An older term for a cast iron or steel thimble fitted over the tapered ends of a wooden wagon axle. The skein provided a durable, low-friction bearing surface for the wheel hub to rotate against, preventing the wooden axle from rapidly wearing down under heavy freight loads. It was typically secured with lag screws and greased heavily to maintain smooth rotation.
Heard on the job
You can tell the age of this freight wagon by the heavy cast skeins bolted onto the axle ends.
Also heard as
- axle skein
- thimble skein