FILMING THE 20 MULE TEAM

Full Video at www.goldcreekfilms.com From 1883-1888 Large Wagons pulled by 20 Mules hauled borax from Death Valley to the railroad in Mojave, California. It was 165 miles on way and a ten day journey each way. Driving 20 Mules with one single line was the job of the Teamster. In this History Documentary Bobby Tanner demonstrates how a long line team of animals is driven and how when making a turn the mules must 'jump the chain.'

[@bernardschmidt5192]

It is so awesome to watch those mules work. In 2004 I handcrafted the team and wagons. It's about 5ft. Long.want to send it to death valley one day. Can't say enough about that mule team.

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

J.R. Simplot had a 20 mini-weight white mule team back in the 70's in the Caldwell Idaho area. It was an incredible feat to get them to line out. They had lot's of experience and did great. I was sad to see them taken out of commission. My father-in-law and I pulled our teams in a Stone-Boat Team Pulling Contest in Boise. Ivan Martin, my father-in-law won 1st and I won 3rd, my first time pulling. Wonderful memories.

[@donovanterblanche8311]

I enjoyed watching the entire building process, i watch the western channel all the time and have only now started to notice how many old movies used this type of wagon. nicely done gentleman.

[@robertbrewer6301]

HOW THEY UNLOAD THE WAGONS TO PUT THE BORAX ON THE TRAIN CARS

[@tedfaye3327]

The term 20 Mule Team became popular because of the brand "20 Mule Team Borax". In the days when teams hauled stuff around the country they were called "Big Teams" or "Long-Line Teams." There was no specific number of animals. Only as many as needed to pull the load. There could be 12, 14, 16,18,20, 22 mules or horses or any combination thereof to pull the load. In Death Valley the photographic record shows that they were indeed 18 or 20 Mules. Later, south of Death Valley, horses were used.

[@anitaboneshow]

These mules did a lovely job. I hope they all got treats!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Oh trust me they're pampered!

[@55chh]

I can't imagine how 2 men managed all that, taking care of all the mules in the evening and harnessing up again in the morning....amazing.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

It was quite the job. All those hooves!

[@PicoPistolero]

Very nice piece. I loved the BTS. I look forward tomeeting you at Daggett Days 2024.

[@donchristianson3153]

you guys really are old school craftsmen. excellent job on the wagons . they really are a national treasure!!!! hats off to ya👍👍👍 and three thumbs up!!!!! ya should teach your craft to the next generation so it won't be lost

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

The new wagons are on display at the Laws Museum in Bishop, California.

[@Filmmakertom]

Very interesting behind the scenes...Many thanks...and thanks for taking a look at some of My film work awhile back...Tom

[@WachdByBigBrother]

Great mule being able to jump the chain like that. It was cute how he was trying to do his job in the beginning.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

They really are smart!

[@davidsquall351]

Cool that looks like a learning experience for those mules. That looks like alot of fun.

[@inyobill]

what a privilege to work with a team and wagon string like that.

[@BigWaveDav1]

Jest found this looking for sumpin' else. I worked packing at Reds Meadow 77 & 78 seasons, w/ Bobby and the crew...Loved every second of it! Incredibly fine Backcountry!

[@robertoravec1299]

BigWaveDav1

[@robertbrewer6301]

@@robertoravec1299 HOW DID THEY UNLOAD THE WAGONS ON TO RAILROAD CARS?

[@gottaluvme2255]

Awesome & very interesting thank you for posting this video!

[@antoniomiguel3789]

Great video. Now I know what borax is used for. Thanks for making the video available.

[@alexhayden2303]

Interesting point about the water storage en route.

[@marshallman1au]

AMAZING stuff! Well done to all the mules! :)

[@oglethorpezippelmeier2514]

Hooray for Borax!

[@mvamedia5199]

Great stuff friend.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thank you! We enjoy the work.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

I am currently building a 20 mule team model, about 35 inches long and plan to go out to the desert and shoot it to look like back in the day :)

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Very cool! Let us know how it goes and send pics!

[@CanisLupus123]

Beautiful Mules

[@cgpyper7536]

Mules all perfectly matched ... NOT an easy job of breeding; I would think. NIce extra-long ears, every one. Thank you.

[@philpartington4725]

Pretty fantastic, as an engineer would have liked to have seen how the axles were lubricated and how the wheel nuts were retained..

[@inyobill]

There is an excellent series of videos of manufacture of the wagon set by the builders, Engels Coach Shop.

[@inyobill]

_Very_ interesting.

[@gottaluvme2255]

The mules are so much smarter than we know!

[@patmancrowley8509]

To small of an operating area. I would recommend using at least 3/4 of a square mile to get the team turned then lined out and operating as a team.

[@michaelivanjack8342]

My grandfather told me the teams were actually 18 mules, and used horses for the lead animals. He owned Death Valley Junction, and I stayed there briefly, when I was a little boy. Did he get it wrong?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

However, if Grandpa meant "lead" mules as in the front of the team he was not correct. They would have been used as the "wheelers" next to the wagon.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

GOLD CREEK FILMS So would the horses be the last two animals (call it positions 19 and 20) or the two at the front if the tongue ( position 17 and 18)?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

While it has often been told by the "myth-busting" crowd that a 20 mule team was never a 20 mule team the photographic record suggests otherwise. The first book written on Death Valley and the 20 Mule Team was "Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley" published in 1892. In that book John Spears, the author, states his observation that the 20 Mule Team he saw was 2 horses as wheelers and 18 mules stretched out in front in pairs. However, Spears' observation of the 20 Mule Team at work was not in Death Valley. It was only for the 11 mile trip from the mining camp of Borate in the Calico Hills to the railroad at Daggett. Here on this short run it seems horses were in use. But in the earlier use in Death Valley from 1883-1888 photographs have all mules in the hitch.

[@lroy730]

If you think about it mules are more Rare than Horses , but they don't cost more. They should cost more they can't reproduce, every mule is a one off.

[@micromachine7954]

What are the bells for? This is fascinating to watch! What a handful it must have been to control that many animals!

[@leebarnes655]

Autopilot. If you are not the lead, the view never changes so the mules tend to zone out with head down and just spend the day pulling. Looking to see where we are supposed to go involves lifting the head above the crowd and gazing about until finally a clear view can be had. Or you just turn your ears and locate where to go with no other input needed. At the beginning they were all over the place, then the woman got off the horse and walked the lead mule which ended the wandering about business because they could see where they were supposed to go. Eventually each mule notices that he/she can 'hear' the direction the sound of the bells is coming from and keep to a straight line on their own.

[@eiserntorsphantomoftheoper2154]

It scares the snakes away. Cowboys ate snakes if nothing better was available. The bell signals dinner is ready and the snake slither for cover to avoid being the second course.

[@55chh]

I imagine any snakes in a mile radius could feel the seismic vibrations.

[@davidmicheletti6292]

Ima Tumor I've eaten snake as a child. Of course my great uncle told me it was chicken I was eating. It was surprisingly good. He also would feed me ants, bees and frog legs. Of course the frog legs were small chickens. Well that was what he told me. Lol

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Most old Teamsters said that the bells created a rhythm for the mules to pull to. It kept them in sync, as it were. Sometimes it did serve as a warning to other teamsters if there was a blind curve but there weren't many of those on the route. The expression, "I'll be there with bells on" comes from old teamsters and the bells. If a teamster broke down on the route and another teamster came along and helped him out. The teamster who had broken down was obliged to give the helping teamster his bells. So if you arrived in town with "bells on" it meant you had no incidents along the way where you needed help.

[@oaktadopbok665]

Did you need the crane to get the overhead shots? Did that mule jump over the chain? Do the pointer mules pull the wagon tongue? Did you get any overhead shots of the mule jumping over the chain? Did the mule jump back over the chain? What kinds of shots were you looking for? Did you get any shots of the mules coming straight at us, like overhead? That mule jumped over the chain again. Did you guys get that? Is that camera on?

[@davidschwartz5127]

What the video

[@davidschwartz5127]

I mean Watch the video, sorry.

[@oaktadopbok665]

Where does it say that?

[@davidschwartz5127]

The narrator covers all of those details in the video as it is happening if you watch the video you must of have the volume turned off.

[@significances]

Very cool!

[@spotedlady]

Interesting how they train these mules.

[@shawnmcdonald9352]

How do those mules tolerate the heat? Were the mules of the past larger animals?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

About the same size. They can endure harsh conditions. They get that from their donkey father.

[@michaelbauers8800]

Is see the wagons are tall and narrow. Did the mules have to go through a tight pass?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Hi Michael, not necessarily a tight pass. With the width of the wheels and the boxes themselves believe it or not their width is about the width of a standard rail boxcar today and able to carry about the same amount of weight. There were some tight spots but not on the Death Valley route to Mojave. In the mountains above Daggett in the Mojave Desert the mule teams hauled 11 miles nearly all uphill on a narrow road to the borax operations at Borate. They labored there from 1888 to 1898 when they were replaced with the narrow gauge Borate-Daggett Railroad.

[@NIcholasparker88]

They use or a standard wagon tounge

[@NIcholasparker88]

How do they couple the wagons together? Is there a special tounge

[@inyobill]

The Skinners back in the day were not as gentle as modern animal handlers. "First you have to get their attention" comes to mind, hence the name "skinners". Grant had an interesting short section in his memoir.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Most teamsters who worked with mules knew that you could only get the best work out of them if you were gentle with them. I have seen it in too many teamster histories and accounts. While there were the abusers their abuse was usually rewarded with inferior work on the part of the mule or a swift kick that could put you out of commission or worse.

[@inyobill]

@@goldcreekfilmsGCF Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. You understand that I do not claim any expertise, I'm only relating impressions of what I have read of historical accounts. sometimes history lends perspective (times change). I have very little actual experience, with mules, or other livestock, however what I do understand about working with animals, getting and keeping their trust will work much better for all involved. I suspect that even ion the day, all skinners were not equally cruel in the handling of their teams.

[@KevinKilgorepage]

Fascinating... Imagine, the mules in the fossil record ... imagine the strength ... 12 ft at the shoulder. Personally i believe that animals could have been used to move monolithic stones ....

[@Crlpope]

Do you have a photo of the wagon for sale? Thanks I wouls have love to have one to frame. I am over seventy and loved to watch 20 Mule Team program years ago. Again thank you Carl

[@inyobill]

I suggest you contact them at the web page linked, above.

[@eiserntorsphantomoftheoper2154]

I'm sure handling those mules was very difficult. Good job

[@inyobill]

Not a skill learned over night, either the handlers, or the teams.

[@usualsuspect5173]

What's the difference between a handler and a mule skinner?

[@inyobill]

@@usualsuspect5173 Alternate terms. Mule skinner has apparent negative connotations and is a historical term, rarely used in reference to teamsters today. Handler implies deeper understanding of how best to work with the teams.

[@usualsuspect5173]

@@inyobill 👍

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thank you for watching the video. There's no doubt the muleskinners were trained men and knew how to work with their mules. With regards to the terminology of "handlers" "muleskinners" etc. the men who drove the wagons were primarily called "teamsters" which is where the union today derives its name.

[@oldmaidwhovianakanancyg4425]

They DO make fly spray for horses and miles in the 21st Century you know

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Thank you for that. Pretty sure my muleskinner friends know all about that.

[@theoverbeek9208]

Working at Borax Rotterdam great film

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

We shot at Borax Rotterdam a number of years ago!

[@WachdByBigBrother]

Very interesting. Read about a jerk line in a book talking about large teams for doing plow work but until now, I couldn't figure out how it was implemented.

[@usualsuspect5173]

What's the difference between a handler and a mule skinner?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

I'll get back to you on it for sure but I don't think there is any.

[@usualsuspect5173]

@@goldcreekfilmsGCF 👍

[@DavidREllisAZ]

Why use a crane?, now we have drones, love this area was there in 91,

[@inyobill]

More precise, if not as flexible. There are always plusses and minuses.

[@jamesbenedict7206]

The lead horse farted. The swing horse sprung And the wheeler sh%t on the wagon tounge!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

okey dokey, lol

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

Seems if the mule insists on pulling on the right side, he should be simply moved to the right side, and try one of the other 19 in his former position. But then again, the only animals I've ever skinned had white tails.

[@waynerobinson2301]

Commenter Five yeah a mule skinner knew his line and moved individuals into best spot

[@antoniomiguel3789]

What are those huge carriers used for. People from the cities that never saw one of those would like to know. Great video and work.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

Hauling borax from the mines to the railroad depot. The borax was mined in death valley. If I remember correctly the haul to the railroad was 165 miles.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

@@kurtvonfricken6829 yep!

[@k.c.meaders4796]

Wonderful film! Where can I find the lyrics to "Mojave"? What a wonderful song.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

If you'd like any more information just email us at [e-mail]

[@thedelmardave]

Yes, what are the bells for? Must annoy the mules...

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Most old Teamsters said that the bells created a rhythm for the mules to pull to. It kept them in sync, as it were. Sometimes it did serve as a warning to other teamsters if there was a blind curve but there weren't many of those on the route. The expression, "I'll be there with bells on" comes from old teamsters and the bells. If a teamster broke down on the route and another teamster came along and helped him out. The teamster who had broken down was obliged to give the helping teamster his bells. So if you arrived in town with "bells on" it meant you had no incidents along the way where you needed help.

[@johntripp2028]

Where did you get the wagons for this project.

[@ClemensKatzer]

As far as I know, those grey wagons in this film are originally from ~100 years ago, one of the two remaining sets. Imagine the craftmanship that went into them that they are still kind of usable today. (Though the two remaining originals probably won't hold the load of 10 tons each as they did back in their day). I think it was after this video was filmed that some preservation society decided to spend the money to get a new set (replica) of those wagons to be built, as close to the originals as possible. It's a fascinating series of KZbin videos I have just watched. kzbin.info/www/bejne/faKXYp-prMR6grs engelscoachshop.com/borax-20-mule-team-wagons/ Enjoy!

[@chrishoover4888]

Here's a whole series of videos, building a new set of borax wagons kzbin.info/www/bejne/faKXYp-prMR6grs

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

The wagons in this video belong to Borax and can be found at the Visitor Center at the Borax mine in Boron. We believe they are from the time of the operation at Borate in the 1890s and not Death Valley. The Death Valley wagons are considerably larger and the only intact pair of those can be seen at the Harmony Borax works in Death Valley. (see our cover photo for our KZbin Channel above)

[@jonnda]

Can I see the actual documentary somewhere, and not just the making of?

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

You can actually order from Gold Creek Films. Just send to [e-mail] and we'll get you the details! Thanks.

[@jollybaldwin8160]

I thought a 20 mule team was 2 draft horse wheelers and 18 mules

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

While it has often been told by the "myth-busting" crowd that a 20 mule team was never a 20 mule team the photographic record suggests otherwise. The first book written on Death Valley and the 20 Mule Team was "Illustrated Sketches of Death Valley" published in 1892. In that book John Spears, the author, states his observation that the 20 Mule Team he saw was 2 horses as wheelers and 18 mules stretched out in front in pairs. However, Spears' observation of the 20 Mule Team at work was not in Death Valley. It was only for the 11 mile trip from the mining camp of Borate in the Calico Hills to the railroad at Daggett. Here on this short run it seems horses were in use. But in the earlier use in Death Valley from 1883-1888 photographs have all mules in the hitch.

[@geneintn1906]

Tell me this ain't stolen from Bobby Tanner and Engels Coach Shop......

[@Goldcreekfilms]

Gene InTN thanks for your comment. We shot this back in 2011. I have been historian and documentarian of the 20 Mule Team since 1996. No one stole anything. For more information you can see my Death Valley books and videos at www.deathvalleyvideos.com Thanks for your note. Hope you enjoyed the video. Ted

[@thebrackishboys5869]

Gold Creek Corporate Films What can you tell me about George Chamberlains involvement with the 20 mule team? He was my fathers stepdad.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

@@thebrackishboys5869 I will keep my eye out for that name. There are some records of the original 20 Mule Team but not much as they burned in the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 where Pacific Coast Borax had its offices.

[@peglegnoid6139]

Ain't no knowledge in the second kick from a mule....

[@NIcholasparker88]

Someone who knowes please explain this to me thanks

[@oilsmokejones3452]

Ya put rocks in the wagons and the mules pull it.

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

@Nicholas Parker If you're interested we have produced a video titled "Hitch Up Yer Mules" which shows exactly that. You can contact us at [e-mail]

[@bigass197]

Nostalgia is BS man xD What is this ?!?!

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Not sure I understand. History is worth telling.

[@tangogrua]

MULOS españoles

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Absolutely.

[@georgegouvas27]

18 mules only and 2 horses..not 20 mules

[@goldcreekfilmsGCF]

Hey George. Good call. It's a little more complicated than that. During the Death Valley hauling era the photographic record shows all mules in the 20 mule team hitch. That was a long desert haul of 165 miles one way to the railhead. In later years when the team was only hauling 11 miles from the camp at Borate (near Barstow) they did in fact use horses. The man who wrote the first book on the 20 Mule Team (who "debunked" the 20 Mule Team by writing about the two horses as wheelers) never saw the Death Valley Teams in action. He only saw the teams on the short haul from Borate to Dagget which in fact used horses. So, yes 18 mules and 2 horses and yes, also 20 mules.

[@bigass197]

Geez , I just can't seem to get this ! What is the point of all this ? I saw the build process for the wagons, here we see the actual operation and I can't imagine training is a breeze . Honestly a 30-50 hp engine would provide ample time to enjoy life xD If you are that dead set to be primitive use a steam engine ffs xD This is bananas man , I just don't get this. If it's a saving the planet thing you can use methanol and a catalytic converter or something . So weird !?!?!

[@davidschwartz5127]

It is to educate people that are not aware of contributions like this men and animals made to live and show respect to the hard working people that built this great country. It's a shame you don't get it.

[@davidschwartz5127]

Also, civilization had to go thru this to get where we are today good or bad. Someday, someone will look at our life's and think , So weird too!?!?

[@bigass197]

well , all this - for showing that we used mules back in the day and some of them jumped over the chain !?!?!? I still don't get it and I refuse to agree it is not BS. Not to rag on the guys, but it is .With all that effort and time and resource they could have done so much more! I mean why not romanticize the time back in the 13th century - uuu those were the days a ? Stfu with that noise I know what civilization went through and that my grandpa was 10times the man I'll ever be - but spare me the obvious demonstrations ! The art of making wooden wheels is supposed to die out. Natural selection and all ...

[@davidschwartz5127]

No problem, that's your right, I will not waste any more of you time, but remember I also have the right to enjoy seeing it.

[@bigass197]

True that . I'm obviously skipping other peoples opinion about it though. Do excuse my being a dumb piece of garbage , and don't worry about wasting my time- it's the internet xD. I would like to hear what exactly you find so fascinating about it . I actually enjoy woodwork a ton and I find it relaxing and productive, as long as you do things that are worthwhile like a porch or a boat or something. This just seems like they are playing a cruel joke on themselves.