vintage style light bulbs from the Home Depot.

STEP 10:

Enjoy!

Comments

[airmanT-28]

I'm the kid who was at Trufant. Great fixture. I'm following you to see more stuff. This is very quaint.

[TMZeeee]

Thank you. You are the first person who has recognized my Instructables shirt for what it is. I hope to have more of my repurposed creations posted in the near future.

[AlpineCowgirl]

Horse evener?? I don't know who told you that name, but it is called a single-tree, used for hitching a horse to a buggy or wagon. I have one that came off my family farm and I'm fixin to go get it and see if I can make a lamp like yours! I love it!! Thanks!!

[WildWhippetWoman]

Really gorgeous! I see these horse or oxen yokes at many estate sales in the countryside around Richmond and most of the time they are inexpensive. The people selling the stuff doesn't care about any of it or don't know what it is or what to do w/ it. This is so pretty I'm going to keep my eyes open for a yoke next big estate sale or auction at a farm. Those sales are kinda sad as the people who originally lived there are either dead or in nursing homes and to see people (myself included) rummaging thru their things bothers me. I know their children or grandchildren are just trying to cash in on Granma and Granpa's old stuff. I hope they at least either give them the money, put it toward their care or for perpetual care at the cemetery where they are buried. Nobody seems to know the significance or importance of some of these old pieces, don't know how much horse sweat that wood has seen and how many acres were plowed to feed them (the sellers) or their parents. Kinda makes me sick so it's nice to see something like this used so beautifully. Thanks so much for sharing this piece. I have some hope for our crumbling society when I see things repurposed. Truly thanks from the bottom of my heart. Wild Whippet Woman

[Osark The Goat]

this is a truly great idea. however, the pice this is based around is called a single tree.

[debfriskey]

I can't wait to make one for our sunroom!! Love how clear the instructions are and I

already have most the items as I live on a farm! Too cute!

[audreyobscura]

So pretty! Would you consider changing your main/first image to one with the lights on? I would like to feature this project on the homepage of Instructables.

Thanks!