Most weeks, this blog is filled with
behind-the-scenes details related to western vehicles created a century or more
ago. This week, the thoughts are still
related to those early pieces, but I wanted to share some more current news
related to our website.
We’re in the middle of a number of site changes
that are expected to launch this week.
From the beginning, our desire has been to show
America’s early western transportation industry for what it was… and still is! It’s an intricate blend of extraordinary art,
science, dreams, devotion, and sweat equity surrounded by a heritage of real
world challenges and unforgiving competition.
For me, it’s the most intriguing segment of the Old West because it
dramatically impacted virtually every aspect of it.
Conveying those truths has sometimes
been difficult since there are a number of misconceptions about the industry,
the vehicles, and the times. One of our
primary goals for the Wheels That Won The West® Archives has been to actively
search for lost details on brands memorably tied to the development of the American
West. Honestly, it’s not easy. The journey requires a tremendous investment of time and
resources and most of the efforts go unseen.
Fortunately, the passion I have for this subject is its own fuel and
that drive continues to uncover some pretty amazing material; the bulk of which
is preserved for other projects and often not included in these blogs.
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This screenshot shows some of the rich imagery and storyline details that have been incorporated into the Wheels That Won The West® website. |
With that in mind and, in an effort to
better explain who we are and what we do, we’ve been working on a number of
noticeable changes to the ‘Wheels’ website. The homepage has undergone
a complete overhaul and is designed to more effectively convey the depth,
artistry, and complexity of heavy horse-drawn vehicles from the 19th and early
20th centuries. With such a broad base
of original, primary source materials at our fingertips, the site is also
fashioned to expound on a world of exclusive Vehicle Services. Details can be found in the ‘Records &
Research’ as well as the ‘Presentation & Media’ sections. All of it should be more mobile-friendly, so
you can take us with you anywhere.
You’ll note the ‘Articles’ section has
been updated to include even more of our writings. With several hundred pieces penned to date,
this new section clearly doesn’t include everything we’ve written but at least
it’s a start. Finally, I’m working on
material for a special section we’ve entitled, “Search & Rescue,” that will
ultimately include information on unique present-day western vehicle
finds. I continue to believe that we may
be the last generation with any hope of locating and recognizing remaining
survivors tied to the development of the West.
This feature is currently linking to the ‘Articles’ section but will
eventually become a separate source of vehicle information.
This is a ‘soft launch’ of the new site
– meaning that we’re still working on other areas and some of the link-to pages
will be changing as we move forward.
Nonetheless, it seemed noteworthy to let everyone know of the new
look.
Other projects on our front burner
include an upcoming article for Farm Collector
magazine and a final report documenting the restoration of a rare and
transitional John Deere wagon that we worked on with the folks at Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop. In this project, our files were tapped for
access to ultra-rare logos, striping, and other authentication elements. We also have a few original running gears in
the shop that are slated to have darkened linseed oil removed while preserving
the original paint.
Finally, as of late last year, my wife
and I are officially grandparents so we’ve been working on backyard playground
plans. Yes, I know, the kid isn’t even
crawling yet but let’s not let details get in the way of fun!
We appreciate your continued support,
encouragement, and suggestions. If
you’ve been reading this blog for a while and have yet to introduce yourself,
please drop us a line. We really would be glad to hear from
you. Have a great week!
