Whippletree (mechanism)

Okay kiddo, imagine you are in a wagon and you want to turn it right or left. How do you think the front wheels of the wagon will move in the direction you want?

The whippletree mechanism helps the front wheels of the wagon move in the direction you want. It's a special kind of device that connects the wagon's axle to the front wheel’s steering mechanism.

It works like this: a whippletree is made up of two long bars attached to the bottom of the wagon, and a shorter bar that joins them in the middle. The shorter bar can move from side to side because it is connected to the front wheels through some rods.

So, when you turn a wagon, the shorter bar moves to the left or right, which causes the wheels to turn left or right too! This makes the wagon go in the direction you want it to.

The whippletree mechanism is super useful because it helps wagons, carriages, and other vehicles turn easily without the need for a steering wheel.

So, next time you're in a wagon, just remember that the whippletree is there to help you turn easily!