The Taber Wagon Gear Assembly Prototype seen from the perspective as it was drawn in Taber's patent application.

The truss-supported axle and the "king pin" brace were Taber's patented improvements.

This wagon gear assembly clearly shows the "drop-axle" construction of the Taber Wagon. The drop-axle roller bearing Taber Wagon (patent #719531) could transport 75 11-peck barrels of potatoes weighing 165 pounds each for a load of over 6 tons.

Manufactured by Silas W. Taber in Houlton, the drop-axle construction gave the wagon a lower center of gravity than traditional wagons for more efficient use of the horses' work and the lower height of the freight bed made it easier to load. The picture is of the model built for the patent application.