As we shared in Part 1 of last week’s
blog, America’s early transportation industry included thousands of heavy
vehicle makers spread throughout the U.S.
Several years ago, we produced a limited edition print showcasing
many who are often recognized as being among the most prominent brands seen
on the western frontier. Clearly, with
such a large number of builders, the process of identifying wagons that have lost their
obvious markings can be tough. While a
healthy dose of experience as well as period literature for comparisons can be
helpful, that combination isn’t always available. So, what do you do if you’re trying to get
information on a wagon maker and don’t have access to sufficient catalog
illustrations and photography?
First… it’s important to remember that all
parts of the vehicle can hold clues.
Detail after detail, every element should receive close attention,
including written and photographic documentation. Second… particular care should be given to
the vehicle’s surface, avoiding any cleaning or treatment that could
permanently alter original features. Third… it’s equally vital to avoid the
trap of assuming that similar designs on different wagons always translate into
features from the same maker. Over and
over, we run across circumstances where someone has inaccurately labeled a
vehicle because it appeared to look the same as another of known heritage. It’s worth repeating here that “SIMILAR DOES
NOT NECESSARILY MEAN ‘THE SAME’.”
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| David Sneed on a historical ‘research and recovery’ trip near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming |
Documentation
In absence of a thorough knowledge of
the most commonly known early builders, the best place to start the
identification process is to methodically comb the entire vehicle. You should document any and all details
related to part designs, construction designs, markings, colors, part placements,
part sizes, and so forth. It will also
be important to note non-original elements of a wagon. As such, the review may require the
assistance of someone familiar with the authentication process. The overall evaluation can be a tedious task
but accuracy demands focus and attention to detail.
Diving into the assessment, we typically
divide these vehicles into three major areas – Wood, Paint, and Metal. To that point, back in 2009, I wrote a
first-of-its-kind feature article in the April issue of Farm Collector magazine. That piece served as a fundamental guide to
identifying wagons and other western vehicles.
Below are some highlights from that introduction.
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| Both the metal and paint design of this bolster standard provide strong evidence of a Stoughton brand wagon. |
Paint
When it comes to evaluating paint, it’s
important to look at all areas – including the tops of bolsters as they can
sometimes hold additional information.
Stenciling, logos, striping, colors, and even placement of colors are
all important historical traits to document.
Faded paint and hard-to-read lettering may create a seemingly impassable
obstacle. Careful application of small amounts of distilled
water, however, may be helpful in certain instances. By temporarily wetting the wood, both signage
and other paint markings can become more legible and clear. This said, we'll also note that areas should be tested first to ensure that moisture will not harm the surviving surface paint. Lighter pigmented or thin paint may be especially vulnerable to even small amounts of water. Photographing all of your findings is equally helpful
as you compare and review potential identities. Finally, if the
original paint is hidden beneath an old repaint job or perhaps a heavy coating
of linseed oil, you may wish to employ assistance with the careful removal of
this material. We know of a number of
rare vehicles whose values were saved –and
increased – by the recovery of good paint beneath a non-original surface
coating.
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| Wood features such as the single groove in this hub combined with notable metal distinctions such as rounded spoke bands and other details point to Studebaker as the maker. |
Wood
The wood within every wagon can also
contain vital information. Here again,
details make the difference. Take your
time and scour the vehicle top to bottom.
I’ve found numerals, symbols, dates, and alpha characters stamped or
pressed into the wood. These elements
are not always easy to see. In fact,
most cursory reviews of a wagon can easily miss these brand indicators. From the insides of the boxes to the floor
boards and countless gear and wheel locations, it’s possible for details to be
on almost any wooden surface. While
these construction records may not immediately point to a maker, the collective
power of all the clues can be helpful in narrowing down the list of possible
manufacturers.
The shape, type, and contouring of the
wood can also hold valuable evidence.
Pay particular attention to the design of the sideboard cleats, cross
sills, wheel hubs, hound designs, bolster stakes, and even the reach. While the end gates can also be helpful,
these pieces are often transitory – in other words, they may have been replaced
at some point with a non-original substitute.
It’s one more potential pitfall that requires careful scrutiny before
assigning an identity.
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| Both the paint and metal design of this front hound are typical of many twentieth-century-built Springfield wagons. |
Metal
Similar to the examination of wood, the
shape, design, and placement of original metal parts on a wagon can also hold
important information. Sometimes, metal
parts include numerals and alpha characters.
These may be part numbers, skein sizes, patent dates, company names,
geographic locales, or other important details.
Take clear, high resolution photos of all metal areas. Locations like the reach plate, reach box,
skeins, circle irons, and even rub irons can hold a treasure trove of
information. Other metal parts – like a
brake ratchet – may have important information cast into them but these details
may point more to the brake manufacturer and less to a specific vehicle maker.
Wrap-Up
As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the
identification process is relatively simple based on known and more easily
recognized features. There are often
confusing similarities between brands, though.
It’s why we’ve made it a practice to verify multiple traits – the more
the better – prior to confirming a maker.
Simple observations leaning only on one or two features are often not
enough to support a proposed identification.
All in all, it may take a little longer on the front end but it can save heartache and embarrassment from assumptions when these practices
are employed.
As a note of encouragement to those
stumped by a wagon’s identity, we offer a complimentary initial review of these
vehicles. If your set of wheels can be
easily identified through quick visual clues, we’re happy to assist at no
cost. Should the vehicle require more
research, we’re equally pleased to discuss the value of a more detailed review. Ultimately, when it comes to determining the significance
and worth of any of these pieces, the presence of a known maker can have an
important impact. After all, it’s where the vehicle’s story begins
and that heritage can make all the difference when it comes to resale value and
collector interest.
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| The faded numbers and lettering shown here are references to this wagon’s skein size and track width. |
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