They moved this bridge to Medicine Park (near our wildlife refuge) recently since they built a new more modern bridge (with two lanes).
I've been researching it but can't pin down the date that it might have been built. The stamping that I could read said Cambria. They operated from 1852 until 1916 when they became Bethlehem Steel. I'm sure though that might have not changed the molds until later since that sounds like an expensive change in the foundary process.
Here is one of bridge connections near the bridge deck.
And a general view of the bridge.
What should I be looking for to help me get a date when this might have been built. It's a single lane with wood deck. Thanks for any help that you or others might provide. They are going to use it as a pedestrian bridge over Medicine Creek and I am helping them with the research to put on some sort of plaque.
Deral - There was a story on the television program "Texas Country Reporter" a couple of months ago about a construction company that specialized in replacing old bridges like that. The unique part of the story was that he kept all of the old bridges and resold and rebuilt them for his customers. Sorry I can't remember where he was located but it seemed like he was around Abilene. Google Texas Country Reporter and find that story - I'll bet that man could answer your questions if you don't find the answer here.
"Forged Eyebar Loops''
I Googled "forged eyebars" and got three useful books, 1903, 1921 and 1922.
"Forged eyebar loops" found me an 1890 local bridge: http://www.historicbridges.org/newjersey/millstreet/
My first guess is 1900-1920.
Rivets cover a very long timeframe so they are not a good clue.
The fact that there are channels shapes and not built up columns, says after 1900. Check the channel webs for rolled in mill information, you may also find a date.
Cambria works would become Bethlehem Steel's Johnstown, PA plant.
Do research on "steel sections" to get earliest manufacture dates.
The top chord appears to be rolled not fabricated, the size of that beam could be a great help. Check the webs.
The eyebar loop was formed by heating and bending the eyebar then by hammer forge welding it back on itself.
In later construction the eyebar area would be hammered flat and the pin hole drilled, however in light duty bridges the practice continued for much later. It is possible that this was a local fabrication, with the steel sections coming from a mill and the eyebars made close by.
Following is a link to a bridge I cross daily. Built in 1938 it is the last major eyebar bridge built in the US. View the photo gallery to see the bottom chord and the eyebars.
http://www.historicbridges.org/newjersey/eastonphillipsburg/
The best way to age a bridge is the builder's plate which I assume is long gone. The plate may have been affixed to the abutment and not the structure. As railroads upgrade their bridges for heavier mainline locomotives, whole bridges would be relocated to branchline streams. That bridge may be in a very different location than it originally was in.
I am off to cross that bridge.
Paul in PA
"Forged Eyebar Loops''
Thank you so much LPL That gives me a lot of places to start. I figured you would 'be the man' for this question.
Deral, around here at least, "they" have to do extensive studies on historical bridges during the permit process to ensure the old bridge is not unique, before any federal money is spent on the project. If it is unique, we usually will have to leave it in place, or salvage the bridge and try to find a public agency that will erect it elsewhere. Contact "they" and you will probably find a lengthy report on the history of the bridge. JRL
This one was removed many years ago and sat in a construction yard until the town of Medicine Park decided to purchase it for their use. I think their planned use instead of destroying it is what kept it in such good condition. It's obvious they took a lot of care in removing it. I've never heard of a bridge getting on any historic list though in Okie.
> This one was removed many years ago
Now if they would only get the ones crossing the Red River.....:-P
Deral,
Here's a photo of a bridge in NE OK that looks extremely similar in construction, reported to be built in 1901.
"Bridge 1 (ODT # 58E0062N4510004) is the oldest Pratt through-type bridge in Oklahoma, constructed by Midland Bridge & Iron Co. of Kansas City, Missouri (MO), in 1901. It originally functioned as a toll bridge, and was located at a traditional fording area known as the Turkey Track Trail, reputedly crossed by the Dalton Gang and other outlaws. The bridge was moved in 1921 to its present location at Stepps Ford."
Thanks Jeff. This one was saved by the construction company who built it. I heard they payed about a thousand for it and resold it to Medicine Park for $8,000. Sad thing is that is was narrow as it would have probably still be a good bridge a hundred years from now instead of the new ones with a 20-25 year life time span.
Deral,
It's hard for me to believe, that you cannot get a date... and that you are so desparate so as to try to date a bridge. Gimme a call, I have a friend, who might be a better date. OK?
Natster
Thanks Paden. That is the spitting image of the bridge I took pictures of on Friday.
LOL Natester. I had a riding partner when I went to take these pictures in the mountains on Friday. She has her own scoot though. 
Mine's black and her's is white. I don't seem to have a problem with dates. LOL At least Tammie is my age so I don't get the comments like "It's so nice to see a grand dad an grand daughter out for a day. "
Deral, interesting find...
The bridge I posted a pic of previously looked like this on paper when it was constructed in 1901. Even though the number of verticals on the long spans differ from the photo, ODOTs info says this is the bridge :
Now it looks like this after it was moved in 1922:
count the verticals on the span that is now missing, and count the verticals on your pics.
I've got to admit that 'roading' a bridge from the Neosho River down to Medicine Park in 1922 would have been a feat in itself though.
I'll post a link to a Caltrans bridge page...
Never mind..the info I was looking for was in a book. If I have time, I'll see if I can find a similiar bridge in this reference book.
East of Watts, OK. No dates.
Reminds me,
when we crossed a bridge like this with the wood runners and they were wet from a rain the night before. The survey aid driving the little jeep, hit the wet runners and started sliding, over corrected and ended upside down in the creek bottom.
Luckily, nobody was hurt and the two guys crawled out of the jeep, scared but not hurt.
A Little Bridge Info.
The several other bridge photos, show a light lattice in the verticals at each end panel. On a longer span this is OK as that member is always in tension. On the shorter spans such as Deral's that member may see some compressive forces and needs to be stiffer. The end verticals on Deral's bridge appear to be channels plus lattice and capable of taking some compression.
Deral's bridge has 4 rectangular panels and could be the rightmost span in Paden Cash's elevation plan. Paden Cash also shows that bridge after it had been moved, with only two main spans. (Paden Cash's first photo may in fact be only a two span bridge and has six rectangular panels). The seven rectangular panels on the original design left and center spans have been reduced to six at the new location. That was very common when bridges were reused as it would be somewhat stronger. Very seldom was a section ever added as it weakens the design.
Deral's bridge and Paden Cash's have something in common, the interior top cross members and the short diagonal braces appear to be round sections. They could in fact be cast steel if that is where Deral is reading the "Cambria" name.
Troy Cobb's bridge which has 4 rectangular sections, has lightweight verticals at the end and the interior top cross members and diagonal braces are box shaped.
Another interesting thing I note is that below Paden Cash's elevation is a plan of the X-bracing. If it looks odd to you it is because the upper half of the plan shows 1/2 of the top X-bracing and the lower half shows 1/2 of the bottom bracing. Very effective use of the paper space.
In order to save design money the very same plans might have been used for a seven panel and a six panel bridge, as the bidding might have included several crossings.
Paul in PA
