The Hampshire Loader

Like the bags, the poles have developed over time. Initially a heavy steel pole made out of one piece of steel pipe, they are now made from two pieces of strong aluminium pipe. This makes it easier to put in a car at the end of a drive or a day! The top end has a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) fork, with the two rods standing vertically (these have to be like this to go into the special slots in the rear of the bag). In the middle is a comfortable thumb notch. At its base is a solid brass male screw. This goes into a solid brass female socket in the  top of the base. At the bottom of the base is a strong turned piece of aluminium, in spiked form, to enable the base to be pushed firmly into the ground. To protect the base, we apply a powder coating finish. All of the pieces at each end of each pole are hand-riveted into place.

NB: As the fork is made of GRP which is an insulator, the pole can be reversed to push down electric fences!

We have also developed a wooden pole, which looks like a traditional walking pole and which has a carved Buffalo fork at one end. The wood we are using is crab apple and so is strong enough for the job, but we can only make it as a single pole, not able to be divided into two half lengths.