This medieval style crest was created on spruce planks molded and sanded to size. The client uses a stallion image over a castle and their initials. Ideally suited for over a hearth or threshold to indicate the household.
Each plank was carved individually by our friends’ at Sawitall.net for custom signs and 3D cnc work, then we assembled, glued, and pressed the pieces together. Then the shield was cut out and reinforced with struts. After sanding and shaping, it’s finished in polyurethane and Prairie Bench Storybook. Approx size 32″ x 24″
How to send your love 300 meters in three seconds: the Prairie Bench Trebuchet. (more pics and video below)
Siege engines, such as ballistas, catapults and trebuchets are medieval devices for throwing stuff. Originally developed somewhere in France? the trebuchet became famous during the reign of King Edward Longshanks when he employed the use of one to storm the walls at Sterling Castle. Since, trebuchets have mystified and terrified audiences with their immense power and rudimentary use of physics. We’ll be using this device to send tennis balls and water balloons, maybe a small pumpkin.
ready to launch
The trebuchet is really just an unbalanced see-saw with a counter weight on one end of a long boom or mast, and a sling on the other. The counter weight can be anything heavy enough to lift the long wooden mast and whip a sling holding the ammunition. When the sling moves overhead, centrifugal force causes one looped end of the sling to slip over an open prong at the tip of the mast. The latent energy to fling the ammo is held by raising the counter weight and then releasing it. Gravity does the rest. There are many strange terms and phrases used for trebuchets available online, however this post uses our own novice phrases.
The trick to designing a trebuchet involves three main variables: the size of the ammunition, the mass of the counter-weight, and the angle of the prong to release the sling. By adjusting these variables, consistent and powerful shots can be made quite easily. It’s also important that the entire frame is free to rock back and forth, allowing for a ‘whip action’ used in traditional hand slings.
Enter the Prairie Bench Trebuchet—sort of a wild west variation:
-V8 350 flywheel counterweight
-60″ mast
-steel axle bearings with grease reservoirs
-100 kgs of latent energy (optional 400 kg spring upgrades)
– fold down portable
-adjustable chain stays
-adjustable launch center board by degrees
-wooden wheels and rocker
-easy load magnetic trigger set
-variable thrust dial including mayhem, havoc, and doom
-adjustable prong
-hand woven sling
-hand carved ‘loosing’ handle
-front and rear triggers
-safety lock
-hand crank draw winch
-barrow transport handles, optional
The trebuchet stands 7 feet tall with a three foot sling. Less than 30″ wide, our siege engine can easily fit through any castle door.
Our design uses a solid fir mast hand planed to a taper with steel flat bar reinforcing, laminated spruce pillars, fir frame, and chain stays. The trigger mechanism is used from the rear or the front using 1/4″ steel push rods and a safety lock. The sling is hand woven from sisal fiber.
In golf yell, “Fore!” With a cannon yell, “Fire!” With a trebuchet yell, “Loose!”
Prairie Bench has designed another replica throne for use on stage and in traveling campaigns… it’s portable!
The Crown Throne is 6′ tall, 27″ wide, with a seat height of 18″. The throne is for traveling and comes apart in five pieces. It takes less than a minute to set up or dismantle, making the Crown Throne a piece of furniture ideal for royalty on the move.
Designed in reclaimed spruce headed for the chipper, we take pride in giving new life to used wood and preserving the trees we have. The finish is Prairie Bench Storybook with rich walnut tones. There are 13 glass ‘onyx’ jewels on the backboard and the crown is positioned to hover over his or her highness. The middle of the backboard and frontspiece are open in case the patron requires some custom engraving such as a name or crest. The armrests are beveled in an elegant design and the seat is hand ground for comfort.
The component parts are left side, right side, frontspiece, seat and backboard and the entire throne weighs less than 20 kgs.
#280-BL-04-14
Designed in reclaimed spruce
Finished in Prairie Bench Storybook and polyurethane.
An update on the Grand Battle Shield… it has traveled thousands of miles to the castle of its new owner. Unsure if the journey would be by boat, carriage, or on foot, we constructed a spruce attache case to fit. We want our patrons to feel like they are discovering a rare treasure when our pieces do arrive, so we design the cases to look like they come from somewhere exotic and mystical… because Prairie Bench is in just such a special place.
This immense piece of defensive equipment would have to be carried by a few helpers while the knight did sword work around them. For one person to wield the Grand Battle Shield… they’d have to be strong.
The shield uses seven hand planed spruce timbers taken down to 1.5″ thick on a 5% curve. The diamond design is enhanced with 14 axe-breaking steel bolts called clavos. There is also evidence of several major sword and axe hits that look easily shrugged off by the battle shield. The edges are beveled and the back has laminated supports and burnt edges. You’re getting a sneak peek. There’s one more layer of poly finish and the wound iron handles yet to attach. We’re letting the wood breathe a little longer before it gets prepped for travel.
The Grand Battle Shield will hang on the wall with an easy- to- adjust burnt iron chain and 100 lb hook, when not in use.
#272-BL-03-14
Size: 45″ x 36″
Weight: approx 50 lbs, 20 kgs
Designed in Spruce and finished with Prairie Bench Storybook. Uses hardwood dowels and hand tooled steel clavos.
