This iron rough lock comes from the City of Deadwood, South Dakota. A result of the
Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874, the City was just one of seven mining encampments in
Deadwood Gulch. Its streets, theaters, and saloons (many of which you can visit today)
were the backdrop for the escapades of legendary Wild West characters, such as James
'Wild Bill' Hickok and Martha 'Calamity Jane' Canary.
Figure 1: Rough lock before conservation treatment.
Figure 2: Rough lock after conservation treatment.
The lock, when fastened to a wheel, would have helped slow a wagon on a steep descent
by providing drag, or friction. It arrived at the lab fragmented and heavily corroded.
After documenting its condition, the surface was cleaned. Special care was taken to
preserve what remains of the original metal surface. Following this initial surface
clean, the pieces were submerged in a series of solutions with the aim of slowly removing
soluble salts. This process, called desalination, is a preventative measure as the
soluble salts act as a catalyst for future corrosion outbreaks. Afterwards the piece
is cleaned a final time, before receiving a series of protective coatings which will
help stabilize the iron for exhibition.
Figure 3: Deadwood, 1877, from the Historic Preservation Office.
Figure 4: Modern rough lock in use, courtesy of Doug Hansen.
Special thanks to Doug Hansen, of Hansen Wheel and Wagon in
Letcher, South Dakota for providing the picture of the modern rough lock.
References Cited
City of Deadwood, South Dakota
Historic Preservation Office. Timeline of Deadwood,
South Dakota. https://www.cityofdeadwood.com/historic-preservation/page/timeline-deadwood-south-dakota