tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90602020699714474502024-03-05T15:56:47.907-06:00WHEELS THAT WON THE WEST®David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-89100902849215116372017-12-06T04:30:00.000-06:002017-12-06T04:30:24.601-06:00How It All Started & Where We Are Today<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s been close to a quarter century since
I became intrigued with America’s first transportation industry. In the beginning, it was tough to know where
to find accurate, well-researched information.
The internet was in its infancy so there was no real option to “go
on-line” and find material. My quest to
know more eventually led me to a used book store in Springfield, Missouri. I took home a single book on my first visit but, that
successful find provided the encouragement to keep digging. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After that, anytime I happened to be in
the city, I stopped by the bookstore.
I’d say that at least every other trip resulted in the discovery of an
additional resource covering some aspect of nineteenth century vehicles. From there, I scoured the credits and
bibliographies, leap-frogging from one period source to another until I had
acquired many of those same books for my library. Most of the volumes were out-of-print and
tough to find. However. eventually, the internet
became more mature, helping expand my search options. On-line stores like
Ebay and others became a fertile hunting ground for original materials. As I secured more and more primary source pieces
(period brochures, flyers, correspondence, photos, news accounts, ledgers, and
the like), I not only began to see notable differences in many builders but
also saw generational design shifts and other details that helped me determine
what was and what wasn’t a good investment opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9SqnVuXzczQ9-0NI05DOomxyXqINU_7mtHyYAfjG94b1wB4cy4bUYdQ1FOBRPeyG_e03-OgdcVGcRRJoA3h2fXAtZCdEnV3fk690tGwVN5kjIbBwE1O-mc4BhSZxk0bU81zpS0nh4rxN/s1600/Cat+Collect+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9SqnVuXzczQ9-0NI05DOomxyXqINU_7mtHyYAfjG94b1wB4cy4bUYdQ1FOBRPeyG_e03-OgdcVGcRRJoA3h2fXAtZCdEnV3fk690tGwVN5kjIbBwE1O-mc4BhSZxk0bU81zpS0nh4rxN/s1600/Cat+Collect+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
small grouping highlighting the hundreds of brochures and countless original
documents in the <b><a href="http://www.wheelsthatwonthewest.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Wheels That Won The West™ Archives</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJeM_-6xoRgyBorBtxkb2nhi2Nd_fpOis4WoFnkiIzG6lpB1Z1FHro_jSnPNnDydJcOZ3w5fBruolJ_6h2koCas40ajqnCYr7zVYsKZUF3f7Dpre1JiobWcCkqXVKnhXW2UEyC7U4wNPX/s1600/1875+Fish+Warranty+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJeM_-6xoRgyBorBtxkb2nhi2Nd_fpOis4WoFnkiIzG6lpB1Z1FHro_jSnPNnDydJcOZ3w5fBruolJ_6h2koCas40ajqnCYr7zVYsKZUF3f7Dpre1JiobWcCkqXVKnhXW2UEyC7U4wNPX/s1600/1875+Fish+Warranty+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
photo shows a detailed segment of an 1875 warranty for a Fish Bros. wagon. The document includes imagery of the vehicle
designs and features for that era. As
was the case for many wagons built in the latter part of the nineteenth
century, the warranty was for 1 year.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As time went on, I began writing feature
articles on the topic and we launched a website to share some of the things
we’d discovered. Then, six years ago, in
a moment of clear delusion and weakness, I took on another, even weightier challenge
– writing weekly blog posts. I soon
discovered how little I really knew about this whole subject. In fact, if you want to know how much you
truly KNOW about any historical element – beyond your own life story – start
writing about that theme with an objectivity that requires first-hand accounts
to back you up. In other words,
eliminate hearsay, speculation, best guesses, and unsubstantiated claims from
all of your documentation. It’s
surprising just how much of our world runs on unsupported notions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In our files, I have quite a number of
stories that are started yet unfinished due to the need for more research (and
time). As the past half dozen years have
transpired, the self-imposed exercise of discovery has done something I didn’t
expect – it sucked me even deeper into an abyss of questions and long-forgotten
history. In truth, I never had a plan
for the writings – just the launch of a new topic every week. It’s a direction that has the potential to
never reach an end while constantly delivering new revelations. In fact, even with all of those hours of intensive
research, extensive travel, dead-end investigations, surprise discoveries, and hurried
writings to meet our Wednesday morning deadlines, some things never
changed. The process has consistently
delivered some of the most exciting, challenging, frustrating, time-consuming,
knowledge-enhancing, and personally rewarding segments of my life – as well as
the opportunity to meet a host of wonderful and truly interesting people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even so, this much writing is not a milestone
I set out to achieve. If I’d known how
much commitment it would take, I likely wouldn’t have had the courage to start.
After researching and writing almost 325
regular blogs and multiple feature articles during the past 72 months, it’s
been a true exercise in humility. That
said, it’s also been a privilege as we’ve helped shed more light on the depth
and complexity of America’s first transportation industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">During the first half of December in 2011,
I wrote and posted the first weekly blog.
It was pretty short-and-sweet compared to later pieces. Some of the stories we shared came easy while
others made me dig deep for answers and forgotten details. The subjects surrounding America’s early
wagons, coaches, and western vehicles are so involved that it can be
overwhelming to realize just how much we still don’t know. It’s made me often wonder that, if we truly
live in the ‘Age of Information,’ how can we know so little about the very
products and industry that drove virtually every aspect of our nation’s growth
in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? Honestly, how much history have we all
overlooked because we didn’t know how, when, where, and why to look? How much do we still share as truth that
couldn’t be proven if a person wanted to try?
Why aren’t we more curious about these things? These, and so many more questions, are areas
that I still want to discover more about – before the last primary sources are
lost forever.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjS9PEDQiSNnCC08z22zkItmn1FHZj9Z2Dm09KyxeIdCtNYMfLMl7VUEZh5tIiiv-RYy6yAC5tPJKh8erCNaqt6zxSWPw3opczlHKo5Pv1b0TWlqdAWU_jDwIWM5y1cG_Od8XZcN7ezpH/s1600/Full+House+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjS9PEDQiSNnCC08z22zkItmn1FHZj9Z2Dm09KyxeIdCtNYMfLMl7VUEZh5tIiiv-RYy6yAC5tPJKh8erCNaqt6zxSWPw3opczlHKo5Pv1b0TWlqdAWU_jDwIWM5y1cG_Od8XZcN7ezpH/s1600/Full+House+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Keeping
investment-grade vehicles and other collectibles inside and protected from the
weather, insects, animals, dirt floors, and other adversities is important to
the well-being of each piece.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve said all of this a prelude and, I
guess, an apology of sorts. As we close
out 2017 and I wrap up this week’s blog, I’ve come to the hard decision that I
need to ease up on the frequency of my posts. There are only so many hours in the day and
there are a host of other duties my day job rightly requires. To so many of you that have been loyal
supporters along the way, I want to express my sincere thanks. My interest in the heavier farm, freight, ranch,
coach, business, and military vehicles so prominent in the development of the
United States hasn’t waned. Likewise, I
expect my historical search and rescue efforts to continue unabated. I’m as intrigued with the discovery process as
I’ve ever been and the location and preservation of primary source materials (including
the vehicles themselves) remains a top priority. Nonetheless, it’s become increasingly
challenging to share the depth in the posts that I’d like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, for the time being, I’m looking at
spreading out the blogs a bit. If you’re
reading this and haven’t signed up for notification of these postings, you may
want to consider it. Those folks that
are on the list will receive priority notice when new blogs are released in the
future. In the meantime, I still expect
to embrace occasional speaking engagements and will likely write more feature
articles. As with many avid collectors,
I have objectives and goals for our vehicle, signage, and ephemera collection
and those efforts will continue.
Likewise, it’s my hope that these writings will continue to help others
in their own collections, research, and understanding of such a central and
important part of U.S. development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the meantime, I wish each of you the
very best as well as a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">David</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span>David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-27791044723531694672017-11-29T04:30:00.000-06:002017-11-29T04:30:44.310-06:00Recognizing the Right Kind of Different<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Recognizing the rarest parts of our
transportation past is not always easy.
For me, the journey’s taken decades of research and discovery. It’s easy to look back on the past and see
benefits in it. In moments of disappointment, though, the frustrations of dead ends, lackluster finds, and even mistakes can be tough to deal with. Like
any journey, there’s a lot that can be learned through the process of taking
on a destination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The more I’ve studied America’s earliest
wheels, the more intrigued I’ve become with the whole story – especially those
elements related to heavier western transports. As I’ve traveled, I’ve discovered that if my search
is too focused and narrow, I’ll miss a lot of great and truly rare pieces. So, today, our collection includes much more
than vehicles and associated sales literature.
Original signage, manufacturing tools, vehicle accessories, and the
like, all contribute to the story of the whole.
As such, each can add to the intrigue and interest in a
collection while helping preserve all-but-forgotten parts of our past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For those that may be relatively new to
vehicle collecting, there are a couple things that are likely going to happen
as you seek out your favorite treasures.
First, you’re going to make mistakes.
Second, you likely won’t appreciate the value of those mistakes at the
time. Nonetheless, this process happens
to anyone serious enough to stick with collecting – whether for investment
potential or just the fun of it. Along
the way, there’s a hard side to learning.
Some things that may look valuable, often aren’t. At other times, some things that don’t look
valuable, may very well be. How do you
determine what is and what isn’t the best investment? Dedicated research and lengthy experience can
be great teachers. The problem with
experience is that it usually involves a past full of mistakes. One shortcut is to listen to those who’ve
gone before us. Hence the value of primary source materials. They can open up a world of knowledge to guide us through the maze of what’s
what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes, we all can get impatient as we
search for pieces we really want. The challenges in finding those truly desirable pieces might even knock us down from time to time, convincing us that “all the good stuff
is gone.” In fact, I’ve heard folks
repeat those words many times. Unfortunately,
if we hear things repeated enough, we may start believing them – even if
they’re not true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Time and again, patience and persistence
have a way of paying off. You may be
looking for a certain brand wagon and have no luck for years. Then, one day, it appears out of nowhere. I’ve been looking for a nice 42” Peter
Schuttler spring seat for years. Over
and over, I failed in my searching.
Then, earlier this year, I casually mentioned my search to a fellow
bidder at a sale. Yep, she had one. Great paint, great logo, original in every
respect. And yes, I have it now. Point being... don’t give up your searches. You never know what’s waiting just around the
corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To reinforce that point, I thought I’d
share a few more finds we’ve been fortunate to come across in the past few
months. Some are now in our collection
while others reside with other private collectors. All offer an opportunity to better understand
America’s first transportation industry.
Through these surviving elements, we’re able to know more about
individual brands, vehicle timeframes of manufacture, levels of originality,
unique features, manufacturing techniques, vehicle performance, and more. Hopefully, it’s a reminder that there are
still exciting finds out there just waiting to be uncovered and saved from oblivion.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafCbDM0bTAgIASVl7P_t6cPYCVf6phZfSyf3G8KxKaBwf-UdY6KCtK_qHo14Z_544loN3vnTYos68Z4iBxD_7a9LC8hyB65d4R-pGz47flz35yuE0RlFee1uqDvIgBZJLMuNg-J9vekVD/s1600/Caldwell+flyer+crop+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafCbDM0bTAgIASVl7P_t6cPYCVf6phZfSyf3G8KxKaBwf-UdY6KCtK_qHo14Z_544loN3vnTYos68Z4iBxD_7a9LC8hyB65d4R-pGz47flz35yuE0RlFee1uqDvIgBZJLMuNg-J9vekVD/s1600/Caldwell+flyer+crop+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Kansas Mfg. Company from Leavenworth, Kansas was a legendary provider of
western vehicles during the 1870s and 1880s.
We recently found a virtually untouched 4-page flyer promoting their
spring vehicles.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliKFJVBXDlA9MmCaI3O20ndK3LwqEBoaVyrORZhpNVaSo5qUepI9xRVZeBIPEcRgfssVzpVQ_Po-Iq4AwVdWVUqiIzmCffQOOKK-E_fJEnC3VqeOOphEiG2ZeLf-8BdZxn_FyUAAnfZra/s1600/1860+Parker+Grinder+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliKFJVBXDlA9MmCaI3O20ndK3LwqEBoaVyrORZhpNVaSo5qUepI9xRVZeBIPEcRgfssVzpVQ_Po-Iq4AwVdWVUqiIzmCffQOOKK-E_fJEnC3VqeOOphEiG2ZeLf-8BdZxn_FyUAAnfZra/s1600/1860+Parker+Grinder+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
oversized, 1860-era Parker coffee grinder is missing the handle but is an extremely
rare find.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUh_x8aJU1mmAQkNIfyEiOU2xvu8jRD1ApQ2UanmAOyJkehYClHG2rplZeRnNGrVYdY2sZWw_8o6A23pBfxODbzf2HNpxO0rZ9rcliIRu4xdYVh9VkMCHUCelsWWh5MfCd-lSW3g_Xsav/s1600/Columbus2+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUh_x8aJU1mmAQkNIfyEiOU2xvu8jRD1ApQ2UanmAOyJkehYClHG2rplZeRnNGrVYdY2sZWw_8o6A23pBfxODbzf2HNpxO0rZ9rcliIRu4xdYVh9VkMCHUCelsWWh5MfCd-lSW3g_Xsav/s1600/Columbus2+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Earlier
this year, I ran across a very early Columbus brand wagon in a private
collection in Kansas. While most of the
vehicle’s paint is gone, it’s a rare survivor, likely dating to 1904 or 1905.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVy8H5_hVdkg1UVIBdgewnNwL20olH3MCGO7TV8WodyeFkRIxdVE7wQDGVyeCn7XyGj-ysKils9iTyft5PMGFpe7yazl760fMkIC4CRVFYrVTAxVPjpSAVGpzAd6ffqDB9RhnRZOIZftM/s1600/Drag+Shoe+Bites+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGVy8H5_hVdkg1UVIBdgewnNwL20olH3MCGO7TV8WodyeFkRIxdVE7wQDGVyeCn7XyGj-ysKils9iTyft5PMGFpe7yazl760fMkIC4CRVFYrVTAxVPjpSAVGpzAd6ffqDB9RhnRZOIZftM/s1600/Drag+Shoe+Bites+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
the name implies, drag shoes were used to help create drag and slow the descent
of vehicles in hilly terrain. They came
in an almost-endless variety of designs.
While many had a fairly smooth drag surface, others utilized in
difficult or slippery terrain might employ studs, spikes, or runners for added
security and support.</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWLYQLzNJm7fmfGV6sq9pQKYmGFKEYIKZPUCI1qX8RRe3j0OqMuO3Ahzod0chY_fJvrZ_gW2FrSMwz5tDHt7IdBiFQZRF8hGatrv4ibbevvf8zO4gO95Lx4S7s1dArH2eayWd-1edXZZr/s1600/Hansen+wagon1+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWLYQLzNJm7fmfGV6sq9pQKYmGFKEYIKZPUCI1qX8RRe3j0OqMuO3Ahzod0chY_fJvrZ_gW2FrSMwz5tDHt7IdBiFQZRF8hGatrv4ibbevvf8zO4gO95Lx4S7s1dArH2eayWd-1edXZZr/s1600/Hansen+wagon1+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKiW1I4G-UWdXePZrc0fdEnyrBgXW4w3VnGrfZ7EK6PJXntcpx31R1YwJWHET7TIOnt6lCTuwplc6vYhsY9TaSNlcthiWu7z-PAipiYQdSpdCXIvlIpM3uVJsMVaRtLg4jzErnl6SRKxs/s1600/Hansen+wagon2+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKiW1I4G-UWdXePZrc0fdEnyrBgXW4w3VnGrfZ7EK6PJXntcpx31R1YwJWHET7TIOnt6lCTuwplc6vYhsY9TaSNlcthiWu7z-PAipiYQdSpdCXIvlIpM3uVJsMVaRtLg4jzErnl6SRKxs/s1600/Hansen+wagon2+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Doug Hansen</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is not only an exceptional craftsman, when it comes to
collecting, he has a real eye for quality.
The two photos above show him with a one-of-a-kind rave frame wagon box
likely used as a patent model or promotional sample.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrezwSnc_JwOR82eBkOgzomPY8A99BCd7R39ojSq1_DOwQbiSdlH3b_1ls0XHBUjt-JrqX0Sw9wfNp317Ey1FpysoX3kwiserYUraOAaZIGABs8bPBI-3T7grpjz1dM5lxgQ2pYYMQJ5Py/s1600/1900+Schuttler+CW+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrezwSnc_JwOR82eBkOgzomPY8A99BCd7R39ojSq1_DOwQbiSdlH3b_1ls0XHBUjt-JrqX0Sw9wfNp317Ey1FpysoX3kwiserYUraOAaZIGABs8bPBI-3T7grpjz1dM5lxgQ2pYYMQJ5Py/s1600/1900+Schuttler+CW+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
1900 Peter Schuttler chuck wagon includes numerous features predominantly seen
on nineteenth century pieces. It offers
a rare look into this legendary brand’s design standards during their
transition into a new century. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM4rNRzh3zyA74Z2guYBFZCOrYDoWWzgCXQQBgmETY2y5RtGG10xHKtNGpYiwe5NN7C6Qmj2rZOAbQuCxAA7gG_qfUa69kN4GwfVSChyKaSZoe4ZYXfnSSwpXxJpzdSR7HjQ8JtWk57CX/s1600/1865+Spoke+Tenoning+Machine+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOM4rNRzh3zyA74Z2guYBFZCOrYDoWWzgCXQQBgmETY2y5RtGG10xHKtNGpYiwe5NN7C6Qmj2rZOAbQuCxAA7gG_qfUa69kN4GwfVSChyKaSZoe4ZYXfnSSwpXxJpzdSR7HjQ8JtWk57CX/s1600/1865+Spoke+Tenoning+Machine+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
spoke tenoning machine was patented near the end of the Civil War. At more than a century and a half in age, it’s
a fully-functioning survivor. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L1cLyTYpDRNeSBnIVfgHTjjFdeAaildANEW67xunyQ8rMNwx2UlEnDIBYGKTGaRS5w2iLYv19eltOBicOzPj8Cv7ArI1W07tDdXwwFovVZ1pRHzdBkDwfzR0qUI4Af1eQ98-us-6IrrU/s1600/1879+Tire+Bender+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="400" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L1cLyTYpDRNeSBnIVfgHTjjFdeAaildANEW67xunyQ8rMNwx2UlEnDIBYGKTGaRS5w2iLYv19eltOBicOzPj8Cv7ArI1W07tDdXwwFovVZ1pRHzdBkDwfzR0qUI4Af1eQ98-us-6IrrU/s320/1879+Tire+Bender+-+sized+with+text.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
primitive by today’s metal-shaping standards, this 1879 tire bender can still
craft a wide variety of steel tire circumferences, widths, and thicknesses. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-21227506757971711352017-11-22T04:30:00.000-06:002017-11-28T06:19:52.998-06:00Thanksgiving 2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The leaves have turned and continue to
fall here in the Ozarks. Morning temps
are brisk but mild compared to what January likely has in store. There are faint scents of wood smoke in the
air; evidence of a warm, country home and the crackle of a fireplace already in
use. Deer browse in the fields
surrounding our house, squirrels are busy gathering the last walnuts from the
yard, and the sunlight doesn’t hang around as long these days. It’s the time of year when reminiscing comes
easy for many of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just like the period vehicles we look
after, every day is full of memories and stories. You know what I mean… those fond, funny, and
unforgettable experiences with family, friends, and acquaintances. Along with those recollections are reminders
to slow down and enjoy the seasons and time God gives us. This Thanksgiving, whether you’re on the
trail somewhere or back home at the ranch, we wish you and yours a wonderful
time together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutuGWh57xQ1NWsXuZg0JscNkz0Cq_mQE9-i9MC7WyecCjNOftU4aBaWMvH-gjIGCzQb1uEu3URRa4uS4AmPX2ewnhWorWu9PbyboPe7dHZbF1ZP2-Yuhp8gyJS1BCzT2NYfkbILOdjnuS/s1600/TG+Chuck+wagon+shot+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutuGWh57xQ1NWsXuZg0JscNkz0Cq_mQE9-i9MC7WyecCjNOftU4aBaWMvH-gjIGCzQb1uEu3URRa4uS4AmPX2ewnhWorWu9PbyboPe7dHZbF1ZP2-Yuhp8gyJS1BCzT2NYfkbILOdjnuS/s1600/TG+Chuck+wagon+shot+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From our crew to yours, Happy
Thanksgiving!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-21961980051100564222017-11-15T04:30:00.000-06:002017-11-15T04:30:07.503-06:00Birdsell Wagons<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To my wife’s chagrin, our collection of
century-plus-old vehicles now numbers in the dozens. It’s a tally that’s been fairly fluid over
the years. As with any serious
collecting effort, the ebb and flow of buying, trading, and acquiring different
pieces has gradually grown the group into a unique set of quality
survivors. One of the wagons I picked up
eons ago is a Birdsell with a boot-end box.
I’ve hung onto this one due to its completeness and overall
condition. It’s a heavy rascal, as we
found out when we first pulled it out of a barn in Ohio. It’s still in its ‘as-found’ condition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Based on a number of design features on
the box and running gear, the wagon was most likely built around or just prior
to the turn-of-the-twentieth-century. It
was made in South Bend, Indiana. Similar
to Detroit’s connection to several major automobile companies, the city of
South Bend was once home to a number of notable wagon manufacturers. In fact, major brands like Winkler,
Coquillard, South Bend, and Studebaker all called this city in north-central Indiana ‘home.’ <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0brdadw5kH2eEo_4ioZ7SF4c8NdEO6u_B76mmSWBUAUnjw0JvuK2kXW0bssTvTCaRRmlgAPEKs8WcEXUdrnX356gbNcNr4jc86vyC5AflboVs6a3gdubg_JJYZmFT4ud1q2RaIja9OA/s1600/1900+Birdsell+advert+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ0brdadw5kH2eEo_4ioZ7SF4c8NdEO6u_B76mmSWBUAUnjw0JvuK2kXW0bssTvTCaRRmlgAPEKs8WcEXUdrnX356gbNcNr4jc86vyC5AflboVs6a3gdubg_JJYZmFT4ud1q2RaIja9OA/s1600/1900+Birdsell+advert+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
most wagon makers with extended histories, the look of Birdsell design features, logos, and paint styles evolved over the
years.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">John Comly Birdsell started his company in
the mid-1800’s and for years was known as a manufacturer of clover
hullers. Near the end of the Civil War,
Birdsell moved his factory from Monroe County, New York to South Bend to
improve the firm’s access to quality timber, skilled labor, and railroad
facilities. He added farm wagons to his product offerings in 1887 and they
quickly gained national acclaim.
Reinforcing their popular reputation, Birdsell claimed that every piece
of wood was air-dried from 3-5 years.
Early promotional literature also pointed out that the wagons were
“carefully painted by hand (not dipped).”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Birdsell Mfg Company built a number of different types of vehicles
including farm, spring, express, and delivery wagons as well as carriages and
buggies.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like a few other large-scale
manufacturers, Birdsell had its own foundry to produce its skeins (rhymes with
trains). Skeins are the metal thimbles
on the end of the axle on which the wheel hub rests and rolls. Some of the earliest skein sizes that
Birdsell offered included 2 3/4 x 8 ½, 3 x 9, 3 ¼ x 10, and 3 ½ x 11. The first (and smaller) number in these
measurements is a reference to the size opening where the wooden axle enters the hollow 'bell' of the skein. The second number highlights
the length of the skein’s running surface.
Collectively, the numbers point to wagon sizes, hauling capacities, and,
by default, the type of work a particular vehicle might be limited to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the start, the company built both
narrow and wide track wagon gears. These
variations not only served different load capacities but were developed for the
specific needs of farmers, ranchers, and freight haulers in different parts of
the country. Initial wheel heights
measured 44 inches in the front and either 52 or 54 inches in the rear. Boxes were sold in 38 and 42-inch widths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Qg7GIIbvK3IMNOHfryJ05m4wq3W9PJpwAaxBnQIXiHFEysI0XOE0OsdCA2iXBRK1C6YkrufjDkOt30o2i3gA4ifT8fvcAfBjFlcYBSp2UYtPT1Vio4Dgo56aW53VLjTbIaMAvaUHYvr/s1600/birdsell+schuttler+seat+-+sized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9Qg7GIIbvK3IMNOHfryJ05m4wq3W9PJpwAaxBnQIXiHFEysI0XOE0OsdCA2iXBRK1C6YkrufjDkOt30o2i3gA4ifT8fvcAfBjFlcYBSp2UYtPT1Vio4Dgo56aW53VLjTbIaMAvaUHYvr/s1600/birdsell+schuttler+seat+-+sized.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Birdsell
is one of several notable builders that offered a spring seat very similar in
appearance to those used by the Peter Schuttler brand.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the first wagon brochures
published by Birdsell, their inaugural axles incorporated a ‘new’ design style. Instead of the wooden axles having a rounded
shape to the top and bottom, as was often the case in the 1880’s and earlier,
the bottom was left squared off so more wood remained for greater support. Makeup of a Birdsell running gear was created
from several different types of wood stock.
While the doubletree, singletree, neck yoke, and axles were generally
made from hickory, many other parts of the gear as well as the spokes, and
felloes were often fashioned from white oak.
Hubs were made from black birch or white oak. Elsewhere in their construction designs,
boxes were made of poplar and box bottoms employed yellow pine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to clover and alfalfa hullers
as well as two-horse farm wagons in multiple variations, the Birdsell product
line included log wagons, dump carts, one-horse wagons, lumber gears, oil pipe
gears, and spring wagons. In their
earlier years of vehicle manufacture, they also made buggies, carriages, and phaetons along with express and delivery wagons. While the Birdsell facility was considerably smaller than its mega-competitor and city neighbor, Studebaker, the business dwarfed most wood vehicle makers. Reinforcing that point, Birdsell's factory occupied 21 acres of floor space with a
production capacity of 18,000 wagons per year.
Similarly, their wagons and running gears were distributed throughout the United
States and were consistently touted for their strength, durability, light
draft, and quality finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLU6YqsWE-051aUu4ZwIIRZr-P4LR7JlZgofF6clVhYjNCC4Lgv5KTRQJe9UPBweYIRxtgF5rEbQSKzLGD_AJr3QRj9y3flsMuq1wjx5VNvkOg82P4o8FxrkjQl3MKElBis5TsOezQHk/s1600/birdsell+book+collage+-+sized+with+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyLU6YqsWE-051aUu4ZwIIRZr-P4LR7JlZgofF6clVhYjNCC4Lgv5KTRQJe9UPBweYIRxtgF5rEbQSKzLGD_AJr3QRj9y3flsMuq1wjx5VNvkOg82P4o8FxrkjQl3MKElBis5TsOezQHk/s1600/birdsell+book+collage+-+sized+with+text.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
image shows a variety of early promotional material distributed by the
Birdsell Manufacturing Company. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like most other wagon brands, Birdsell
transitioned from a widely traveled transportation icon to a more sedentary and
utilitarian piece of farm equipment by the 1920’s. By the early 1930’s, factory repair parts for
these wagons were only available through Kentucky Manufacturing Company with no
parts serviced for the brand by the mid-1940s.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">From research to recovery, whether we’re
looking at a national name like Birdsell or a lesser-known local brand, it’s
important to understand the history of particular piece – where and how it was
used, the distinctions of its design, unique accessories, timeframe of manufacture,
and more. All of these elements help us
better appreciate a set of wheels while also preserving and perpetuating
history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">See ya next week!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-53011800598653275582017-11-08T04:30:00.000-06:002017-11-08T04:30:02.553-06:002018 Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Conference<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether you’re looking for the perfect
spring seat to complete a wagon, need help determining a maker name, or are trying to figure out how a certain thing was crafted ‘back-in-the-day,” it's not always easy for western vehicle enthusiasts to know where to get the right information. Thankfully, that’s one of the great benefits of getting to know folks with similar interests. After all, it often takes more than
individual diligence to locate crucial details. Ultimately, we all need help from time to
time. It’s why networking with
like-minded enthusiasts can be so helpful to collectors, historians, museums,
and vehicle owners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To that point, I recently received some
interesting information from Jim Pomajevich with the National Stagecoach &
Freight Wagon Association. This great
group of folks is holding their 11th Annual Conference in early
spring of 2018. One of the most notable
aspects of this gathering is the packed roster of activities and learning
opportunities. It’s such an impressive
lineup that I thought I’d pass along some details this week. Hopefully, the heads-up is early enough to
allow everyone a chance to make the March 15-18, 2018 event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over a dozen speakers are slated to
address a wide range of topics; everything from M.P. Henderson wagons and
stagecoaches as well as details on ambulances, blacksmithing, wheelwrighting, a
look at East & West stagecoach variations, overland trails, and much more. Ultimately, the get-together should be a rare opportunity to network and
get up-close to a lot of quality, period vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For more details, check out the
particulars on the <b><a href="http://www.stagecoachfreightwagon.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association website</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aA4FOw1Mpm1lbtcRlOCeoLmJVQGJGbcT2ruxnfGFXKR1THv2ku6CTAcpIAW0llaMb8mslXi5wty8xP3QLeVG-zjI019q5PMkb_6MaVU0VhXjVMUZtE75wbYjJfV1diPPUzvNQi8_cLF/s1600/SAVE+THE+DATES+WITH+BENSON+MURAL+2+with+credit+rev+11+4+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2aA4FOw1Mpm1lbtcRlOCeoLmJVQGJGbcT2ruxnfGFXKR1THv2ku6CTAcpIAW0llaMb8mslXi5wty8xP3QLeVG-zjI019q5PMkb_6MaVU0VhXjVMUZtE75wbYjJfV1diPPUzvNQi8_cLF/s1600/SAVE+THE+DATES+WITH+BENSON+MURAL+2+with+credit+rev+11+4+2017.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-81601916440388203672017-11-01T04:30:00.001-05:002017-11-01T04:30:21.547-05:00A Little More About Joseph Murphy <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the years, I’ve written several
articles and blogs that provided information about the Murphy Wagon Company in
St. Louis, Missouri. From the history of
early trails and freighting to the opening of the West, the firm and its
founder, Joseph Murphy, are easily among the most legendary transportation
icons in America. As such, there are
many historians, collectors, and enthusiasts who chase the Murphy star,
intently hunting for surviving pieces from this part of our past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stumbled onto my first materials
related to Murphy over fifteen years ago.
Since then, our focused search and rescue efforts have been painfully
slow in rewards. Even with so little primary source data uncovered through the course of time, our archives are fortunate to hold a number of
rare and important insights into the Murphy legacy. Still, finding original materials from this
maker remains a daunting task. How daunting? Well, period accounts report that Murphy
built some 200,000 wagons in his day – 200,000!
How many of these have been found?
Let’s see... would you believe none, nada, zero, zilch? Truth is, not even a particle of a piece of
one of his wagons has ever been authoritatively identified. Clearly, the difficulties of discovery
surrounding this acclaimed builder make the brand one of the most elusive and desirable
on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve said all of this to help explain my
feelings about a decade ago when I unexpectedly came across not one or even two
letters from the Murphy firm but thirteen.
It was one of those times as a collector and historian that felt a bit
surreal. During the acquisition process,
I kept a record of some of my feelings and always meant to share them within a
feature magazine article at some point.
As time has passed, I’ve never gotten around to putting the finishing
touches on the piece and – since I needed material for this week’s blog – below are some excerpts from what I’d started along with a few insights into those incredibly
rare surviving letters from J. Murphy & Sons... <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyfQlj1s2t8dJKJOECp8O5U_go23uas9OCnyAxce-omT_pN370LuJtfVXwKAamG8rjLwQekwbxcKHQzrMKYw__3MyPYVoeU2TRTHegVkvSMTsscNUHG1B4lwKbXaW4T-iOazpJeJAFNSI/s1600/Murphy+1883+LH+BLOG+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="83" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyfQlj1s2t8dJKJOECp8O5U_go23uas9OCnyAxce-omT_pN370LuJtfVXwKAamG8rjLwQekwbxcKHQzrMKYw__3MyPYVoeU2TRTHegVkvSMTsscNUHG1B4lwKbXaW4T-iOazpJeJAFNSI/s1600/Murphy+1883+LH+BLOG+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The above image is part of an 1883
letterhead promoting Joseph Murphy’s wagons.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZxFwWFuIVhrGDOmh-TRs7Fpc4KwhDlYGtVsbMXnn0GWyywgtNN7zIZpdX2CfyFP3RbpYGmZKP_BEg-M1Y5yExe45F14_6LwBrSfgYUUsdmYZB68qKWQsg_mIr9ODhEKLyQnCPMpTdrxt/s1600/MurphyWagonPlant+BLOG1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZxFwWFuIVhrGDOmh-TRs7Fpc4KwhDlYGtVsbMXnn0GWyywgtNN7zIZpdX2CfyFP3RbpYGmZKP_BEg-M1Y5yExe45F14_6LwBrSfgYUUsdmYZB68qKWQsg_mIr9ODhEKLyQnCPMpTdrxt/s1600/MurphyWagonPlant+BLOG1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The area I’ve fronted in red helps point
out the Murphy Wagon Works where it was located on Broadway street in St.
Louis.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was nervous and fumbling with the
perforated zip tab, trying to carefully open the small cardboard package. It was hard to believe what was
happening. My hands shook with excitement
and my mind was a whirlwind, consumed with anticipation. I knew I should look for a more tranquil
setting than the post office parking lot but I wanted to know more, first hand
from this man I had heard so much about.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A few days before, I had received an
email confirming my purchase of several dusty, brittle, age-stained and
seemingly worthless nineteenth century letters.
Lost, forgotten and packed away in the stale, cramped quarters of an
otherwise ordinary box, these handwritten notes were now part of our <span style="color: orange;"><b><a href="http://www.wheelsthatwonthewest.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Wheels That Won The West</span></a>®</b></span> collection of early western vehicle history. They were an amazing discovery. Taking us back more than one hundred and
thirty years, the tracks of deep blue ink on the soiled envelopes are
surrounded by the invisible fingerprints of a literal legend in the development
of the American West. The notion of such
a fresh find set my mind to wandering, drifting to a time in transportation
history when wheels were wooden, tires were steel, and horse flesh was king of
the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwLpVmxMplWGqjM9LDc4RWg0bVWHk08DpMQHTLgcQ2Y9ZeNl09-nlruy96J8CwwYmakNtbeuYQhinW527GQ-4JNzJjBpNsXOIwlDTH3B_qmS9e1nyyl7TzURPU8vE4ww3tcdpNDZYKwqB/s1600/1880s+Murphy+letters+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwLpVmxMplWGqjM9LDc4RWg0bVWHk08DpMQHTLgcQ2Y9ZeNl09-nlruy96J8CwwYmakNtbeuYQhinW527GQ-4JNzJjBpNsXOIwlDTH3B_qmS9e1nyyl7TzURPU8vE4ww3tcdpNDZYKwqB/s1600/1880s+Murphy+letters+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This photo collage shows a number of the
1880’s-era Murphy letters held in the Wheels That Won The West® Archives.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The 1880’s were heady days for many of
the most established American vehicle makers.
The U.S. had just celebrated its first century and the nation’s
yearnings for transportation and travel were well-rooted. Reinforcing that point, in October of 1887,
the 15th Annual Convention of American Carriage Builders took place in
Washington, D.C. As President of the
association, Clement Studebaker – also President of the Studebaker Brothers
Manufacturing Company during this time – delivered the keynote address. Within the body of his speech, Mr. Studebaker
estimated the number of horse drawn vehicle makers in America at 80,000. Contributing to that number with its own
share of vehicle makers was St. Louis, Missouri. As the ‘Gateway to the West,’ the city had a
long history of outfitting emigrants headed toward the setting sun as well as
supplying transports for military expeditions, freighters, farmers, businesses,
and ranchers. That same year, the
population of St. Louis hovered around a half million and the city claimed more
than 125 wagon and carriage makers/repairers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also in St. Louis during 1887, legendary
wagon maker Joseph Murphy was celebrating his 62nd year in business and was
working to transition the management of the company to his sons by the
following year. During his last handful
of years running the firm, Mr. Murphy penned several letters to a wood mill in
America, Illinois. It was this group of
letters I had stumbled across and almost immediately I learned that they are likely his
last surviving business correspondence.
Together, they shed even more light on the reputation of a man who made
quality the ultimate standard for heavy, horse drawn vehicles while leaving a
legacy that continues to overshadow almost every other western vehicle
maker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Setting up shop in 1825, Murphy quickly
became known as an expert in his knowledge of wood. From primary source research to later
interviews with relatives sharing the family’s oral history, this legacy is a
consistent message continually repeated about Murphy. That fact has significant bearing on the
content of the letters we acquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to the letters, we've managed to acquire a few more pieces, including an 1881 promotional flyer. Most of the materials include illustrations of a Murphy farm-style wagon (which also happens to be the only authenticated images of any type of Murphy wagon). There are variations in the letterhead
designs and one is written on a plain, ruled sheet and then embossed with a
seal. The writings encompass a five-year
period from 1883 through 1887.
Surrounding each of the folded letters, the tattered and discolored
envelopes hearken to a period in American history when Geronimo was
surrendering to the U.S. military, numerous U.S. states were still territories,
and William F. Cody was introducing his first Wild West shows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While close to two-thirds of the letters
contain the flowing script and carefully penned words of a schooled clerk, the
others are even more exciting. For in
those letters, there is something very different. Dated to the specific years of 1883 and 1887,
these individual pieces are written in an aged hand with occasional phonetic
misspellings, an authoritative tone, and a clear command of experience with raw
timber and wagon construction. The most
stirring part of this is that these letters aren’t the only place where I’ve
seen this exact handwriting. Precisely
the same penmanship can be seen in Joseph Murphy’s account books held at the
Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis.
From the punctuation and misspellings to the individual character
strokes, shapes, slants, and overall alignments, roughly a handful of the
letters were clearly connected to the same writer in Murphy’s earliest
surviving account books – Joseph Murphy, himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP04FKHmOUkRmWHWwR_KO14uD1a1tWe6VLUNmRc36GDmFueueW0myN-h4QF5SNbodug7W443cozuDxByBMd0KTECWb8qZ8bhu2kU2-1OxhXEbHnHr9iENAUDxJG5YHRO606koxW7vNWJx/s1600/J.+Murphy+early+ad+BLOG+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP04FKHmOUkRmWHWwR_KO14uD1a1tWe6VLUNmRc36GDmFueueW0myN-h4QF5SNbodug7W443cozuDxByBMd0KTECWb8qZ8bhu2kU2-1OxhXEbHnHr9iENAUDxJG5YHRO606koxW7vNWJx/s1600/J.+Murphy+early+ad+BLOG+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This image showcases one of the earliest
known advertisements for Joseph Murphy wagons.
It dates to the 1850’s.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As I’d mentioned earlier, these letters
had been sent to a saw mill in America, Illinois, roughly 150 miles southeast
of St. Louis. The mill was owned by
Benjamin Franklin Mason. Mr. Mason had
been engaged in that business since 1865 and had, apparently, first been
approached by Joseph Murphy around 1880 to supply him with custom-sawn hickory
for axles. The letters to B.F. Mason
contained specific instructions for raw timber that Murphy needed to produce
wagons. The content of the notes was
straight-forward and business-like. One,
in particular, gave explicit instructions on the type of wood stock needed,
when it should be cut from the forest, the dimensions needed, when and where to
be sent, and the expected costs. Murphy
also detailed his interest in what he referred to as “No. 1 timber” as well as
his concerns with bugs – i.e. powder post beetles. As an established and well-respected builder,
he knew the problems these critters could wreak and made no bones about his
disdain for this part of nature.
Murphy’s writings also included references to at least six different
axles sizes for wagons being built in his shops.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are more details in the letters
and it’s possible that some of that information may hold the key to the
eventual discovery and authentication of a Murphy wagon. At any rate, we continue to be vigilant. While there are no known Murphy wagon
survivors, we can confirm – through Murphy’s own firsthand accounts – that he
was a stickler for quality, attention to detail, and customer satisfaction. Hearing it directly from the man himself,
more than one hundred thirty years later, is a clear reminder of the value of
continuing the search and remaining optimistic.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To some, Joseph Murphy is celebrated as
a successful Irish immigrant. To others,
he’s remembered for his connections to freighting on the Santa Fe Trail. But, to historic vehicle enthusiasts, he’s
perhaps the most legendary American wagon maker of them all. It’s been almost two hundred years since his
beginnings in St. Louis and well over a century since the last Murphy wagon was
made. Tomorrow could be the day when the
first one is found. A long shot you
say? Maybe. But then, what chance did a small collection
of 1880’s-era letters have of surviving for so long? People move every day. Forgotten items are lost, tossed, and
regularly destroyed. Tucked away,
isolated in an attic, time somehow stood still and these pieces survived. I’m convinced it was all for a reason. A reason surrounded by hope and reinforced by
a promise that those who truly seek will find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">H</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ave a great week!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-75476933293810451542017-10-25T04:30:00.000-05:002017-10-25T04:30:12.667-05:00Multiple Bain Wagon Brands<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Studying the world of America’s early
wagon makers can be full of dead-ends, questions, fake news, and even
duplicity. This last point can be
particularly troublesome as it can instantly bring confusion into a center
stage drama, leaving us with more questions than answers. A good case-in-point is the challenge we
sometimes face when looking at the labels painted on the axles or side of a
vehicle. Things aren’t always what they appear and the tendency to jump to
conclusions can be rife with problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brand names like O’Brien, Whitewater, Fish
Bros., Rushford, and Miller are well-known for their early starts and popularity on
America’s frontier. Unfortunately, there
are other, sometimes lesser known, vehicle companies that used these same
names. In these cases, it’s easy to see
how misunderstandings, insufficient research, and incorrect vehicle identifications
can take place. Even the venerable old
title of ‘Bain’ is not immune to these problems. The mark was applied to the sides of wagons
from two separate companies headquartered in two different countries. At first glance, that seems like ample division
to prevent issues. Unfortunately, when
the borders are as close as the U.S. and Canada, there can be a blurring of the
lines. Over the years, many
Canadian-built wagons have been brought into the U.S. and sold at auction. I’ve even seen a Canadian wagon used as
part of a yesteryear display at G</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">eorge Washington’s historic Mount Vernon home
near Washington, D.C.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was particularly
disappointing to see a clearly labeled, twentieth-century Canadian piece used
to convey eighteenth-century U.S. history.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Back to the perplexities of like-named
brands... This week, I thought we’d take some time to provide additional details
on the Canadian version of the two Bain brands.
Hopefully, it can help raise awareness while reducing confusion between
both firms.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L8OBRSXHb46UojhBTsbj9HLKBRAYG9lbW3MGaUfo778K3z_2ToRVBVbuPpMAwf5uzJXDurMEphRLOnUToe2ed4KpgbFg8hhlD92XuX08HeA1oo-HIFNYFmOIyF04r-5nm78oDquP7ZDq/s1600/1899+Bain+ad+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L8OBRSXHb46UojhBTsbj9HLKBRAYG9lbW3MGaUfo778K3z_2ToRVBVbuPpMAwf5uzJXDurMEphRLOnUToe2ed4KpgbFg8hhlD92XuX08HeA1oo-HIFNYFmOIyF04r-5nm78oDquP7ZDq/s1600/1899+Bain+ad+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This old print advertisement shows a
Kenosha-built Bain wagon from 1899.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve written before about the <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2017/01/george-yule-bain-wagon-company.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Bain brand</span></a></b> built in Kenosha,
Wisconsin. The company started in 1852
and was an outgrowth of Henry Mitchell’s firm (Mitchell wagons). While Mitchell went on to become a major
brand headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, Edward Bain took the old Mitchell
wagon works, grew the distribution, and heavily marketed the new brand. In the U.S., “The Bain” became a legendary
name throughout the country and particularly in the West. Later, in the twentieth century, the brand
was briefly part of the Pekin Wagon Company and then, finally, it was absorbed
by the Springfield Wagon Company in Springfield, Missouri. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The ‘other’ company carrying the Bain
label is a Canadian firm. In this case,
the international boundary hasn’t kept wagon brands sufficiently separated. Rather, the popularity of antique wooden
wagons in the U.S. has led to many Canadian-built vehicles being shipped back
over the border. It’s a point that can
cause a fair amount of consternation when trying to identify or authenticate a
particular set of wheels. It’s especially
challenging when the name on the Canadian wagon is the same as a major brand in
the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cutting directly to the chase, as of this writing, there’s
no known connection between the two Bain brands. The only things they appear to have in common
are wooden wheels and the brand name. Reinforcing
that point, immediately below, I’ve transcribed a 115-year-old article that was
written about one of the Canadian company’s founders, John Bain. It was published in 1903 as part of <i>The Newspaper Reference Book of Canada</i>. The historical documentation shows a distinct
history wholly separate from Ed Bain’s wagons built in Kenosha, Wisconsin... not
to mention the fact that Ed Bain’s company was started three decades earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>John Alexander Bain, Woodstock, Ont.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “General Manager and Vice President
of one of the most enterprising manufacturing concerns in the Province of
Ontario, the Bain Wagon Co., Limited, John Alexander Bain, of the town of
Woodstock, is a representative Canadian of a class who, through their own ability
and industry, have risen to positions of prominence in the industrial life of
their country. The son of John Bain, a
native of Keith, Scotland, and a cabinetmaker who came to Canada in the early
forties of the last century, and Isabella Robb, his wife, a native of Scotland,
he was born in Woodstock, Ont., on the 23rd of September 1852. Educated in the public and grammar schools of
his native town until the age of nineteen, he became articled to S. & J.
Hext of Brantford, to learn the trade of wagon-making. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship, he
went to Milwaukee, in the United States, and worked at his trade for over a
year in one of the large factories of that city. Subsequently he worked in several large
wagon-making factories at Batavia, Rock Island and Moline, in the State of
Illinois. In 1880, learning that wagons
were being imported into Canada for the Northwest trade, he decided to
establish a business for the manufacture of wagons in his native country. In 1881, with his brother, George A. Bain,
under the firm name of the Bain Wagon Company, they began the manufacture of
wagons at Woodstock and during the first year turned out about 100 wagons. In 1890 the Bain Wagon Company sold their
plant at Woodstock and removed to Brantford, Ont., where the firm continued
under the name of Bain Bros. Mfg. Co., until 1893, when they affiliated with
the Massey-Harris Company, of Toronto, and removed its manufacturing plant to
Woodstock, where they purchased their present large and efficient factory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The success met
with in the manufacture of high-grade farm and freight wagons, log trucks, dump
carts, spring lorries, delivery wagons, and bob-sleighs has been large and
their sales extensive throughout the civilized world. The Massey-Harris Company, of Toronto, are
the sole agents for the output of the Bain Wagon Company, Limited, which can be
obtained from any of their agencies throughout the world. The Bain wagon, one of the principal lines of
manufacture of the Bain Wagon Company, is used throughout Canada, and in
Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and the Yukon. From an output of 100 wagons in 1881, the
business has grown to an output of 8,500 wagons and 4,000 sleighs in 1902. In 1899 the Bain Wagon Company made two
shipments of wagons and ambulances to South Africa for the Canadian contingent,
which were highly recommended by Lieut.-Col. Steele and others as being the
best available wagon for military service in that country. The Bain Wagon Company employs from 250 to
300 in their factory, and is building additional buildings which will give
one-third more productive capacity in 1903...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGFdJ-myKMm9b217OZHNHXfOtEwMWE8o4rbuuI46c34AwR41GmBgYDErUk_0Seb4pj0um2AwLI9mEiArOQp7RyaoifaVldCKuR7inBsQ2FZ1KvwIaFkPwLU4oIKHGcWusuhNW9x5nhd_G/s1600/Canadian+Bain+Cat+Cover1A+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGFdJ-myKMm9b217OZHNHXfOtEwMWE8o4rbuuI46c34AwR41GmBgYDErUk_0Seb4pj0um2AwLI9mEiArOQp7RyaoifaVldCKuR7inBsQ2FZ1KvwIaFkPwLU4oIKHGcWusuhNW9x5nhd_G/s1600/Canadian+Bain+Cat+Cover1A+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This early 1900’s catalog promoted
Canadian-built Bain wagons.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; tab-stops: 150.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7HRGzlh_yq2Yfro6bv6JyWt-rU6SKy-fLXqBCiYM_9Nn0wFH7-aFOWQDTs6a7IWtMsYL4deTsSdXIyFyu1M8-nqNMVQVl5VOIBgxpGBt324yfgBfiSJzM4NmN2roOqTdQVXPvqKdXYHR/s1600/Canadian+Bain+Cat+IntroA1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7HRGzlh_yq2Yfro6bv6JyWt-rU6SKy-fLXqBCiYM_9Nn0wFH7-aFOWQDTs6a7IWtMsYL4deTsSdXIyFyu1M8-nqNMVQVl5VOIBgxpGBt324yfgBfiSJzM4NmN2roOqTdQVXPvqKdXYHR/s1600/Canadian+Bain+Cat+IntroA1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By the early 1890’s, the Canadian-born
Bain Wagon Company became part of the powerful Massey-Harris line of agricultural
products.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clearly, there are different beginnings,
owners, histories – and countries – for both Bain Wagon Companies. That said, there are some elements of the two
brands that seem a little more than coincidental. One, in particular, stands out to me. They both use the term, “The Bain” on the
side of the wagon box. It’s a similarity
that makes me wonder if the later-established firm might have deliberately been
blurring the lines a bit to trade on the longer, legendary history of its U.S.
competitor? Whatever the case may be, the two names
continue to cause confusion with collectors, historians, and enthusiasts. Hopefully, this week’s blog will help clear
up some of the misunderstandings while allowing each brand to take advantage of
its own heritage. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-46426613782667636542017-10-18T04:30:00.000-05:002017-10-18T04:30:02.629-05:00One Last Look – 2017 SFTA Symposium<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are a number of ways to learn more
about America’s first transportation industry.
Some of the more popular methods include seminars, books, authoritative
websites, museums, question-and-answer-sessions, and personal networking. It just so happens that the recent symposium
presented by the <b><a href="http://www.santafetrail.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Santa Fe Trail Association</span></a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.stagecoachfreightwagon.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association</span></a></b> included all of the above. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the third and final week of our
coverage of the 2017 symposium. As such,
we’ll focus on a couple more of the event's activities, including our trip to the <b><a href="http://www.1856.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Steamboat Arabia Museum</span></a></b> in Kansas
City. The ‘night-at-the-museum’ included
a video, tour, meal, and one-on-one narratives with museum docents. The museum, in two words, is “beyond
amazing.” This was my third trip and
every time I’m amazed at what was found and preserved. There was so much on board this boat that I’m
always seeing new things. In fact, the
Arabia was packed with over 200 tons of goods when it sank in 1856. As of 2017, the museum is estimating that it
still has at least 10 more years of conservation and preservation work to do
before all of the recovered items are available for presentation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUCnOYnr7UCPx7GtIJxv78Nfy-7K8Pg5tjFRw4XgtpFDH6cWBLFuNCQnlDclpb_zbg3kiHNUb41irDgNbM1X3dVKOHUxNbWTICux7ubBYcT0O21SbbmpUXx7HEF0Y8c03ttmc-YZlVRdp/s1600/Outside+Steamboat+Museum+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUCnOYnr7UCPx7GtIJxv78Nfy-7K8Pg5tjFRw4XgtpFDH6cWBLFuNCQnlDclpb_zbg3kiHNUb41irDgNbM1X3dVKOHUxNbWTICux7ubBYcT0O21SbbmpUXx7HEF0Y8c03ttmc-YZlVRdp/s1600/Outside+Steamboat+Museum+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City shares an
incredible story that combines mid-1800’s history, the lure of treasure
hunting, and the power of the American Dream.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_-EiCfm4pDlRwRTuSfNAKZbIFbxI6zo7mJlpliNgPnRfnkRqyuh-KDIXhrsGFH3BB1hXTWMy__dECStiBhObrnDjISWERXkgP4ri_qaTzOn41dZFTXC1kXsqCceo27oyLFbFTsIWN-7L/s1600/Arabia+river+stops+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_-EiCfm4pDlRwRTuSfNAKZbIFbxI6zo7mJlpliNgPnRfnkRqyuh-KDIXhrsGFH3BB1hXTWMy__dECStiBhObrnDjISWERXkgP4ri_qaTzOn41dZFTXC1kXsqCceo27oyLFbFTsIWN-7L/s1600/Arabia+river+stops+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With numerous scheduled stops on the Missouri River,
the Arabia and other nineteenth century steamboats helped provide vital
materials to those living on the American frontier.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SxWFiYXSU4WS6816LmQ-dAboSaIJyPFDMQsTjv7AcH2oyfAenrqVdjO8dopyWn42d-7ICYiRCwaS6TYzoW4x3sjZxwcQjQf4tRta9Eg-MnYJeBaFns5lf3EfYIenCCPcDl-j38q3ddQ5/s1600/Stern+%2526+Rudder+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SxWFiYXSU4WS6816LmQ-dAboSaIJyPFDMQsTjv7AcH2oyfAenrqVdjO8dopyWn42d-7ICYiRCwaS6TYzoW4x3sjZxwcQjQf4tRta9Eg-MnYJeBaFns5lf3EfYIenCCPcDl-j38q3ddQ5/s1600/Stern+%2526+Rudder+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This portion of the Arabia’s stern and rudder were
salvaged and preserved, helping showcase the vital role America’s western
steamboats played during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0L2YamME7Rp0ATJ-0nPH0LiGnZFOS9IpNNVxDKlo5VrHRF5Tt_pujxU-hRetIh9jFyab-QkBFYhqaTJFtrB3EW8IRrA1eVlUfzb8w4J2KIk85Q3Uwntffx79x0fYYCt0dXFAMFdO8MEY/s1600/Hansen+Patrick+Schuttler+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0L2YamME7Rp0ATJ-0nPH0LiGnZFOS9IpNNVxDKlo5VrHRF5Tt_pujxU-hRetIh9jFyab-QkBFYhqaTJFtrB3EW8IRrA1eVlUfzb8w4J2KIk85Q3Uwntffx79x0fYYCt0dXFAMFdO8MEY/s1600/Hansen+Patrick+Schuttler+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Doug Hansen (<b><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop</span></a>)</b> and Jim Patrick take a closer look
at an extremely rare, wheeled relic.
This 1856 Peter Schuttler brand running gear is likely the oldest
surviving, factory-built wagon in America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’re not familiar with the story of
the Steamboat Arabia, I wrote a feature article years ago that highlighted the vessel's sinking and recovery while also focusing on the high wheel wagon gear found onboard. The piece was published by <i>The Carriage Journal</i> back in January of 2008. If you missed it, another writing of
the account can still be found on our website.
The story is entitled, <b><i><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.com/Pages/ArticlesArabiasBuriedTreasure.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Arabia’s Buried Treasure</span></a>.</i></b> The sinking of the Arabia in 1856 left us
with a time capsule of life on the frontier in those days. Almost anything one can imagine was on that
boat – including a pre-fabricated house!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV9rdbTtgkf5LtcohqSow5PRg4jNPADUhU7MrtrDgc6g9nmqEWWiFyW8k5WZEWmb1xV9oSkXQa7T4QC-_iG4vP_588VJLPzUm3vHeP0zHdmCfGODAb1H22l7lM38cEVpZMG13oWv6alP7/s1600/Wide+tool+%2526+axe+display+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV9rdbTtgkf5LtcohqSow5PRg4jNPADUhU7MrtrDgc6g9nmqEWWiFyW8k5WZEWmb1xV9oSkXQa7T4QC-_iG4vP_588VJLPzUm3vHeP0zHdmCfGODAb1H22l7lM38cEVpZMG13oWv6alP7/s1600/Wide+tool+%2526+axe+display+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This massive display of hand tools is just a fraction
of the countless goods recovered from the Arabia.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrcTk5_Ft8loQCEa9cqa4OuwZkw0R1jDMfTldw4dJsAlM55E6pHCIoMxHSiBCZH45LYotymNthkMVmmY6349HWcBCJj85ltstPSMFuvP2mCXslAJ8SLA9d6qgUDaCo-9wTecKD52WD4Xp/s1600/Arabia+china+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrcTk5_Ft8loQCEa9cqa4OuwZkw0R1jDMfTldw4dJsAlM55E6pHCIoMxHSiBCZH45LYotymNthkMVmmY6349HWcBCJj85ltstPSMFuvP2mCXslAJ8SLA9d6qgUDaCo-9wTecKD52WD4Xp/s1600/Arabia+china+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s hard to imagine such beautiful and fragile
china heading west on a steamboat in 1856.
It’s even more amazing to know these pieces survived wagon freighting, a shipwreck,
flooding, and being buried beneath nearly fifty feet of Kansas cornfield.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xUcDRZoWk6sULpWlfAI_F8So6qYLF5rt_GgjtSzG9YkCsJzMhk_BJ8jPzYTIs8yRxkrPSoKYx6w5CjKJFMaNMsbERqX99GYovcO8iPMlldzGLFzQZ0HS4sKppkenwlogF2LSdeS4DeM-/s1600/Arabia+clothing+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xUcDRZoWk6sULpWlfAI_F8So6qYLF5rt_GgjtSzG9YkCsJzMhk_BJ8jPzYTIs8yRxkrPSoKYx6w5CjKJFMaNMsbERqX99GYovcO8iPMlldzGLFzQZ0HS4sKppkenwlogF2LSdeS4DeM-/s1600/Arabia+clothing+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting a firsthand look at the vibrant colors,
patterns, and styles of clothing being sent into the mid-1800’s American West
gives us an even greater understanding of how things really appeared in that
time period.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD-HJ162PaS8_bLl6gQuW_WqwC2I8po9Su-J_8vEvZSoNwXH-taFU2WLw7vaEVjRNmrjFG2ltWCzcLXKSlbSZ12euc3e4_8XcT_CW0KZoxBpRT7j1NfjVEmH1MP-DDlRg9hppd4LWGbHA/s1600/Brass+keys+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD-HJ162PaS8_bLl6gQuW_WqwC2I8po9Su-J_8vEvZSoNwXH-taFU2WLw7vaEVjRNmrjFG2ltWCzcLXKSlbSZ12euc3e4_8XcT_CW0KZoxBpRT7j1NfjVEmH1MP-DDlRg9hppd4LWGbHA/s1600/Brass+keys+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">New-old-stock keys, hinges, and other hardware from
1856 are unheard-of finds in today’s world.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY3XXDu4hIh4VMCvQJ-mhF1JHRwW6xw5aNjiWWN5AadaEocCpMXgWxmGUlObkzcRgZ-Mi1G4NDNLclbd-q-02dz7JKjns3cAJELPkqwmjkqxvBArlYY8b3s6R8KkBEeLCc7RRRksT6Z9x/s1600/Printers+type+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY3XXDu4hIh4VMCvQJ-mhF1JHRwW6xw5aNjiWWN5AadaEocCpMXgWxmGUlObkzcRgZ-Mi1G4NDNLclbd-q-02dz7JKjns3cAJELPkqwmjkqxvBArlYY8b3s6R8KkBEeLCc7RRRksT6Z9x/s1600/Printers+type+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The steamboat Arabia included a wealth of materials
for the frontier, including this printer’s type bound for Council Bluffs, Iowa.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The last place we visited on our trip to
the symposium was the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This facility is loaded with early military
transportation, wheeled weaponry, and other items used in the exploration of
the American West. Articles such as a circa-1800 surveyor’s compass, photographic equipment, pack saddles, signal corp
gear, recovered picket pins, early bayonets, and countless other items are also
housed in this museum. If you’re ever in
the area, it’s a stop well worth your time.
Plus, just a few blocks from the museum, deep swales from mid-nineteenth
century wagon traffic still tell the story of heavy freighting and emigrants
leaving the Missouri River, headed west.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq58peS2hAooMqubipFEVSSEQ4fFFVgeZkYiuw3lG3mzSjJJiStiKTjcZYBW3p4N2t8hPSGPMQtmyAbyY3rCKenU9YTzjWozWSqIMgkV2zTv3nYaTGHdaEp8lbdml8W_Z2_cIoo0X_ageT/s1600/Outside+Frontier+Army+Museum+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq58peS2hAooMqubipFEVSSEQ4fFFVgeZkYiuw3lG3mzSjJJiStiKTjcZYBW3p4N2t8hPSGPMQtmyAbyY3rCKenU9YTzjWozWSqIMgkV2zTv3nYaTGHdaEp8lbdml8W_Z2_cIoo0X_ageT/s1600/Outside+Frontier+Army+Museum+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Frontier Army Museum, located at Fort
Leavenworth, includes a wealth of transportation history related to the early
U.S. Army. A special permit is required
to enter the military base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokaf3iuNvlH4TWid68-fw5HLHn1UDjXmjuZ8NYo_GKD7dg_ajoikYhDudS4EnF8pNtatxeNnkVQz6vh-3zzdPB82Y3rZAWzAPw_dxbKTXaz6p9ALsIaWgsBB7dloKFBMrGQ-ilR3PmqU1/s1600/1860+ox+yoke+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokaf3iuNvlH4TWid68-fw5HLHn1UDjXmjuZ8NYo_GKD7dg_ajoikYhDudS4EnF8pNtatxeNnkVQz6vh-3zzdPB82Y3rZAWzAPw_dxbKTXaz6p9ALsIaWgsBB7dloKFBMrGQ-ilR3PmqU1/s1600/1860+ox+yoke+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This ox yoke was built in 1860 by Mr. Lackbee. It was made for the legendary freighting firm
of Russell, Majors and Waddell.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYDyMs7CLSSuB3fwIbGzheoN7HXdrP9H4X1UPXYVssZ0zlg1KjU4pbVyB5GfX9a-9FgG9T9LshyphenhyphengOnZCxqfMmTjeqxNxczcfXuMQTqSnQI2zUPqvfbMbwalPReIpnI7dTgo-F94vCz1O2/s1600/Army+Pack+animals+-+sizedjpg+-+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYDyMs7CLSSuB3fwIbGzheoN7HXdrP9H4X1UPXYVssZ0zlg1KjU4pbVyB5GfX9a-9FgG9T9LshyphenhyphengOnZCxqfMmTjeqxNxczcfXuMQTqSnQI2zUPqvfbMbwalPReIpnI7dTgo-F94vCz1O2/s1600/Army+Pack+animals+-+sizedjpg+-+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s a lot to see and study at the
Frontier Army Museum.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigO88kgHk-mdhZwBL3cZDyVuyRCadfcSz6Mh_8uyQhafNVpbhXwJz-NPZZeI5w2RkMxOaESZGTxQiD52dSplWIM7T40MHtiwtWQOVKGHYmFBpF2ZOgpT1-d7Oquny2dcaUKuBijLUBK_k/s1600/Model+1909+Army+Ambulance+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigO88kgHk-mdhZwBL3cZDyVuyRCadfcSz6Mh_8uyQhafNVpbhXwJz-NPZZeI5w2RkMxOaESZGTxQiD52dSplWIM7T40MHtiwtWQOVKGHYmFBpF2ZOgpT1-d7Oquny2dcaUKuBijLUBK_k/s1600/Model+1909+Army+Ambulance+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Model 1909 Army Ambulance was the last
horse-drawn ambulance design used by the U.S. Army. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Oco2FX5860AKeG74dozVyzMHSP2Zhz1iWLLuj03IU9rO4_sfWjBZ3LgUjUEgK-oRxAJ3DNUtYnV8QDUCmaTNcwUsnJp717cajSFtMWV72PSlxidYNWxp24pCArTbDyX8NVkbJ1DJPLQh/s1600/Improved+Dougherty+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Oco2FX5860AKeG74dozVyzMHSP2Zhz1iWLLuj03IU9rO4_sfWjBZ3LgUjUEgK-oRxAJ3DNUtYnV8QDUCmaTNcwUsnJp717cajSFtMWV72PSlxidYNWxp24pCArTbDyX8NVkbJ1DJPLQh/s1600/Improved+Dougherty+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a rare, ‘Improved Dougherty’
wagon. The design was in use before and
during World War 1.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBj84ucYqR46VSASYurboq61vXfe_8bjs8CiUkQwVBOwUYdn_bGbp52cbSr9SHhRR7WLPkZiqZuFlxk493K5pwGwvcjbK7jtp7OfcD_njGI7DyU4Rxk8XGAvNdoBt0tA4HhHWwfKSOc40/s1600/Army+buckboard+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBj84ucYqR46VSASYurboq61vXfe_8bjs8CiUkQwVBOwUYdn_bGbp52cbSr9SHhRR7WLPkZiqZuFlxk493K5pwGwvcjbK7jtp7OfcD_njGI7DyU4Rxk8XGAvNdoBt0tA4HhHWwfKSOc40/s1600/Army+buckboard+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As evidenced by this buckboard, the U.S. army used
literally dozens of different types of horse-drawn vehicles during the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coming soon... we’ll take a look at two
well-known, early vehicle brands that are often confused as being
one-and-the-same. As it happens, brand
history and the associated identification challenges are common issues for many
enthusiasts and collectors of wheeled history.
We’ll talk more soon. In the
meantime, have a great week! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-60097341090578989622017-10-11T04:30:00.000-05:002017-10-11T04:30:14.104-05:00The 2017 SFTA Symposium – More Moments<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week, I shared a few of the
activities and behind-the-scenes events from the recent Santa Fe Trail
Association Symposium held in Olathe, Kansas.
This week, I’m continuing coverage of the gathering with a focus on the
happenings at the historic <b><a href="http://www.mahaffie.org/mahaffie-home-page" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm</span></a></b>. On October 18th, I’ll
finish up the highlights with a look at our trip to the Steamboat Arabia Museum
and the Fort Leavenworth Frontier Museum.
Each of these settings provided an amazing backdrop for studying
America’s early trail and transportation history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWeaa4eOq7XCSh9-f7EBhq66ECaaIl4Y1NXIIHJQQMpjEzHaR9EbRL8Svasp-LYjRC3DN0Wz9STSeb67xggRJADR3vKrqPXOWChPdLCRF-kqN2e88_06m6oxC6GtV64mRP1o1JSj3wU1/s1600/Mahaffee+house+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWeaa4eOq7XCSh9-f7EBhq66ECaaIl4Y1NXIIHJQQMpjEzHaR9EbRL8Svasp-LYjRC3DN0Wz9STSeb67xggRJADR3vKrqPXOWChPdLCRF-kqN2e88_06m6oxC6GtV64mRP1o1JSj3wU1/s1600/Mahaffee+house+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the National Register of Historic
Places, the Mahaffie home served passengers traveling with the ‘Barlow,
Sanderson and Company’ stagecoach line during the nineteenth century.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-LJkCgzGIm7P28goqxrI79QdbL3NY2zwcaHBNKmb7HNB1sctBZTnfsiAZPuPabtY6rgdxZnUlpS1qBlX9Ayo-f3GhVtkmZMwfEfenHFjgUQhWzEDX5-Zf0I6MpVq-_Egzxt-v1wJMKVR/s1600/Mud+wagon+leaving+barn+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-LJkCgzGIm7P28goqxrI79QdbL3NY2zwcaHBNKmb7HNB1sctBZTnfsiAZPuPabtY6rgdxZnUlpS1qBlX9Ayo-f3GhVtkmZMwfEfenHFjgUQhWzEDX5-Zf0I6MpVq-_Egzxt-v1wJMKVR/s1600/Mud+wagon+leaving+barn+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we arrived at the Mahaffie farm, the mud
wagon was just leaving the barn.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKJeQN09IzKB3X49miGMqeIB8gDIpV9yJCJpsq4MBc7NcTY3gmMDym9ZOLTupID2hMg-YDpFrQgCo4mo_9pA1STWgh-Hmu4XgrWwzUbzruQHDARmKog0xCYmRzlIxgeRlZUDObkfnmip/s1600/Driving+stage+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nKJeQN09IzKB3X49miGMqeIB8gDIpV9yJCJpsq4MBc7NcTY3gmMDym9ZOLTupID2hMg-YDpFrQgCo4mo_9pA1STWgh-Hmu4XgrWwzUbzruQHDARmKog0xCYmRzlIxgeRlZUDObkfnmip/s1600/Driving+stage+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stagecoach rides are a popular part of
the activities at the Mahaffie farm. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3gv9Z9KpEua6S4u8Lo4jh-0GzK2RD28frNRhkKcVsdIA08t2ZVdTyyjBkpL7n4G628zevlhvknWOD9PohnuPIvh0D1IfeTfSyhv22RUtgeaW6lCZD0cGbsAa6p9lBcWnq_hB2hqO8Hwq/s1600/Yoking+Oxen+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3gv9Z9KpEua6S4u8Lo4jh-0GzK2RD28frNRhkKcVsdIA08t2ZVdTyyjBkpL7n4G628zevlhvknWOD9PohnuPIvh0D1IfeTfSyhv22RUtgeaW6lCZD0cGbsAa6p9lBcWnq_hB2hqO8Hwq/s1600/Yoking+Oxen+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While commonplace on the Santa Fe and
other trails, the process of yoking and driving oxen is a rare sight
today. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHLav7EbiudvXZhIXvR9RzW9zLtpBGBdhxrOt62ccsjcpDZsKiJq9rmu5CQEH_FP2XELUyrTM_OIlwiPohu3uUzQPLVqEsVF0IkomKyGPnMWymp7tjQWSb4MO0QRRwG-oPmX4FylxvQ-0/s1600/Hotsetting+tire+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHLav7EbiudvXZhIXvR9RzW9zLtpBGBdhxrOt62ccsjcpDZsKiJq9rmu5CQEH_FP2XELUyrTM_OIlwiPohu3uUzQPLVqEsVF0IkomKyGPnMWymp7tjQWSb4MO0QRRwG-oPmX4FylxvQ-0/s1600/Hotsetting+tire+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don Werner of <b><a href="http://www.wernerwagonworks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Werner Wagon Works</span></a></b> demonstrated the art and science involved in
hot-setting wagon tires.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and
Historic Farm is located just across the street from where the formal
presentations took place in the Olathe Community Center. Friday, September 29th, a host of
activities were on tap for the symposium attendees. Don Werner of Werner’s Wagon Works shared a
wealth of information related to the design and construction of wagon wheels. Tim Talbott, Mahaffie Site Director,
discussed the process of yoking oxen and Rawhide Johnson gave a particularly
interesting firsthand account of stage coaching. Turns out that his dad had purchased a stage
coach line (complete with coaches) in the early part of the twentieth century. What an amazing opportunity! Doug Hansen followed up with more details on
various accoutrements of staging and wagon driving while Greg VanCoevern shared
aspects of his army ambulance and Jeff McManus and Cameron Bean conducted
blacksmithing seminars. It was a full
day of demonstrations which also included tours of the historic Mahaffie farm
and period home. The Mahaffie farm was a
stage stop for passing travelers as early as the Civil War. Today, the home stands as one of the few,
surviving stage coach stops on the Santa Fe Trail. The preservation of the facilities allows
visitors from all over the world to learn more about U.S. frontier travel as
well as life on an 1860’s-era farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqnyLZGMlKiFi6mDmovMi1GI5UvgSeNlabq24WaUPNhBxeD4eOVJK5-o9la-PxLhTlrRR_UBWWVIACTRUwdyJ2NqZn4JbZA3i7ClGobiT3HEN6wfIGqd2D_6CUJy0KxznvatJumh-6FEf/s1600/Emigrant+camp+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqnyLZGMlKiFi6mDmovMi1GI5UvgSeNlabq24WaUPNhBxeD4eOVJK5-o9la-PxLhTlrRR_UBWWVIACTRUwdyJ2NqZn4JbZA3i7ClGobiT3HEN6wfIGqd2D_6CUJy0KxznvatJumh-6FEf/s1600/Emigrant+camp+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An emigrant camp with Dutch oven cooking
was also part of the event.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnoaeMKK1SWfY5p_2i11k6k0rDFuoTzNgwhSqaC244UhFeoSDGnbaTjhkDf7pewlDMALQsDStJvGEKN9XE3d4YM1fiADpphRnWndKPyA1dUSSAu39jUryOZZaEW5uHSxTTHzON33Ti5P3/s1600/Blacksmithing+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnoaeMKK1SWfY5p_2i11k6k0rDFuoTzNgwhSqaC244UhFeoSDGnbaTjhkDf7pewlDMALQsDStJvGEKN9XE3d4YM1fiADpphRnWndKPyA1dUSSAu39jUryOZZaEW5uHSxTTHzON33Ti5P3/s1600/Blacksmithing+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Traditional blacksmithing techniques and
tools were highlighted by Jeff McManus and Cameron Bean from the <b><a href="http://www.stagecoachfreightwagon.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">National Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association</span></a></b>. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhza1om0VPUG7YRAGxUYUgEVHfE6E5ex6tNZi6d1eEzxuPoA7OnPj_Ty1V6TN8OL23LGi3Novh8C2MXyV6evL8hUDTmE5f3eoSO4ke-X-QrYKXoxoTF2NX-kSclKIQ2B3MvQactKzJQ8t/s1600/Hansen+braking+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhza1om0VPUG7YRAGxUYUgEVHfE6E5ex6tNZi6d1eEzxuPoA7OnPj_Ty1V6TN8OL23LGi3Novh8C2MXyV6evL8hUDTmE5f3eoSO4ke-X-QrYKXoxoTF2NX-kSclKIQ2B3MvQactKzJQ8t/s1600/Hansen+braking+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Part of <b><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Doug Hansen’s</span></a></b> on-site presentations included highlights on braking
methods used on early western vehicles.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAnzvuiY7GpfYSm_r_v92nr2CJLTYkx54uQcnqMVj_QprBVcsKmcM00wHzhkpDCmwJ6w2NKjO7VgBcd2aAScR5XQJOtZjrgqDv85wUBL9RfwvNVjg9y9hB0iexc62P0nAwuRLCCM6TBnK/s1600/Rawhide+coaching+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAnzvuiY7GpfYSm_r_v92nr2CJLTYkx54uQcnqMVj_QprBVcsKmcM00wHzhkpDCmwJ6w2NKjO7VgBcd2aAScR5XQJOtZjrgqDv85wUBL9RfwvNVjg9y9hB0iexc62P0nAwuRLCCM6TBnK/s1600/Rawhide+coaching+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rawhide Johnson’s insights into
stagecoaching were both humorous & educational.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vP72idQG_ovbkE2VHZt1F_2inJStKH2aq-Q431tmiVsvFGIngjng1a_vp8dOWIv-yAKXoNPNujsmNyWkl_imXLf5MUvMtQ2A3qFHUvO7A-W_iYKrKzryxxuuQJPJfi03ERhSsCPMw9tU/s1600/Greg+VanCoevern+ambulance1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vP72idQG_ovbkE2VHZt1F_2inJStKH2aq-Q431tmiVsvFGIngjng1a_vp8dOWIv-yAKXoNPNujsmNyWkl_imXLf5MUvMtQ2A3qFHUvO7A-W_iYKrKzryxxuuQJPJfi03ERhSsCPMw9tU/s1600/Greg+VanCoevern+ambulance1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">During the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries, the U.S. Army employed a number of different styles of horse-drawn
vehicles. Greg VanCoevern shared some of
those details as they related to his army ambulance. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Next week, I’ll wrap up our coverage of
the 2017 <b><a href="http://www.santafetrail.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Santa Fe Trail Association Symposium</span></a></b> with a look at our visit to the Steamboat Arabia Museum and Fort
Leavenworth Frontier Museum. Both
locales provided a great deal of insight into early freighting, travel on
American trails, and the vehicles used throughout the frontier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-41027880393407288772017-10-04T04:30:00.000-05:002017-10-04T04:30:12.739-05:002017 Santa Fe Trail Association Symposium<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This past week, I was privileged to
attend a special, historical trail symposium presented by the <b><a href="http://www.santafetrail.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Santa Fe Trail Association</span></a></b> and the <b><a href="http://stagecoachfreightwagon.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">National Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association</span></a></b>. From start to finish,
it was one of the best organized and information-packed excursions I’ve ever
been a part of. If you missed it, you
missed a lot. That said, word on the
street is that these folks will have an equally significant retreat in St. Louis
in 2019. Consider yourself duly
informed. If you’re interested in early
trails, western vehicles, and the particulars surrounding those studies, you’ll
want to make sure you have the next event marked on your ‘to do’ list. With that said, I thought I’d take the next
few weeks and give a brief overview of some highlights of this year’s
event. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Olathe Community Center was an
exceptional facility for the formal presentations shared during the 2017 Santa
Fe Trail Association symposium.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNUZV7bI707clX3PoDMJwYQTYqo56RH_GoR-zhFRPs62SI6eU7ROIMxOtKykFkG5yMxwgqIHheq6JyrTlBnkDFxcBMv7JrxvzO2i9pgvHJeKl2ggAdp8jq0ZzggpMIQ21NlMPdHD-KuJp/s1600/Larry+Short2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNUZV7bI707clX3PoDMJwYQTYqo56RH_GoR-zhFRPs62SI6eU7ROIMxOtKykFkG5yMxwgqIHheq6JyrTlBnkDFxcBMv7JrxvzO2i9pgvHJeKl2ggAdp8jq0ZzggpMIQ21NlMPdHD-KuJp/s1600/Larry+Short2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Larry Short introduced each of the half
dozen speakers to a crowd of just over 150 folks from all over the country.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The presentations for the 2017 Santa Fe
Trail symposium were held at the Olathe Community Center and the <b><a href="http://www.mahaffie.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Historic Farm</span></a></b>. Other segments of the gathering included a
series of bus tours focused on different aspects of the Santa Fe Trail. Organizers also included a ‘night-at-the-museum’
dinner and tour of the Steamboat Arabia Museum in Kansas City. That facility - and the discoveries it holds
- is beyond amazing. Some attendees even
made the brief trip to Ft. Leavenworth to take in even more history housed in
the Frontier Museum. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While informal talks were conducted throughout the multitude of activities, the opening presentations for the event were
held at the Olathe Community Center.
Unfortunately, that simple-sounding name doesn’t do much to convey what
an outstanding asset this facility is to the local area. Surrounded by an ultra-modern, yet relaxed
and inviting atmosphere, the resource is filled with art, education, exercise, and sports
activities for the young and young at heart.
While we were there, families were celebrating birthdays, holding
volleyball games, swimming, participating in study groups, checking out a huge
consignment sale, exploring a farmer’s market, and relaxing in the picturesque
setting and picnic/playground areas. It’s an incredibly welcoming jewel for the
folks in Olathe. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnep22mVPgmGnefN08JTRLlQ95Qi22y7aTORA1WF9NuIyAR-0HEACDV5zM-ADrVLoUw8ZrIyYy176VEx9XTCHPhxQ9OYX4XByDLvvjE-b7famziRXf2XOFUMu7VuzvVtnZlCmVxrPQ5Kc/s1600/1+First+Speaker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnep22mVPgmGnefN08JTRLlQ95Qi22y7aTORA1WF9NuIyAR-0HEACDV5zM-ADrVLoUw8ZrIyYy176VEx9XTCHPhxQ9OYX4XByDLvvjE-b7famziRXf2XOFUMu7VuzvVtnZlCmVxrPQ5Kc/s1600/1+First+Speaker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Steve Schmidt’s presentation on the
Sibley Survey provided an exceptionally detailed look at the history,
beginnings, and development of the Santa Fe Trail. </span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokZq4eE3Oceq0RCVwBHRROW2GEFc0mQ5XZmhWJTOcIGel8Tb_fvrfK41cCwa3mH6xbn83QhPHVeOYtgogZyz79wfRBuEcjd_mH6aYcsOhbwSAAoPzhRMjcUA7ej9gtVdgWek-RznLA-gg/s1600/2+Second+Speaker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokZq4eE3Oceq0RCVwBHRROW2GEFc0mQ5XZmhWJTOcIGel8Tb_fvrfK41cCwa3mH6xbn83QhPHVeOYtgogZyz79wfRBuEcjd_mH6aYcsOhbwSAAoPzhRMjcUA7ej9gtVdgWek-RznLA-gg/s1600/2+Second+Speaker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mike Dickey outlined a wealth of
information related to Native American tribes located along the Santa Fe Trail.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Truth is, if you came to this event
expecting to learn more than you could carry away, you weren’t
disappointed. There was so much
information passed along throughout the multi-day event that it would be tough
to get it all into one blog post. As a
result, this week, I’ll limit my focus to the formal presentations and share
more details on the rest of the symposium in the weeks to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My presentation focused on the
historical development of freight wagons on the Santa Fe Trail. It included a considerable amount of primary
source details and imagery never shown before. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Leo Oliva expounded on the ‘Doctrine of
Discovery’ within his talk related to <i>Soldiers
on the Santa Fe Trail</i>.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Doug Hansen of <b><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop</span></a></b> provided a wealth of information
related to the <i>Art of the Wheelwright</i>. His talk was generously filled with technical and practical
information.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Craig Crease not only delivered an
excellent formal presentation on the Santa Fe Trail but also hosted an
extensive bus tour highlighting the trail’s original routes.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the next few weeks, I’ll share even
more images and insights from this Santa Fe Trail Association event. To the person, the meeting was filled with friendly, engaging folks. I’m glad I was
there. Not only does that kind of atmosphere
make for an ideal learning experience, it left everyone with a lot of great
memories. Special thanks to Greg and Joanne VanCoevern for reaching out to me over two years ago as they helped to plan this impressive gathering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rawhide Johnson, Cameron Bean, and Jeff
McManus provided additional presentations at the historic Mahaffie Stagecoach
Stop.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Next week, we’ll focus on a lot more of
the event activities, including a hands-on look at wheelwrighting presented by
Don Werner of Werner Wagon Works.</span></h3>
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-68975955399841774792017-09-27T04:30:00.000-05:002017-09-27T04:30:06.157-05:00Emily Ann O’Neill Bott and her GGF, Joseph Murphy<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I learned a new word the other day –
gobsmacked. Feel free to look it up but,
rest assured, it’s exactly how I sometimes feel while researching America’s
first transportation industry.
Reinforcing that point, I woke up on September 15th to find an email in
my inbox from Emily Ann O’Neil Bott. It
was quite a surprise. For those familiar
with early U.S. transportation history, you know that name. Emily researched and wrote about one of the
(if not the) most legendary American wagon maker, Joseph Murphy. He was her great grandfather or, as she put
it, her ggf. Over the years, her
research has garnered a tremendous amount of attention – particularly in
reference to the wagons Murphy purportedly built to overcome
excessive taxes placed on freighters doing business in Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sixty-five years ago, this year, Emily’s
Master’s thesis on Joseph Murphy, his wagon business, and Santa Fe Trail wagons
was published by the “Missouri Historical Review.” With my presentation on Santa Fe Trail wagons
looming, I’m more than a little awed by the irony of being contacted by this
wonderful lady. I tried to respectfully
refer to her as Ms. Bott and she quickly told me she was ‘Emily.’ So, you’ll understand that I’m not being
disrespectful or presumptuous when I reference her by first name. It has been a tremendous honor to correspond
with her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6teylNs9dsBRHBAlpuT7fCuGk94GjamFYvQMqQqawjj46TKrZukQaDdgW27CdPyjXH381sn1rgNEnOjzaX9LCNpiobMA1OPG4d9AO-7pDhsok1nb3Nw-8L1j96n4LOlLu0Ome6qJ2QX0K/s1600/Emily+Bott+Facebook+photo+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6teylNs9dsBRHBAlpuT7fCuGk94GjamFYvQMqQqawjj46TKrZukQaDdgW27CdPyjXH381sn1rgNEnOjzaX9LCNpiobMA1OPG4d9AO-7pDhsok1nb3Nw-8L1j96n4LOlLu0Ome6qJ2QX0K/s1600/Emily+Bott+Facebook+photo+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Emily’s Bott’s 1952 article is
entitled, “Joseph Murphy’s Contribution to the Development of the West.” After 65 years, it remains as one of the most intriguing studies of Mr. Murphy’s St. Louis-built wagons.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Emily is now 95 years young, sharp as a
tack, and an absolute pleasure to talk to.
The ‘ggf’ (great grandfather) moniker she uses for Joseph Murphy was how
her grandmother, Mrs. L.J. Moore (1856-1948), Joseph Murphy’s daughter, had
referred to Emily’s connection to Joseph.
Emily shared that many of the details she obtained for the thesis came
from conversations with her grandmother. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Opportunities to interview a person
responsible for helping preserve such a vital part of our nation’s early
transportation industry don’t come around very often – if at all. So, I wasn’t going to miss a chance to learn
as much as I could from Mr. Murphy’s ‘ggd.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I asked Emily a number of questions
related to how the Murphy article came about.
She related that, while in graduate school, she was pondering the
pursuit of a teaching or writing vocation.
With so much of her family history tied to the development of the U.S.,
she decided to take the stories she’d heard from those who had lived alongside
Mr. Murphy, reconnect them to a wealth of additional research, and share the
results in her master’s thesis. The
finished product has been of great help to many doing their own studies of the
topic. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we discussed Joseph Muphy, Emily
passed along a few tidbits related to his character. His demeanor, she said, could often be
defined as a “steel will.” It was a
stubborn trait of commanding authority that was difficult for the immediate
family to escape. That very attribute,
though, is likely a large reason his wagons were so well received. He was a stickler for quality. Even the original Murphy letters in our
collection confirm his serious dedication to excellence. It’s a point not missed in period accounts
either. Multiple early articles showcase
Murphy vehicles as a favorite to both freighters and emigrants headed west.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhwGRNyhl7-fDViOt3ycbnEbUJJJldtza-FyPjiVKhG3fQwwfXK2h_dVs4NKKcbwDx08EGJZrIA3s9QqGP71JDCdxmDVjdaxTgH3WMcaX88P__tTW9o4tJMlrq4a2beysHyXYuwHpSl7W/s1600/Joseph+Murphy+pic_Sarah+Bott1cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhwGRNyhl7-fDViOt3ycbnEbUJJJldtza-FyPjiVKhG3fQwwfXK2h_dVs4NKKcbwDx08EGJZrIA3s9QqGP71JDCdxmDVjdaxTgH3WMcaX88P__tTW9o4tJMlrq4a2beysHyXYuwHpSl7W/s1600/Joseph+Murphy+pic_Sarah+Bott1cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A special thank you to Sarah Bott,
Emily’s daughter, for providing this nineteenth century photo of Joseph Murphy.</span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are additional reports that Joseph
Murphy was so committed to the expert craftsmen in his employ that he provided
rooming accommodations at the wagon works.
The move wasn’t entirely benevolent on Murphy’s part. Apparently, he wanted to keep his workers
close so it would be harder for competitors to lure them away. It’s a premise that comes as no surprise to
me. America’s early wagon industry could
be extremely aggressive. It not only
took a great deal of personal drive but an equal amount of forward-thinking to
stay abreast of competitive challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As for his own introduction to building
vehicles... Murphy became an apprentice wagon maker in 1819 when he was
fourteen. In 1825, he started his own
firm. Fourteen years later, in 1839, freighters
on the Santa Fe Trail took a significant financial hit when the Mexican
government added a $500 tax to each wagonload of merchandise coming into the
country. An important part of the Murphy
legend surrounds the large wagons he’s believed to have built to overcome this
financial setback. (I’ll share more
details on these legendary wagons during my presentation to the Santa Fe Trail
Association on September 28th.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Murphy
retired from the factory in 1888. That would have put him in his early
80s. Well over a decade later,
he still considered himself spry enough to take on about any chore around the
house. Emily passed along a final insight
into the confidence, drive, and determination so characteristic of Joseph Murphy. Even though that passion for perfection had
served him well for decades, overconfidence can carry a dark side. So it was, in 1901, that Murphy was
determined to climb up and over yet another obstacle. Here’s how Emily put it... “A thorough craftsman, at the age of 96,
Murphy went up on his roof to repair some chimney flashing. A fall, a broken
leg, pneumonia, and it was over.” It was
a tragic end to a remarkable life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Born
in 1805, Murphy had emigrated to the U.S. when he was twelve. He saw virtually every part of America’s
westward expansion in the nineteenth century.
From the discovery of gold and military campaigns in the West to the
exploits of outlaws, the building of the transcontinental railroad, development
of stagecoach routes, and the unfolding of countless tragedies on the frontier,
Murphy’s products and reputation were thoroughly immersed in the events of the
West. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the whole subject continues to be
intriguing to Emily and her family, she confessed that she was surprised her
work was still of interest to others.
Her modesty belies her own accomplishments and commitment to making a
difference in the lives of others. Over
the years, she’s authored a book, written regular newspaper columns, had a
career in insurance, volunteered with the Make-A-Wish foundation and her local
hospital, as well as raised seven children.
By her own admission, her children and their families are her
greatest pride and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I think back over the early
transportation experiences I’ve encountered over the last quarter century, I’m
beside myself. From archaeological digs
to rare vehicle finds and relics rescued from the brink of destruction, the
events continue to open my eyes to the rich history of our nation as well as
the incredible people that still make it the best place on earth. As of this year, the trail of old paper and
worn wheels has led me to resources in all fifty of the United States. Thank you, Emily Ann O’Neill Bott, for
reaching out and sharing even more from our past. Like your ggf, you’ve made your own mark in
American history and we are all the better for it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-48127928287129424642017-09-20T04:30:00.000-05:002017-09-20T04:30:16.218-05:00Early Vehicle Maintenance, Mysteries, & Musings<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">September has been an interesting
month. We’ve both sold and purchased
some early vehicles and have made headway into a number of research
projects. Here in the Ozarks, leaves are
beginning to fall, tree colors are slowly turning and, as I’m told, the
persimmons have ‘spoons’ in them. For
the uninitiated, that formation within the inner realms of persimmon tree fruit
is purported to forecast a heavy dose of snow this winter; never mind the fact
that the same thing occurred last year with minimal accumulations and extremely
mild temperatures. We shall see, I
guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the meantime, as the seasons once
again go through a change, it made me think of all the changes antique wooden
vehicles go through. As custodians of
these pieces from yesterday, it’s up to each of us to help maintain and
preserve them for future generations.
With that in mind, I thought I’d run over a few tricks-of-the-trade,
so-to-speak, and highlight some areas of maintenance that may prove helpful to
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Removing
Dirt Dauber Nests...<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’ve ever come across an old set of
wheels that’s been stored away in a drafty barn, shed, or outbuilding, you know
that dust isn’t the only thing that can accumulate on these rolling icons. Animal droppings, rats’ nests, and mud dabber
homes can overwhelm a piece if left unattended in the wrong environment. While the first two issues can be addressed
with a careful sweeping and light cleaning, the last point needs a little more
attention. After all, knocking off the
earthen incubator of mud daubers might seem simple enough but, if done
carelessly, there can be problems – chiefly, the loss of paint. Oftentimes, these hollow huts can be so firmly
affixed to the wood of a wagon that the simple act of taking them off can also
destroy valuable paint and stenciling. Once
original paint is gone, there’s no such thing as a ‘do-over.’ So, it’s important to exercise caution. One method I’ve found helpful is to take a spray
bottle of water and lightly soak the entire mud dabber nest. I allow time for the nest to become saturated
yet still maintaining its original shape.
This softening of the dirt allows a thin putty knife to be gently slid between
the paint and the dabber nest. The nest
can then be pried off without creating a mess of mud or losing valuable
original paint.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWJXEdbI4RaH1U517k9R59PZPYp-VqKKEStVq6zpSBj9ACkTCFGmb3r3BQgxrPN6xFSnSV_KBmTkC3MuNvP2RuCUKu1tCEHP3jwnsFc7DaZEp3lviJ8hC8EUiWpuKXuYoAuYxFImVG-42/s1600/mud+dauber+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWJXEdbI4RaH1U517k9R59PZPYp-VqKKEStVq6zpSBj9ACkTCFGmb3r3BQgxrPN6xFSnSV_KBmTkC3MuNvP2RuCUKu1tCEHP3jwnsFc7DaZEp3lviJ8hC8EUiWpuKXuYoAuYxFImVG-42/s1600/mud+dauber+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Knocking dry and hardened mud dauber
nests off of antique vehicles (as was done here) can contribute to the permanent loss of
original paint and stenciling.</span></h3>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Powder
Post Beetles...<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Period wagon makers faced a slew of
challenges beyond the basic need to pay the bills and meet payroll. One of the greatest threats to the trade was
a tiny critter known as a powder post beetle.
If you’ve looked at very many wagons over the years, you’ve likely seen
evidence of just how much havoc these tiny insects can wreak. Drawn to virtually every part of a wagon’s wooden
structure, these wood-boring critters are not only known for riddling wood
stock with countless circular holes but they can also reduce the infected wood to
a fine powder. Many times, when we see
these peppered perforations, the bugs have long since departed. However, at other times, the wood is being
continually re-infested and destroyed. You
definitely don’t want to allow this problem to continue
unabated. While the insects are very
small – typically 1/8 to 3/4 of an inch in length – you’ll instantly know you have
a problem with live insects if you start noticing a fine layer of dust
under a wagon or running gear. The
easiest way I’ve found to deal with this challenge is to spray on a coat of household
bug spray. Then keep a watchful eye out
to make sure the powder-making has stopped.
The chemicals in the spray seem to do an effective job without damaging
the vehicle further. You may want to try
it on a small area before tackling large sections. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4EIHqTCPmLDpFeEv0OGd_TX2O_jKNDtXD5vLQg0vOuHnosEKikWJoS8wXwDH8h6eDuw_rUAY4G01CtyjXzEXYinzlPEJ1HWezS_uapPHa2q2HG-RNKLnz56_-GZDOGe_9Dx9aYxtagzM/s1600/bug+damage+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4EIHqTCPmLDpFeEv0OGd_TX2O_jKNDtXD5vLQg0vOuHnosEKikWJoS8wXwDH8h6eDuw_rUAY4G01CtyjXzEXYinzlPEJ1HWezS_uapPHa2q2HG-RNKLnz56_-GZDOGe_9Dx9aYxtagzM/s1600/bug+damage+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6l_fPvv2I4cNUEX2R_gEyDRFTQ7eSNJ15cUoxlX5nBIXkoeEshzPmskAOpb3CZKmzeWjJ5vsDlZ-Q3ZzEhyphenhyphenryIbZCF2IoeGXjq-K-snGe7olZCEFsS7Q7NNCKEdYCZyyR-oYHdbpz6yE/s1600/bug+damage+2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6l_fPvv2I4cNUEX2R_gEyDRFTQ7eSNJ15cUoxlX5nBIXkoeEshzPmskAOpb3CZKmzeWjJ5vsDlZ-Q3ZzEhyphenhyphenryIbZCF2IoeGXjq-K-snGe7olZCEFsS7Q7NNCKEdYCZyyR-oYHdbpz6yE/s1600/bug+damage+2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As shown in these photos of an old wagon
axle, insects can be merciless to antique wooden vehicles. Proper treatment of the vehicle and environment can help to minimize damage.</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTxj7KttUEUYu8vldVNVZXQHh5ujMY0vRLZ_kkImarstX1mUtC6l6mHx8fpa4VtYEkcNs3ZReS7QJeUg7Yz4pyOaDPiD1G8nCSBHrLUmj4DuC317eFHdij6dQEmQrdfZGLexoH3BY9Co_/s1600/Bug+Spray+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTxj7KttUEUYu8vldVNVZXQHh5ujMY0vRLZ_kkImarstX1mUtC6l6mHx8fpa4VtYEkcNs3ZReS7QJeUg7Yz4pyOaDPiD1G8nCSBHrLUmj4DuC317eFHdij6dQEmQrdfZGLexoH3BY9Co_/s1600/Bug+Spray+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Careful application of insecticide can help eliminate issues with powder post beetles.</span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loosening
Rusty Bolts...</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyone that’s ever needed to repair or
replace part of an early horse-drawn vehicle knows the challenge posed by frozen,
rusty nuts and bolts. Heat, oil, a
hammer, a cheater bar, and sometimes fits of rage are among the most
commonly-employed ways we try to loosen what decades of neglect have sealed. Several years ago, a good friend of mine,
Gerald Creely, introduced me to a product called, “Aerokroil.” The company’s tagline says this is the “oil
that creeps.” I’ll have to say that when
coupled with a little patience, this fluid is absolutely amazing. (Thanks Gerald!) I’ve seen it loosen bolts that no other
lubricant would touch. Needless to say,
I try to keep several cans of this stuff around the shop at all times.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QBqNC0RWrs7-0rae1lsClwtzpoDb4khWv70CvK_S-ZsrHiPzMepNM50DhHhx8gfZMLfjbQJXDi6ZxmgY1duaVF_Utw1sO0csNKwqwAPbhBg1e-E_J-5w1Hh9Dq3URao_5MIiX60oxhMf/s1600/Aerokroil+can+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QBqNC0RWrs7-0rae1lsClwtzpoDb4khWv70CvK_S-ZsrHiPzMepNM50DhHhx8gfZMLfjbQJXDi6ZxmgY1duaVF_Utw1sO0csNKwqwAPbhBg1e-E_J-5w1Hh9Dq3URao_5MIiX60oxhMf/s1600/Aerokroil+can+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loosening age-old nuts and bolts can be
simplified by allowing Aerokroil to soak into the frozen parts.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mold
& Mildew...<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My blogs for August 17 and August 24 of
2016 focused on ways to both remove and prevent the blight of mold
on antique, horse-drawn vehicles. I’m
not going to re-write that two-part series here but, I thought it might be
helpful to include the links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/08/mold-mildew-on-wood-vehicles-part-1.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/08/mold-mildew-on-wood-vehicles-part-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mold and Mildew – Part 1</span></a><span id="goog_51540130"></span> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/08/mold-mildew-on-wood-vehicles-part-2.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/08/mold-mildew-on-wood-vehicles-part-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mold and Mildew – Part 2</span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
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<br />
<span id="goog_51540145"></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As for the ‘mysteries’ mentioned in
today’s blog title, there are countless unknowns in any study of America’s
first transportation industry. I’ll be
talking about some of these (and some recent discoveries) in my presentation to
the Santa Fe Trail Association next week.
Hope to see you there. Oh, and one
other thing. I recently had the rare
opportunity to conduct a bit more research into the legacy and legend of St.
Louis wagon maker, Joseph Murphy. What a
privilege! I hope to be sharing more on
that in the near future.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-26131573383302669122017-09-13T04:30:00.000-05:002017-09-13T04:30:12.659-05:00Finding Unique Antique Wagons<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most folks have likely heard the phrase,
“You have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince.” For collectors of early transportation, we
can often apply the same principle to the process of finding truly unique
western vehicles. It’s easy to locate
the common stuff. Those rolling works of
art that consistently stand out in a crowd, though, are not only in high demand
but, by definition, are in short supply.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the years, we’ve managed to
assemble a few dozen wagons and western vehicles in our collection. As with any significant gathering of history,
it takes a lot less time to view it than it usually involves to bring it all together. Like so many other collectors out there, we’ve committed a fair amount of resources to research as well as shelling out healthy doses
of patience and persistence. Along the
way, we’ve seen a number of good, bad, and ugly pieces. Even so, every vehicle I’ve been privileged
to see has been a valuable encounter.
Why? Because, each one has taught
me something. One of the main things
I’ve learned is the value of unceasingly searching for the best pieces. It sounds simple enough but, I know a number
of collectors and enthusiasts that limit their efforts, rarely expanding their
searches beyond a fifty or sixty-mile range.
The old adage about people getting ‘luckier’ the harder they work for
something is true in this case as well.
Focused commitments may strike out a lot but they’re also in a great
position to make it home with the best pieces.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUAZZtb94JPI7C12YYDaCMLJJ-fzIdIkI2nrm3v0ysZNmc3vCs9yHQZVnFkbNr7G3KTLUvQ9kt_H133UTCnDCvNVcJT_mgsEUHVf-sufryBxQIdi4Mn-6IFyw_759LlgxW_3aarXzRxhH/s1600/Moline+Mandt+Heavy+Gear+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUAZZtb94JPI7C12YYDaCMLJJ-fzIdIkI2nrm3v0ysZNmc3vCs9yHQZVnFkbNr7G3KTLUvQ9kt_H133UTCnDCvNVcJT_mgsEUHVf-sufryBxQIdi4Mn-6IFyw_759LlgxW_3aarXzRxhH/s1600/Moline+Mandt+Heavy+Gear+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This heavy-duty Moline Mandt gear with
original bolster extensions is a relatively new addition to our
collection. It was built with a 56-inch
track and 3-ton capacity.</span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve been chasing these wheels for more than
two decades and, from time to time, I’ve heard folks express frustration over an
inability to find the right piece at the right price. First off, IF a person has truly found the
right set of wheels, the price may need to take a back seat to personal
satisfaction. In fact, for collectors, personal satisfaction may be the most
important consideration when looking at a set of wheels. I remember a particular gentleman at an
auction years ago that purchased a piece, then began to really look at it and
was immediately disappointed in it. At
that point, it really didn’t matter how cheap the old vehicle was. Truth is, I’ve never come across anyone with
buyer’s remorse that had done the appropriate research and knew
exactly what they were buying.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, how many special pieces are still
out there waiting to be appreciated for the uniqueness they possess? Who knows?
One thing I’ve become convinced of is that there is still A LOT of America’s
transportation past waiting to be discovered.
Since my pocketbook won’t allow me to buy every good piece I come
across, I’ve learned to enjoy the thrill of the chase and opportunity to learn. After all, the chance to see so many different
pieces as well as a wide variety of construction styles employed over the years is
an important part of recognizing what was done when, where, and by whom. Reinforcing that point, this week, I thought
I’d share a few of the latest pieces I’ve come across. Best of all? Each of the examples below are available for
purchase as of this writing...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L0zSb9Z9LKoAnT5B5_OH1oZJY930zRGPD0kP7pCyQgdpkrB5kZilhaC_WBOSW4AALVNWZWv4V67FkEkyX43xUpg3FvehLo5iDAo65Z9Rg2mvHIUflcQYqiMpp3ShkOh3Yl_vsdS-7U2Z/s1600/Bain+Gear_Rear+Axle+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3L0zSb9Z9LKoAnT5B5_OH1oZJY930zRGPD0kP7pCyQgdpkrB5kZilhaC_WBOSW4AALVNWZWv4V67FkEkyX43xUpg3FvehLo5iDAo65Z9Rg2mvHIUflcQYqiMpp3ShkOh3Yl_vsdS-7U2Z/s1600/Bain+Gear_Rear+Axle+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This exceptional Bain wagon gear retains
almost all of its original paint. It’s a
rare treat to find pieces of this quality.
For more photos, visit <a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.hansenwheel.com</span></a></span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">BAIN
RUNNING GEAR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When it comes to locating some of
America’s best western vehicles, Doug Hansen, in South Dakota, has a knack for
gathering exceptional early pieces from all over the country. As of this writing, the “In Stock” section of
his <b><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">website</span></a></b> includes one of the finest
high wheel running gears that I’ve ever come across. I’ve seen it in person and, honestly, I’m not
sure the photos do it justice. He even
has a brand-matching, lazy back spring seat that would be ideal for this piece.
The gear is a Bain brand wagon – which also
happens to be one of the most legendary western vehicle names on the
planet. For collectors, competitors, and
serious enthusiasts, this is a piece that instantly commands attention. After all, true quality is a feature that
almost everyone can recognize. Plus,
it’s a truth that often bears significant fruit when it comes to resale
values. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SCHUTTLER
RUNNING GEAR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of the historical features I’ll be
covering in my upcoming presentation to the <b><a href="http://www.santafetrail.org/pdf/Symposium-For-More-Information.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Santa Fe Trail Association</span></a></b> involve how to spot generational
differences in dead axle wagons – especially those used in farm, freight,
trail, and ranch applications. Generally
speaking, we rarely see as many wagons that were made in the 19th century as we
do those from the 20th century. In fact,
even with an extensive travel schedule over the last two-plus decades, I can
probably count on one hand the number of 1800’s-era Peter Schuttler brand wagons
I’ve come across. Nonetheless, that challenge
doesn’t stop me from continuing to search for these elusive survivors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not long ago, I was traveling through
Oklahoma and stopped in to see Jim Doyle with Doyle’s Antiques in Lawton. As is usually the case, his grounds were
covered with antique farming equipment, old windmills, early horse-drawn
graders, and period wagons. Jim knows I’m
a fan of Peter Schuttler pieces so he tempted me with a few wagons and a spring
seat, then told me he’d just gotten another Schuttler gear in that he hadn’t
cleaned up yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we walked into a side bay of one of
the enclosed buildings, I instantly noticed several features that got my
attention; taller standards, through-bolted construction, three-quarter circle
irons, and more. I’m always looking for
older pieces. Yet, as I’ve mentioned, they
are few and far between. Leaning over to
check the date stamp on this one, the year “1894” was clearly visible on the
front axle. For me, it was exciting to
see this ultra-rare, original condition, true 1800’s, high wheel Schuttler. After taking a few photos for our Archives, I
thought I would share the find with our readers. I suspect someone out there is looking for a
nineteenth-century piece from a major western wagon maker like Schuttler. For anyone interested, Jim’s phone number is 580-574-9570.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23_6T2chM8TCAkGRzJaaRPp4MiODI3Ag5fxj3eAVk9HA0G7FlwpUi-jhj-tGJopq-yNHDd4vBG6d4e3CSkfwM6faLpnb_gX5hn5uHpG9Q1r94JYGMzWX-5qvk2j4horrKajQsYDuNwBR2/s1600/1894+Schuttler+overall+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23_6T2chM8TCAkGRzJaaRPp4MiODI3Ag5fxj3eAVk9HA0G7FlwpUi-jhj-tGJopq-yNHDd4vBG6d4e3CSkfwM6faLpnb_gX5hn5uHpG9Q1r94JYGMzWX-5qvk2j4horrKajQsYDuNwBR2/s1600/1894+Schuttler+overall+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This rare, high wheel Peter Schuttler is almost 125
years old. It dates to the same year
that four members of the Dalton Gang were killed in Coffeeville, Kansas and
actually pre-dates the exploits of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Buerkens<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another person that seems to have an
uncanny ability to uncover barn-fresh wagons is Tom Elliot. A few weeks ago, I stopped by Tom’s place and
he shared one of his finds. It’s a wagon
with an amazingly well-preserved Buerkens box.
For anyone that might not have heard of the company, it was located in
Pella, Iowa and may have been the longest continuously operated business in
Pella. Mr. Buerkens began building
wagons in the town during the mid-1860’s.
The company survived well into the twentieth century. In fact, industry directories still list the
firm among active makers as late as the early 1930’s. If you’d like more information on this
vehicle, feel free to drop Tom a note by visiting his website at <a href="http://www.cowboycooking.com/"><span style="color: orange;">www.cowboycooking.com</span></a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Yuzzok1oqzhD0F5ZC9uTJtZWYICDk2S5yq1eIDFxngNa592enK4sVqZj8eFqJQXDHUpUwkOYXnmJ-SFXdTt8P49MLDgU-JLRL9TmQtU1QX5-38ZkOMd5zbTqMq6hpgcD9YXTmWmIRHk/s1600/Buerkens1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2Yuzzok1oqzhD0F5ZC9uTJtZWYICDk2S5yq1eIDFxngNa592enK4sVqZj8eFqJQXDHUpUwkOYXnmJ-SFXdTt8P49MLDgU-JLRL9TmQtU1QX5-38ZkOMd5zbTqMq6hpgcD9YXTmWmIRHk/s1600/Buerkens1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s tough to find this much original paint on surviving wagon boxes. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z0eNabUUsbR0GXutjeJFxFD8Bc-Jk3nyfXspDjdJYgdKWURRANxhfNLCFWP4NUMV8GZ272FUlb8PdY39rlApWyBIsBt2vk10DCVi5t6qUubslF98nwenViNpdOcPzKJehwnDBwNd84bG/s1600/Buerkens3+-+sized+with+tet+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4z0eNabUUsbR0GXutjeJFxFD8Bc-Jk3nyfXspDjdJYgdKWURRANxhfNLCFWP4NUMV8GZ272FUlb8PdY39rlApWyBIsBt2vk10DCVi5t6qUubslF98nwenViNpdOcPzKJehwnDBwNd84bG/s1600/Buerkens3+-+sized+with+tet+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even the end gates of this Buerkens box retain a
significant amount of original paint.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-3789739693340443132017-09-06T04:30:00.000-05:002017-09-06T04:30:17.247-05:00The Espenschied & Luedinghaus Wagon Companies<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Several years ago, I wrote a feature
article on a half-dozen of the most legendary wagon makers in St. Louis. Even though some vehicle builders in Mound
City (as St. Louis was once called) were in business for close to one hundred years, automobiles and the Great Depression ended the dreams of
most of them. Among the wheeled icons in
the city were two names with establishment time frames dating to the 1840’s and
50’s. Today, both are tough-to-find examples from
America’s first transportation industry.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkBmQGQ5B5L0sOfh_83d1ig4lK9BoZQ3FbjJF9m1J_cVw6xVlE4_lnfn4TydPS1QHJGwrngsUwVQsyXYYPvYvLTzsO9ov-eh-50ZdY-fRh-J4ZxTPHvy3G-qoDjpuk9gHQjWNbcCrpgp2/s1600/LuedinghausWagon_late+1800s+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkBmQGQ5B5L0sOfh_83d1ig4lK9BoZQ3FbjJF9m1J_cVw6xVlE4_lnfn4TydPS1QHJGwrngsUwVQsyXYYPvYvLTzsO9ov-eh-50ZdY-fRh-J4ZxTPHvy3G-qoDjpuk9gHQjWNbcCrpgp2/s1600/LuedinghausWagon_late+1800s+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once a common sight, high-wheel
Luedinghaus brand wagons are hard to come across these days.</span></h3>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Espenschied Wagon Company<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of all the early St. Louis-built wagons,
there is likely none that gave mega-legends like Joseph Murphy greater
competition than those made by Louis Espenschied. In the city directory of 1859, sixty-five
wagon makers were listed but only two paid for advertising space – Murphy and
Espenschied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Established in 1843, the Espenschied
Wagon Company is eternally tied to the growth and history of America’s movement
west. From emigrant travel to the needs
of the gold fields, freighters and army, Espenschied wagons carried a huge
reputation for quality and dependability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As part of that leadership, Louis
Espenschied headed a group of four wagon makers that solicited the U.S. Army in
1861, offering to build as many wagons as were needed by Union forces. Espenschied proposed construction of six-mule
wagons with two-and-a-half-inch iron axles.
The wagons were designed to carry five to six thousand pounds and the same
configurations were said to have been used by freighters traveling to New
Mexico and Utah. Espenschied priced them
at $125 each and pledged that they were better than Army regulation
wagons. The proposal noted that the
companies’ “many years’ experience in making Wagons for the Great Plains”
enabled the four of them to craft the very best vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to period reports, the
proposal was immediately accepted and an order for 200 wagons was placed within
ten days of the July 6th<sup> </sup>offer.
No other bidding took place as the needs of the Civil War were urgent
and the reputations of the four wagon makers – Louis Espenschied, Jacob Kern,
Jacob Scheer, and John Cook were unquestioned.
The wagons were promptly built and, by December of the same year,
Espenschied made another proposal to the Army for another one thousand wagons
at the same price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like other makers of his time, Espenschied’s
attention to detail not only showed in quality but also in design
innovations. In 1878, he was awarded a patent
for a built-in grease reservoir on the axle skein. That feature allowed the wheel to go longer
periods with less worry over the need for lubrication. Furthermore, in an 1882 company profile,
Espenschied is also given credit for an even earlier advancement in wagon
design – the thimble skein. Dating to
the 1840’s, this invention was adopted by virtually all wagon makers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Louis Espenschied passed away in 1887,
leaving an estate valued at almost a half-million dollars (close to $13 million
in today’s money). Soon after, his firm
merged with that of Henry Luedinghaus, forming the Luedinghaus-Espenschied
Wagon Company. Today, there are still a
few existing Luedinghaus-Espenschied wagons, but an Espenschied dating to the
original firm has yet to be identified.
Complicating this point a bit more is the fact that Luedinghaus appears
to have resurrected the stand-alone Espenschied brand for a brief time during
the 1920’s. So, determining whether an
Espenschied is a nineteenth or twentieth century survivor requires awareness of
the product’s features and evolution.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zh0VAXOivEbvCAfvsckpfqTJHFULcKUsvg_Qb0_9JG2HSyDEdYqMenREMTFHmALbwHY7rE7I1agJeDAA5VIA227I-DXpmTTg6_8JeFj1Svudwr1p1tBTcuviCgzcN4CnE91FPWncLXBt/s1600/FR_1900+Luedinghaus+Freighter+cropped1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zh0VAXOivEbvCAfvsckpfqTJHFULcKUsvg_Qb0_9JG2HSyDEdYqMenREMTFHmALbwHY7rE7I1agJeDAA5VIA227I-DXpmTTg6_8JeFj1Svudwr1p1tBTcuviCgzcN4CnE91FPWncLXBt/s1600/FR_1900+Luedinghaus+Freighter+cropped1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As with most major wagon makers,
Luedinghaus also built a popular line of huge freight wagons.</span></h3>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Luedinghaus Wagon Company<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Henry Luedinghaus started his own wagon
manufactory in 1859. The Luedinghaus
Wagon Company was located just across the street from his original partner in
the business, Casper Gestring, – pronounced “Guess-String” – founder of the
Gestring Wagon Company. In fact, the
areas once occupied by Luedinghaus, Gestring, Espenschied, and Weber-Damme were
all within blocks of each other. I’ve
had the privilege of walking the grounds of three of these builders and it’s
hard to imagine how challenging the competition was with each of them so close
to the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Henry Luedinghaus’ company distinguished
itself by making high-quality farm, freight, business, log, and lumber
wagons. Within his second decade of
operation, Luedinghaus was not only building to order but also maintained an
inventory of wagons that could be purchased on-site. Around the same time, the company began
bidding on government contracts but, by this time, there were a number of
builders vying for the same business. An
1880 Luedinghaus proposal of $61.50 per wagon was soundly beaten by the Austin,
Tomlinson & Webster Manufacturing Company (Jackson Wagons). The winning bid from this Jackson, Michigan
company was $57. It was a price
advantage that was hard for traditional makers to overcome – primarily because
Jackson wagons were built by state prison workers operating at a fraction of the
labor rate paid to law-abiding citizenry.
Ultimately, these unfair practices would be frowned on by the courts –
and the general public. For a number of
years, though, the use of prisoners to gain a competitive edge was a serious problem for many wagon
builders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In spite of the challenges associated
with nationwide competition, Luedinghaus continued to grow. One company motto was, “The wagon will speak
for itself.” It’s no wonder the vehicles
were so popular. Luedinghaus claimed to
be the first major manufactory to offer the exceptional strength and
reliability of bois d’ arc (Osage Orange) wheels. All wood in the wagons was said to have been
thoroughly seasoned for two years before use and the paint was painstakingly
hand-brushed, not dipped. Dipping was a
faster process but some found the resulting paint adhesion to be inferior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At the 1904, World’s Fair, Luedinghaus
displayed a pyramid of eleven wagons.
The massive exhibition dominated the competition and generated a
huge amount of publicity. The spectacle
was a physical duplication of the company’s official trademark and tagline that
proclaimed, “We Tower Above All.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For a brief time in the 1920s and early
‘30s, Luedinghaus built auto bodies, trailers, and even trucks. It was a valiant attempt to change with the
times, but the challenges of the Great Depression were just too much to
withstand. The firm closed its doors in
1934.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnbbKYTv2-pZKZrKicRY-sj1D9y16SLo1_ReAbiIRn0DGVSDTs_7BsLww1g5CZ96nXmz6Mfjr442VocT96WuqqqifYhd42siq90Zy4vSdKjGmBUqZIgnpUICf-EmOxcc5LBhcQngyDC-r/s1600/Luedinghaus+tower+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnbbKYTv2-pZKZrKicRY-sj1D9y16SLo1_ReAbiIRn0DGVSDTs_7BsLww1g5CZ96nXmz6Mfjr442VocT96WuqqqifYhd42siq90Zy4vSdKjGmBUqZIgnpUICf-EmOxcc5LBhcQngyDC-r/s1600/Luedinghaus+tower+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shown in 1904, this tower of wagons was
a head-turning display for the Luedinghaus Wagon Company of St. Louis,
Missouri. </span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">For years, I’ve been interested in
finding examples of as many old St. Louis brands as possible. As the ‘Gateway to the West’ and home to so
many early vehicle builders, it would seem that these brands might be fairly
easy to locate. Unfortunately, that’s
not the case. We do have quality, early
examples of both Gestring and Weber-Damme wagons in our collection. However, we continue to search for significant
pieces from the Murphy, Linstroth, Luedinghaus, and Espensheid firms. It would also be a bonus to someday find an original piece built
by John Luking or Peter Wagner. It’s
entirely possible. Patience, diligence,
and keen observation are among the greatest assets to locating the rarest of rare survivors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-48978760991733468402017-08-30T04:30:00.000-05:002017-08-30T04:30:18.862-05:00American Transportation – The Whole Story<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As an early vehicle collector and historian, I’ve had a number of people ask me what I gravitate toward when adding wood-wheeled transportation to our collection. Many expect the answer to center
around a popular make or type of vehicle – and I can easily provide a response
like that. Beyond my intrigue with the
heavier work and western-themed vehicles, though, perhaps the real question
should be ‘why’ I collect what I do. In
that case, my response will touch (at least partially) on the selection of
pieces with the best investment potential.
You’ll also probably hear me share some stories related to the thrill of
the chase. Even so, there’s still another
driving force behind what we do – the stories.
For me, this is where the real rewards are. The background behind each of the
transportation pieces we collect is full of drama, struggle, failure, and
triumph. It’s real life adventure we can
watch unfold and learn from. Growing
through these discoveries is what really fuels our efforts. As a result, our collecting isn’t limited to
just vehicles or brands but to almost everything that surrounds the unique
history of America’s first transportation industry. After all, that’s essentially what gives
anything intrigue – those feature-rich, back-stories highlighting interesting
details we never knew. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d6BmXUpH6URknAazDOEwXLA5iKOsAFzFDtWy9izeDwloMhd0PlDndpWGDHEKuuflFNn6CNS9dissii8MWaJV1Op_ToajKYq0hZW6B6p3DOZEwAiGlv1XQr5G1NixHNd8fR5jFsz26hVj/s1600/Stage+Wagon+whole+story+blog+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5d6BmXUpH6URknAazDOEwXLA5iKOsAFzFDtWy9izeDwloMhd0PlDndpWGDHEKuuflFNn6CNS9dissii8MWaJV1Op_ToajKYq0hZW6B6p3DOZEwAiGlv1XQr5G1NixHNd8fR5jFsz26hVj/s1600/Stage+Wagon+whole+story+blog+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This small stage wagon once plied the
trails around California’s most lucrative gold mine – The Utica at Angels
Camp. From the incredible rags to riches
story of the mine to the exceptional rarity of the vehicle, this mail stage is
an extraordinary survivor from America’s Wild West.</span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s a focus that sounds simple enough
but the truth is that, in roughly two hundred years of travel in the New World,
there’s an extraordinary amount of depth and breadth to this topic – far beyond
the old vehicles, themselves. The ‘extra’
pieces I find myself searching for and stumbling across do more than tell their
own story, they help flesh out the overall accounts while reinforcing the vastness
and complexity of this old trade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsb_41-1sweWuvEpk0qDb18mj7UWLhVSMGNaB-qC9ljeCrjHHbVv8F6l19DN2DxxIhbFo9eLtVxfJ39pAUaAKXUyw1tz5uatiaGB-eRz5m_5jXVtt7Vq9_Ongue5NvOU_HFT4iG3emwoV/s1600/Mitchell+Travelers+Guide+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsb_41-1sweWuvEpk0qDb18mj7UWLhVSMGNaB-qC9ljeCrjHHbVv8F6l19DN2DxxIhbFo9eLtVxfJ39pAUaAKXUyw1tz5uatiaGB-eRz5m_5jXVtt7Vq9_Ongue5NvOU_HFT4iG3emwoV/s1600/Mitchell+Travelers+Guide+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This traveler’s guide dates to 1836. While it provides details of stage,
steamboat, canal, and railroad routes in those days, we have other western
guidebooks that once supplied important information related to western overland
trails.</span></h3>
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</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, while we have a few dozen vehicles
in our collection, the supporting elements that help profile the entire
industry will measure in the thousands.
Original photos related to makers, patents, lifestyle activities,
brands, vehicle types, and special events are among the countless black and
white remnants we’ve salvaged and assembled.
These pieces are complemented by several hundred period brochures and
promotional pieces. Even multiple hardware
variations within the categories of skeins, wrenches, drag shoes, brake
ratchets, reaches, rub irons, springs, chains, maker tags, and the like can
each have stories associated with them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyu7t7wvGvru60ipNwqY-2zOzHK9TfcsX10_ibidkomkFmwS8Hk7isPf66t9u0lTAEgsorz_M2BsJGbhtsikaEgw7LMQZ5HPzjbPx3GaHnjOwQOWV0a5gB9oUrE3gE4rbiLGM1utuE744/s1600/Florence+sign+front+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyu7t7wvGvru60ipNwqY-2zOzHK9TfcsX10_ibidkomkFmwS8Hk7isPf66t9u0lTAEgsorz_M2BsJGbhtsikaEgw7LMQZ5HPzjbPx3GaHnjOwQOWV0a5gB9oUrE3gE4rbiLGM1utuE744/s1600/Florence+sign+front+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This new, old stock sign was designed to
be applied to the inside of glass windows.
It was made by Palm Bros. & Co. and was referred to as a translusign.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Other elements of our collection include
vehicle-related patent documents, maker ledgers, manufacturing equipment,
antique signs, hames bells, unique wrenches, and other
all-but-forgotten-but-once-important elements from yesterday. It’s a collage of commerce that consistently helps
bring a prominent part of our past back to life. We’ve even assembled some horse drawn
transportation pieces as a result of their relevance to the beginnings of the auto
industry. After all, this part of
history heavily relied on the wagon and carriage business to get themselves
established. How so? In some cases, as with Chevrolet/General
Motors, the motorized upstarts needed others who could help secure financial
capital and production insights. In other
circumstances, brands like Ford and others, depended on the body-making skills
from craftsmen who had learned the trade from wagon and coach building. Still others, leaned on the engineering
acumen from period machine builders, blacksmiths, and wheel makers. The truth is, the American automobile story
can’t be completely told without sharing the foundation of the whole enterprise
– the horse-drawn vehicle industry. In
many ways, it was a good news/bad news kind of relationship between the
two. It was an opportunity for some
employees and entrepreneurs to embrace the next generation of vehicles. In the beginning, they each capitalized on the
other, although one was destined to lose during the transition.</span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWxaV3aca893jZztrgXfAjsOK3xpe30QLmhpf41XwgS-hD4r_ZddKt9NsuTCVe9oeYbFKEGmLpn_wBF4izruu0GRqftZbY7cOBr4RmU_25B1pva2ayJwu2HfB6iaO99jAIaLUUZhrFoAR/s1600/Wagon+step+innovation+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWxaV3aca893jZztrgXfAjsOK3xpe30QLmhpf41XwgS-hD4r_ZddKt9NsuTCVe9oeYbFKEGmLpn_wBF4izruu0GRqftZbY7cOBr4RmU_25B1pva2ayJwu2HfB6iaO99jAIaLUUZhrFoAR/s1600/Wagon+step+innovation+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many early innovators hired a
photographer to capture patented advancements while using the image within
sales promotions. This image highlights a unique, folding step that could easily be attached to the sideboards of wagons. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The criteria for inclusion within our
collection often requires us to look beyond the individual value of the single
piece. If it’s a unique element that
helps tell the story in a more detailed and interesting way, there’s a fair
chance we’ll try and include it with all of the other artifacts we house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As is so often the case, the history
we’ve assembled has a way of finding us as much as we find it. It's a truth we discovered some thirty years ago when we purchased the acreage we live on. The place is an old farm with roots
dating back hundreds of years. A well-worn wagon road still runs alongside the original stone farmhouse on the
property. Over the years, we’ve found numerous
transportation-related artifacts along this road; a heavy, 56-inch steel tire
(likely from an ore or freight wagon), an early-style rub iron, a brake lever, box
rod parts, brake shoe, and other similar parts.
The truth is that wheeled transportation has always been a big part of
this country’s history and only through continued research will we be able to
pass along the most accurate details about period vehicles. Surely, we owe that much to future
generations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43rha1GH0g9oCT0Ef22SJ7EIzVG2YUEgnYoupa9SE-4-qYFQAdxWM6mKDV_HRj5ytyyDejFSbQGyR9BI6FH4ta7qnvaBrBE0wATeYR8gKsAwpFvCPza7m_sLIL7tAhhpair05i9PgrnEH/s1600/Pabst+Beer+wagon+Cover+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43rha1GH0g9oCT0Ef22SJ7EIzVG2YUEgnYoupa9SE-4-qYFQAdxWM6mKDV_HRj5ytyyDejFSbQGyR9BI6FH4ta7qnvaBrBE0wATeYR8gKsAwpFvCPza7m_sLIL7tAhhpair05i9PgrnEH/s1600/Pabst+Beer+wagon+Cover+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An extraordinary find, we were pleased
to add this original catalog of Pabst Beer wagons to our collection years ago.</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TLkMkM5pbJdlG8BtFcYqI_tAwOQy1wEQ2V_viLiyY91xCn-7yx4N3tjXL2aNRFwOF9AnatqKY81DSV1m2MNtLQQBYRF-5WxGf2O6GCDJuZMUgOzuY23ZX0PhqixndbJ0ldCr7gJKLWlP/s1600/Western+Concord_30s+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TLkMkM5pbJdlG8BtFcYqI_tAwOQy1wEQ2V_viLiyY91xCn-7yx4N3tjXL2aNRFwOF9AnatqKY81DSV1m2MNtLQQBYRF-5WxGf2O6GCDJuZMUgOzuY23ZX0PhqixndbJ0ldCr7gJKLWlP/s1600/Western+Concord_30s+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Period photos can be helpful to
restoration professionals as well as historians by providing a clearer
understanding of what a particular vehicle looked like during the different
seasons of its life.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many will be traveling this week and
next, enjoying the blessing of a long Labor Day weekend. We wish you safe journeys and encourage you
to keep your eye out for unique parts of our wheeled past. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle still
out there but, it often takes intense focus to help locate and understand all
of what we find. Slowly and collectively,
we’re putting everything back together, growing appreciation for a huge and
immensely complicated industry. Good
luck in your own collecting endeavors and send us some shots of your ‘finds’ from time to time. We’d enjoy
seeing the fruits of your labors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-45635000119920748352017-08-23T04:30:00.000-05:002017-08-23T04:30:13.048-05:00Trail Wagons <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">America’s early growth was shaped by a
host of transportation routes. From the
National Road in the eastern U.S. to numerous western trails like the Santa Fe,
Oregon, California, Chisolm, Goodnight-Loving, Western, and Sedalia, there’s a
great deal of our past that still surrounds the present. Reinforcing America’s tie to legendary
trails, I have a fair amount of early vehicle information that I’ll be <b><a href="http://santafetrail.org/pdf/Sym-2017_Program.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">unveiling in just a few weeks</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">To that point, have you ever really
thought about all it took to go from point A to point B one hundred fifty to
two hundred years ago? Excruciating
summer heat, violent storms, piercing winters, and very few creature comforts were a regular part of cross-country transportation via equine or oxen.
Merciless environments were inescapable, making long-distance trail
travel largely incomprehensible today.
Absent the comforts of air conditioning, GPS maps, modern weather
forecasting, convenience stores, and even legal protection, countless wagons
moved along these corridors throughout the nineteenth century. While there were a lot of differences in the
vehicles, one thing they all had in common was that each one was a product of its
time. In other words, every set of
wheels on these trails was subject to the technology available up to and
including the time of its use. As an
example, this means that a wagon built in the 1860’s typically carried
noticeable differences when compared to one crafted in the 1890’s. Due largely to the driving force of
competition, virtually every era was full of advancements and distinctions in
these wooden warriors. As a result,
we’re able to use many of the variations as part of an authentication
process. The same information is also
crucial when determining timeframes of manufacture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOAqAXVZM6pDWx8X-eGNKKJR_Q1mOkSKqZJYDcZKylUCZJdYzivWXj-1MMoM0xSFT17bfTbwTV3a-Ic4kUxHmQyNb2ObpCKwNLLWy9-Ro7JrwswSnrgyhxSbR2o-8yeBEbYFX9txuVyIn/s1600/rack+bed+freighters+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOAqAXVZM6pDWx8X-eGNKKJR_Q1mOkSKqZJYDcZKylUCZJdYzivWXj-1MMoM0xSFT17bfTbwTV3a-Ic4kUxHmQyNb2ObpCKwNLLWy9-Ro7JrwswSnrgyhxSbR2o-8yeBEbYFX9txuVyIn/s1600/rack+bed+freighters+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Freight wagons on the Santa Fe Trail
varied in a number of ways, including by design, size, and construction features.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ultimately, the differences in every set
of wheels are important points to anyone interested in the real story of these
transports – and America’s growth. In
the absence of these details, every old wagon is typically treated the same as
another. In fact, rarely a week
goes by that I don’t find myself re-explaining this truth. Blanketing every wagon with the same history
is an all-too-common, backward, and wholly inaccurate way to look at these
vehicles. Think about this example for
just a minute. Would you say that a
pickup truck produced in 1967 is the same as one built in 1997? Clearly, they both have four wheels, a
tailgate and bed, hood, lights, a transmission, and motor. That makes them the same, right? Of course, the statement is wrong. They’re nowhere close to being the same. It’s the same situation with early
horse-drawn wagons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Still, there are deeply ingrained perceptions that persist in lumping all wagons together into one mass heap of indistinguishable identities. Perhaps that’s why few – if any – major
western films are known for using period-correct wagons. The presence of wood in the wheels seems to be the
only criteria many use to automatically pigeon-hole a wagon as a member of the
1800’s. On one hand, there’s a case to
be made for rolling with the flow and ignoring the lack of accuracy. On the other hand, what is the history we
pass along if it’s not accurate? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSMUYoQWvrQ4ZpGbxji1s_299gQSqKPHYL5BbskTQ4YE6ZpZ-JcX9HTDL5oJ7cvOTnhZh7SIxxzue1FL_CxmEye2ZgNExhHxtVM0FpsflXrdFg3O_6O-HiFWchqZbdPRDBORqumirkkte/s1600/Old+Road+Wagon+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSMUYoQWvrQ4ZpGbxji1s_299gQSqKPHYL5BbskTQ4YE6ZpZ-JcX9HTDL5oJ7cvOTnhZh7SIxxzue1FL_CxmEye2ZgNExhHxtVM0FpsflXrdFg3O_6O-HiFWchqZbdPRDBORqumirkkte/s1600/Old+Road+Wagon+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This photo of an early freighter shows a
number of transitional design elements.
Each helps show how America’s heavy vehicle industry evolved beyond the
traditional Conestoga styling. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the next few weeks, I’ll be
finishing up an extensive study that’s part of a presentation to the Santa Fe
Trail Association and National Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association. The conference is open to interested
parties (although there are registration fees) and takes place toward the last
of September. It will include a host of
speakers covering topics from American Indians, surveys, soldiers, harness,
wagons, and more topics related to the history of the Santa Fe Trail. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s a fair amount of information in
my presentation that won’t be available anywhere else. Some of what I’ll be sharing centers around
new discoveries that have not been reported in nearly two centuries. If you haven’t signed up for the event, I’d
encourage you to do so. It will be a
rare opportunity to ride along for a special look at early wagons on the Santa
Fe Trail as well as these nineteenth century vehicles in general. The timeframes covered will stretch from the
1820’s through the 1880’s. The <b><a href="http://www.santafetrail.org/pdf/Symposium-For-More-Information.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">on-line registration</span></a></b> ends on September
15th so there’s not a lot of time left to make plans to be there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The only real disclaimer I’ll give is
that the presentation is limited to an hour.
In that small amount of time, we’ll be rushing through a lot of
information and, undoubtedly, will not cover all there is to know. Even so, it should be a great time to step
back into the past and not only profile more of what these vehicles looked like but a good number of the differences as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Looking forward to seeing you there!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-68252087847971086872017-08-16T04:30:00.000-05:002017-08-16T04:30:31.426-05:00Blacksmiths, Wheelwrights, Wainwrights, & Painters<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nearly a quarter century ago, I set out
on a quest to learn more about America’s first transportation industry. It’s been quite a journey since those early
days when I was struggling to find primary source materials. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today, I’m convinced that, as much as
we’ve uncovered, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what there is to learn
about this industry and how it prepared the way for the automobile. One of the biggest hurdles we had to overcome
in the beginning was the perception that the wagon and carriage industry was
fairly small with only a few thousand manufacturers scattered over the whole country. Over time, I was able to locate period books,
directories, trade publications, and other resources that added clarity and
valuable insights. Now we know that
there were literally tens of thousands of horse-drawn vehicle builders and
repairers in the U.S. In fact, Clement Studebaker
(then-president of Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Co.) stated in 1887 that he
conservatively estimated the United States had at least 80,000 vehicle
makers. Talk about competition!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s a tough industry to fully study
since the majority of these builders were small and often didn’t stay in
business for an extended time. Some engaged in carriage and wagon making as a sideline to another primary business like hardware, lumber, and even undertaking! Complicating matters a bit more, most did very little, if any, promotion
beyond the local shop signage and word-of-mouth advertising. The end result is that there tends to be very little (if any) surviving information on many builders. In tribute to the small and mid-sized vehicle makers, I
thought we’d share a few more of the countless manufacturing-related images we
have in our collection. There’s a wide
variety of subject matter in those photos since horse-drawn vehicle production
required at least four categories of skillsets – blacksmiths, wheelwrights,
wainwrights, and painters. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_QWN0nFI4nJ3JQISNRX7WSkLmolptEBEdNURl4bdCrVNNmMXAyXFUyouHvHv31svA_etoqQVEVRkiMMRk681k-ZUvNFrOBAnYXvfjFgY04S01uHuFvzSi3nL3Vyq9ALyQ-BC3HTdDiFp/s1600/Cropped_A.+Meister+1872_Sacramento+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_QWN0nFI4nJ3JQISNRX7WSkLmolptEBEdNURl4bdCrVNNmMXAyXFUyouHvHv31svA_etoqQVEVRkiMMRk681k-ZUvNFrOBAnYXvfjFgY04S01uHuFvzSi3nL3Vyq9ALyQ-BC3HTdDiFp/s1600/Cropped_A.+Meister+1872_Sacramento+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This extremely rare photo shows how A.
Meister’s shop in Sacramento, California looked in 1872. The well-known firm survived into the early 1920’s.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fEX3r-i1Me3OXWJqbBcCHsR08fcJYEQ6CjE_CpA6Z1uKtTIWJYtC6RPpicgxhvlEyUT-8TL21QQxpBXoRvh_5Box-iC5fE8Ps_yObciRr_590u-R5709D9MimlZPG1_yWXlCY_Re0Eew/s1600/Short+and+Smith_Syracuse+NY+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fEX3r-i1Me3OXWJqbBcCHsR08fcJYEQ6CjE_CpA6Z1uKtTIWJYtC6RPpicgxhvlEyUT-8TL21QQxpBXoRvh_5Box-iC5fE8Ps_yObciRr_590u-R5709D9MimlZPG1_yWXlCY_Re0Eew/s1600/Short+and+Smith_Syracuse+NY+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This old image shows the employees of Short
& Smith. The firm built carriages,
spring wagons, and sleighs in Syracuse, New York.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4UNWEoi_ioFA2oms32hkSdRCwuJ8x2PS-O4tt1PasyqYcUg_9zERuPZpJuFru8ktrXeMdKS1gcEeJxg30GS1HXUd8LGwnozVN7DgLKwk0UVpu5GTEJhReRHbfOVIwwog8Jkv63J1u5yI/s1600/Cropped_F+Johnson+wagon+maker+crowd+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4UNWEoi_ioFA2oms32hkSdRCwuJ8x2PS-O4tt1PasyqYcUg_9zERuPZpJuFru8ktrXeMdKS1gcEeJxg30GS1HXUd8LGwnozVN7DgLKwk0UVpu5GTEJhReRHbfOVIwwog8Jkv63J1u5yI/s1600/Cropped_F+Johnson+wagon+maker+crowd+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Note the workers in the second story of
this building. These upper sections were
often used for painting as they had less dust and debris compared to the ground
floor where blacksmithing and woodwork were done.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QAmzzXt7p58clQuSCQr3_0qkD6Y8KZbjgr3RIuffYNiScl2mNsLmlpprudDURw77dN32fBJPRI1mO_EQ5P6IKORkA1EHtBQHLnYr3dv8leIv4L8iBv_GRKk4SruhyphenhyphenChLg6zrKBd7inWS/s1600/Cropped_Wheel+and+Wagon+crew+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QAmzzXt7p58clQuSCQr3_0qkD6Y8KZbjgr3RIuffYNiScl2mNsLmlpprudDURw77dN32fBJPRI1mO_EQ5P6IKORkA1EHtBQHLnYr3dv8leIv4L8iBv_GRKk4SruhyphenhyphenChLg6zrKBd7inWS/s1600/Cropped_Wheel+and+Wagon+crew+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This super-scarce image shows a group of wagon and carriage makers comprised predominantly of African-American craftsmen. They're standing in front of wood stock that's being air-seasoned versus the kiln-drying process.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1Fc6ako0dyRokswDbH8cy0-7n716zcyjMuGVriybPI6GOOTdVDkdkeJoDPDBKnWLdmUbmqUlWQSrEM059ieKvKcQa3C9Sy5mQOcIuzj5X2Y4CqE7IBhbLBrK36JcW-arhtsSLr-Xd6dN/s1600/Cropped_Blacksmith+character+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1Fc6ako0dyRokswDbH8cy0-7n716zcyjMuGVriybPI6GOOTdVDkdkeJoDPDBKnWLdmUbmqUlWQSrEM059ieKvKcQa3C9Sy5mQOcIuzj5X2Y4CqE7IBhbLBrK36JcW-arhtsSLr-Xd6dN/s1600/Cropped_Blacksmith+character+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Small blacksmith shops were common to almost every community across the United States. This one was located
in West, Texas. It was owned by Frank
Divin, the inventor and patentee of a 2-row cultivator.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_k0T-IbLenSrQQpm259s9VpFTuYOdvEiWGuGTv638yWE6Ux7pWhGbpqFhykToegKSxwYl6oF2ms_z-0qfEDHBhzqKzh0E5bQ_bSBpmWSQVyCosSgRytQg5OlFREifDv2EUaleqOMGwH2/s1600/Cropped_Topeka+Maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_k0T-IbLenSrQQpm259s9VpFTuYOdvEiWGuGTv638yWE6Ux7pWhGbpqFhykToegKSxwYl6oF2ms_z-0qfEDHBhzqKzh0E5bQ_bSBpmWSQVyCosSgRytQg5OlFREifDv2EUaleqOMGwH2/s1600/Cropped_Topeka+Maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This 1880 photo provides a rare glimpse
of a period, Jackson-brand wagon as well as the legendary J.A. Polley vehicle
shops in Topeka, Kansas. Photos like this are invaluable when determining levels of originality and authenticity.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KEKnut2cE5Gv7z9MnI_mPdyXOon11koNVFWJmoSyiHCCYMqKJamJmtNsY_bNPSl6H-qj8FsCEzQ8n3kqLm03wibg1De4ZsOBaBkoDtmhepe5Xmwvx372rR3_JPpvbrB9MSIbxy8_nqYE/s1600/Cropped_1896+Ashfield+Mass+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KEKnut2cE5Gv7z9MnI_mPdyXOon11koNVFWJmoSyiHCCYMqKJamJmtNsY_bNPSl6H-qj8FsCEzQ8n3kqLm03wibg1De4ZsOBaBkoDtmhepe5Xmwvx372rR3_JPpvbrB9MSIbxy8_nqYE/s1600/Cropped_1896+Ashfield+Mass+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dated to 1896, this photo shows a
builder in Ashfield, Massachusetts. Note
the stepped ramp allowing vehicles to be moved upstairs for painting and
striping work.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0HGZuztNdolwb32mRVbSEAnpNHs_PlpLYv-_goZKIdbEDv-mpZXujFOQIPej5-aWIEA_53GpQtIaXTxrcPCZmNDFV5lmEl16iR0ri0lyqgaw4q-49t8pzuwJZZYLt8ImXNf25jKNGT4P/s1600/Cropped_Blacksmith+artwork1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0HGZuztNdolwb32mRVbSEAnpNHs_PlpLYv-_goZKIdbEDv-mpZXujFOQIPej5-aWIEA_53GpQtIaXTxrcPCZmNDFV5lmEl16iR0ri0lyqgaw4q-49t8pzuwJZZYLt8ImXNf25jKNGT4P/s1600/Cropped_Blacksmith+artwork1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The artwork on the entrances of some old
blacksmithing buildings was amazing.
This one includes a mural of the builder’s wagons. To the right, additional signage promotes
“Horse-Shoeing, Wagon Work, & Plow Work.”</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAwtGR54OyEVQLv94YJD3GYB8NophmFAQDkZ_3Euf4Viki9BsyZfzKdbLpBrAa8eMt8SlhyCBCwQgnKWOiR3Dfps5eBAehPrYxhroJu4VBfZX2Hvb9uSRNavNH6vMDl1krR4UbWXzSJUN/s1600/Cropped_Holmes+Wagon+maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAwtGR54OyEVQLv94YJD3GYB8NophmFAQDkZ_3Euf4Viki9BsyZfzKdbLpBrAa8eMt8SlhyCBCwQgnKWOiR3Dfps5eBAehPrYxhroJu4VBfZX2Hvb9uSRNavNH6vMDl1krR4UbWXzSJUN/s1600/Cropped_Holmes+Wagon+maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Comparatively little is known about the
Holmes wagon brand built in Barry, Illinois.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwiCxn5VS0AvXD3dlA7-7uxX7QxXH5hk7xLyUsY_FB_Ug4JbeASqzndcQ2kiQ2u8h_Mk3bK_3NIMb2KvsC3WJ4K8FshMpBR7GcFp-x3nmQ3vAwcTYt95pHuarKJdLk4K5XYOGuXS4bTNp/s1600/Cropped_Pitts+and+Blume+shop+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwiCxn5VS0AvXD3dlA7-7uxX7QxXH5hk7xLyUsY_FB_Ug4JbeASqzndcQ2kiQ2u8h_Mk3bK_3NIMb2KvsC3WJ4K8FshMpBR7GcFp-x3nmQ3vAwcTYt95pHuarKJdLk4K5XYOGuXS4bTNp/s1600/Cropped_Pitts+and+Blume+shop+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Pitts & Blume operation was a
decent-sized shop for a small community.</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sb6n-QpWyaHZalPa8QcYcyfHMY3pO1HNh6r-Twp5jeI1U_C2w1SiBkhiZCjM3UhSWCDyQRFGKVsmqavEKQCQdmHKh7c8icqQ91wBy4gxm-2Xt99_2fR_iOhvRmOka_yAFIwx0Pfq55cd/s1600/Cropped_Schmieder+wagon+maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Sb6n-QpWyaHZalPa8QcYcyfHMY3pO1HNh6r-Twp5jeI1U_C2w1SiBkhiZCjM3UhSWCDyQRFGKVsmqavEKQCQdmHKh7c8icqQ91wBy4gxm-2Xt99_2fR_iOhvRmOka_yAFIwx0Pfq55cd/s1600/Cropped_Schmieder+wagon+maker+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While early vehicles were designed with their share of art and style, additional creativity was displayed in other areas as well. Either of the 1890’s-era signs on this
building would be a great addition to an early vehicle collection today.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-49027249912674360222017-08-09T04:30:00.000-05:002017-08-09T04:30:35.237-05:00Antique Vehicle Interest & Pricing <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not long ago, I was reminiscing with my
parents about my growing-up years. It
was certainly a unique time in the history of our nation. During those days, my mom and dad owned a
small gas station/grocery store – kinda like Ike Godsey’s country store on <i>The Walton’s</i> television series – only
smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That store was a connection to people,
events, and social interactions that were part of the close, friendly feel of the
community. It was a place where people
were down-to-earth and kids could be kids.
As such, it holds a number of memories for me. I remember when gas was 27 cents per gallon,
water and compressed air were free for the asking, soda was a dime and came in
a 10-ounce glass bottle (3 cents of which was refunded upon return of the
bottle), someone always pumped your gas while you waited and, many times,
checked your vehicle’s oil – just as a courtesy. ‘Those were the days’ as the old song
says. Of course, back then, we didn’t
have many of the modern conveniences that we do today.
Reinforcing that point, my sister and I were the forerunners of a TV remote
control for our family. We had a total
of three free channels (sometimes four if the local PBS signal was clear enough). It all came in through a metal antenna to our black and white, small-screen TV. Cell phones and personal computers were
non-existent, cars often had no seat belts, and phone lines were shared resources
referred to as a ‘party line.’ Somehow,
we survived and each of us, at one time or another, has probably wished for
elements of the good old days to be back again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpy0arEePX4bjTw7LNCv7GcLxNw1W3WeD69yDPDZk4BqpxwjejRpX3c_8cmvdmgO7Cs4gZJJow4VzjBgf4XhyphenhyphenpMiYQEX_FT_8v5gnY5G5uQh-XdCCc8GY5yEIxXihuf4BGxiYT_TeCE8x/s1600/Old+Store+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpy0arEePX4bjTw7LNCv7GcLxNw1W3WeD69yDPDZk4BqpxwjejRpX3c_8cmvdmgO7Cs4gZJJow4VzjBgf4XhyphenhyphenpMiYQEX_FT_8v5gnY5G5uQh-XdCCc8GY5yEIxXihuf4BGxiYT_TeCE8x/s1600/Old+Store+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This old country store holds a lot of fond memories from my childhood. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">What does all of this have to do with this week’s blog? Bear with me for one
more story. About a month or so ago, I
was talking with a fella who related an account about a wagon he saw back in
the 1970’s. It seems the old wooden
warrior had been found in a barn, completely covered by hay. It had sat that way for decades; dry, undisturbed,
and forgotten until the property sold and new owners took over. The wagon was taken to an auction and that’s
where this gentleman had seen it. As you
can imagine, it attracted a lot of attention.
Even in those days, the condition of the piece was a novelty for most to
see. Seems the wagon was a high wheel
John Deere – new old stock – still having the shipping tags attached to the
wagon and seat. So extensive was the
original paint that the man remembered it still looked brand new. As the slew of onlookers watched the sale,
the auctioneer worked hard to get the highest price for the showpiece. When the bidding ceased, $700 had bought the wagon. It’s not the first time I’ve heard a story
like this but, it’s one of the few times I’ve had someone say they witnessed
the event. It’s been the better part of
a half century since that vehicle sold and most early vehicle collectors would
love to find something like that (especially for the same price) today.
Like another song, this one by the duo, </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Montgomery Gentry</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">, those days are ‘Gone.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The purpose for this intro is to say
that, while we can wish for things from days gone by, generally speaking those
moments have happened and aren’t coming back.
This past week a friend of mine was bemoaning the rocketing prices of
good antique wagons. He told me that
they’ve gotten too high for the average person to afford. He’s right that some have reached record
heights but, isn’t that what the best investments are supposed to do? Even with that point agreed upon, I believe
we often miss opportunities to add great vehicles to a collection because we’re
fixated on a very narrow group of survivors. I’ve shared parts of this narrative before but I thought I’d go over some other elements this
week. My hope is that I can help others
see that there are still plenty of quality, affordable wagons and western
vehicles out there – whether you’re looking for something for a collection, competition, or some other want/need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First things first and make no mistake – when it comes to art and antiques, the best of the best tends to consistently climb in financial
value. In fact, every early vehicle owner likely wants these resale values to grow because, ultimately, those higher prices of the elite pieces also pull
along the prices of others. I’ve yet to
meet a person that actually preferred to buy things that would lose money. Without realizing what he was saying, my
friend was really just stating the obvious.
That point being that, these days, even the most casual enthusiasts can often look at a wagon and pick the better ones – thereby helping drive them to the higher price tags.
Additionally, the very best ones are often already in a collection or
are spoken for. In other words, a great deal of the low-hanging fruit has been picked. So, when a piece in extraordinary
condition does come along, it will likely draw a fair amount of interest. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE99CvC8AOZ9gmmh8B95JAjd-_aFOw5g9B6SYVWGTPWtHAEqmT5SKHAjWWAysh-w7T21SAgt0Q9a1ZyOBFxwNe4kdAcrsuwkaXVp1h7vE_QLkj-yGJNVoR0M9oi11W1stO1flW7zJ9jpQM/s1600/Winona+Sheep+Bed+Montana+vignette+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE99CvC8AOZ9gmmh8B95JAjd-_aFOw5g9B6SYVWGTPWtHAEqmT5SKHAjWWAysh-w7T21SAgt0Q9a1ZyOBFxwNe4kdAcrsuwkaXVp1h7vE_QLkj-yGJNVoR0M9oi11W1stO1flW7zJ9jpQM/s1600/Winona+Sheep+Bed+Montana+vignette+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With or without paint, this original
Winona Sheep Bed wagon would be a great find and rare addition to any collection today.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whether a person finds a great piece at
a bargain basement price or a higher cost, have you ever thought about what
happens to money invested wisely in one of these rolling works of art? Consider this... What you pay for one of
these vehicles is not really what it costs you.
That’s right. Because, what you
pay is eventually offset by what you get back when you sell the vehicle. So, let’s say you spend $4,000 for an old set
of wheels, keep it for a number of years and then sell it for X amount, you’ve
either made some money, broke even, or possibly not gotten all of your money
back. In every case, though, the vehicle
is virtually assured to have cost you less than what was initially paid – not
to mention the enjoyment you reaped during those years of ownership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the past several years, I’ve added a
number of very special pieces to our collection and spent far less than others competing for the few-and-far-between, premium specimens (which are almost assuredly twentieth century pieces). As
collectors, we have to get past the point where we only see one element of the
vehicle. The most obvious thing that
most people notice is the ‘condition’ of the piece. Understandably, everyone wants the highest
quality and so do I. As I’ve already
mentioned, though, the pieces that are clearly extraordinary are the most likely to
attract the most attention of others. The
good news is that to successfully compete against those with deeper pockets, sometimes
all you need to do is look around you. What
do I mean by that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Okay, I’ll quit beating around the bush
and ask you, ‘What are the features you look for in an old vehicle?’ From my perspective, there are a number of important
elements to review; many of which I’ve covered in our <i>Borrowed Time</i> book and I’ve also shared in several blogs. You can put most of that criteria, though, in
the acronym – CUP. For me, C-U-P stands
for Condition, Uniqueness, and Provenance.
When all three of these are optimized, you’re likely to have a truly
impressive survivor. That said, I have
some extremely unique pieces that are not in mint condition. Like most one hundred to one hundred fifty year old artifacts, they have some age spots. Yet, they still carry significant value. How?
Well, they may have a great historical background, time frame of
manufacture, unique construction features, be one of a select few from a well-known
maker, or some other rare aspect of historical provenance. The most important thing I’m getting to here
is the need to train ourselves to recognize opportunity when it comes along.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24i9kYkjv0qSfRhs36XYRSv_v8t2hwR67auXng0yda2N0qBcs9SOOEshU75JqVyyLCc56y4ZdQUBlmViXVTsCCsfIlo2iBl6W-pxnFKAhuq93IGUGpjfGVoTLhcO1TocpLuONHdL6bBYV/s1600/Texas+wagon+town1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24i9kYkjv0qSfRhs36XYRSv_v8t2hwR67auXng0yda2N0qBcs9SOOEshU75JqVyyLCc56y4ZdQUBlmViXVTsCCsfIlo2iBl6W-pxnFKAhuq93IGUGpjfGVoTLhcO1TocpLuONHdL6bBYV/s1600/Texas+wagon+town1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This Texas town scene shows a number of
wagon brands including Peter Schuttler, Racine, Fort Smith, and Springfield. It’s part of a vast story highlighting fierce
competition among wagon makers.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As enthusiasts, if we want to
continually enhance our collections, it’s important to push ourselves to grow
beyond the obvious choices run after by so many others. Admittedly, part of the reason for this is
selfishness – so we can find special pieces and improve our own investments. However, part of the reason is completely
unselfish and I’ve also shared details on this thought in previous posts. When we get to the point that we truly understand
identity and the impact of the personal history these pieces carry
(Provenance), then we can start connecting with these old wheels in a way that
everyone will appreciate more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Several years ago, I co-judged a Sheep
Camp wagon competition in Douglas, Wyoming.
One of the most impressive things the organizer did was encourage the
entrants to include the personal histories of a piece whenever possible. It was an intriguing insight into the
personalities of the vehicles and, as such, was highly lauded by the public (and the
judges). I’m convinced that the end
result of looking deeper into these wagons is that more amazing history will be
uncovered and fewer of the feared-lost pieces will be passed over as
insignificant. In other words, sometimes
the easiest way to find a better deal is to get more curious about these
vehicles and work to discover what sets each one apart. That process and the history it unfolds continues to pleasantly surprise visitors viewing our collection. Ultimately, it brings a
world of history, intrigue, and uniqueness into the vehicles we've gathered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">These days, most of us have more access
to information about these old transports than ever before. Unfortunately, though, we tend to get distracted
by just one feature in collecting – the Condition (good or bad). In other words, we don’t really see the
individual tree because we’re looking too broadly at the whole forest. If I could give just one piece of advice to
new or long-time collectors/enthusiasts, it would be to quit wishing for the
prices of yesterday and start looking for the treasures that are going
unnoticed today. They are out there and
I’ve been extremely fortunate to come across my share again and again. Over the years, I’ve had countless calls and
emails asking for insights and recommendations about a particular antique
vehicle. By passing along my own
observations, it’s been a blessing to help so many improve their collections
while also preserving the maximum amount of history for future generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a great deal more that I can
share on this topic but will wait for a later date to dive into the details. In the meantime, I’d encourage any that don’t
have a methodical evaluation process to consider broadening the search. Acronyms like C-U-P can be a good reminder to
be even more diligent when reviewing a set of wheels – no matter the Condition. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-11798742490391239022017-08-02T04:30:00.000-05:002017-08-02T04:30:54.696-05:00The American Wagon Company<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well over a decade ago, I wrote a
feature article on the American Wagon Company.
It was a unique firm with distinctive products utilized by both the
horse-drawn wagon and early automobile industries. I don't recall ever posting this story to my blog or
website so, I thought I’d share it this week along with a little more info that
I’ve come across. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Build a better mousetrap and the world
will beat a path to your door.” It’s an
often-heard phrase associated with the rewards of true ingenuity and hard
work. To that point, in the early
1900’s, the American Wagon Company was one of several firms testing out that
philosophy by offering a new twist on an old design. Wagon boxes, the cargo-hauling portion of a
horse-drawn wagon, were the company’s specialty. Believing necessity to really be the mother
of invention, American was perfecting some of the most visibly significant
changes to farm wagons in close to a half-century. Between 1905 and 1909, multiple patents were secured on the new creations.
Internal enthusiasm and faith in the product’s success was high. But, in just over a decade, the wheels of
progress would take a hard turn. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5gCc5gGHHOLYeewgSZbmRfqUuVxfWH6vk8ah9N-aidgNkAkPdUcHrS-S6o0ajcSpqKrtTH8RC5qJXqFfT1YwlLZIJOlWSQXnXsFdcvcSeLVexcBzHLvM_QsQj4Ms9p9Nd3E_rjsvKK_M/s1600/American+Poultry+box+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5gCc5gGHHOLYeewgSZbmRfqUuVxfWH6vk8ah9N-aidgNkAkPdUcHrS-S6o0ajcSpqKrtTH8RC5qJXqFfT1YwlLZIJOlWSQXnXsFdcvcSeLVexcBzHLvM_QsQj4Ms9p9Nd3E_rjsvKK_M/s1600/American+Poultry+box+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The folding box designs from the
American Wagon Company enabled farmers, ranchers, and business owners to
optimize their time and financial investments.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Locating themselves in Dixon, Illinois
in 1911, American brought a promise of greater prosperity to the local
area. Sales offices were maintained in
nearby Chicago and catalog rhetoric indicated that more manufacturing sites
were being contemplated to meet the growing demand. According to period accounts in the “Dixon
Evening Telegraph,” the old Grand Detour wagon plant was unoccupied and had
been re-modeled to meet the needs of the newly-arrived company. After celebrating the nation’s 135th
birthday, the factory officially began manufacturing in Dixon on July 5,
1911. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The American Wagon Company name seems to
imply that the firm was involved in full-scale wagon production. However, the box, often called the bed, was
the only part of the wagon that the organization actually manufactured. But the box was far from ordinary and, in
many ways, typical of the agricultural inventive genius prevalent during the
19th and early 20th centuries. Farmers,
ranchers, and businesses of the day needed different wagon beds to haul
different types of payloads. Most wagons
met this requirement with designs that allowed the box to be lifted off of the
running gear and replaced with a different rack or bed as the need arose. For some, though, this type of traditional
wagon design offered a less-than-adequate solution to hauling multiple
varieties of cargo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At issue was the added time, money, and
manpower involved in adjusting the wagon to meet every need. In order to help customers avoid the
difficult and costly exercise of buying or building different beds and frequently
changing them, the American Wagon Company marketed just one box that satisfied
more than a dozen common uses. So,
whether the farmer needed a hay rack to bring in loose hay from the field, a
stock rack for hauling livestock, a corn wagon with built-in bang boards, a
flax-tight grain wagon, an enclosed box for transporting poultry, or even a
custom rig with ladder-back seats to carry a couple dozen folks to a Sunday
afternoon church picnic, these quick-changing boxes catered to almost every
need a rural farmer, rancher, and businessman could encounter.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHqBdpw-xdlmr8WmzWytTmBTETnjHHsrTipZR3Y_RQOM8Nr4FTu3vIgUgfGM5tPSOgzcrNOzn14quuleiqs4CJcss898wtY7kEvnlYrUb5i2zf_ENm4aP8pqUiOcavarZ_sCN-towIa9h/s1600/15+Wagon+Beds+In+1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHqBdpw-xdlmr8WmzWytTmBTETnjHHsrTipZR3Y_RQOM8Nr4FTu3vIgUgfGM5tPSOgzcrNOzn14quuleiqs4CJcss898wtY7kEvnlYrUb5i2zf_ENm4aP8pqUiOcavarZ_sCN-towIa9h/s1600/15+Wagon+Beds+In+1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Custom built for many different uses,
the Melrose wagon box was much more versatile than traditional wagon beds.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Early print ads and catalogs went to
extraordinary detail in explaining the value and benefits of American’s
‘Melrose’ brand convertible wagon bed.
The ads warned against confusing their unique designs with cheaper,
heavier, and more crude imitations. Some
of the designs that American competed against could be found in the pages of
Montgomery Ward’s discount catalogues as well as among a few other makers and
independent dealers. American Wagon
Company’s morphing design was touted as a time and money saver. They also boasted greater durability,
capacity, flexibility, and efficiency… all for about the same cost as a
“first-class, single-purpose bed.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though the concept had been on the
market for several years, a 1912 full-page print ad describes the wagon bed as
a “new farm invention.” Specific
advantages included a “15-wagon-beds-in-one” design… a no tools, easy
changeover configuration… strong, warp-free construction… and a 5-year
guarantee. To get an idea of just how
strong this pledge was, it’s important to note that typical horse drawn wagon
warranties were limited to just one year of coverage. Additionally, the box came with a free 30-day
trial. The American Wagon Company even
paid the freight. We may be accustomed
to these types of incentives vying for our attention today but it was truly
innovative marketing a century ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The boxes were offered in widths of 38”
and 42”. Lengths of 9 ½’, 12’, 14’, and
16’ were available and the boxes were said to hold as much as 100 bushels of
shelled corn, 4800 pounds of hay, or two full-sized cows/bulls. A 12’ Melrose bed from the American Wagon
Company cost $30 in their 1911 catalog.
While the 12’ bed weighed 75 pounds more than the average wagon box, it
was also a foot and a half longer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">American was proud of the fact that no
nails were used anywhere in the bed.
Instead of hardwood supports that might break or warp, they used steel
sills to strengthen the bottom of the bed.
Telescoping side braces were integrated with the hinged metalwork to
fold the entire length of the box into its multitude of shapes. End rods were double galvanized for extra
protection against rusting and all metal parts were made from cold rolled
steel. Sales catalogs proclaimed the
wood to be long leaf pine, free from knots, and double kiln-dried. With superior quality and real functional
value as their watchwords, American worked hard to gain consumer confidence and
make the buying process as simple as possible.
Compared to the planned obsolescence of many products today, American
stated that, “In building this bed our whole aim is permanency.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQj225ViMifPHAQzSp_pCQiiUg8YdAi5hA3X74xE6Bv_QRAja7HJwoEpyN6xC4Vv520ksFbdbV3JjV1yBrx3IRVjX2Niz2RF1c8rA1Dc2BewrrOPLrs1yhCQRJmaiSGyUGImVP4SFaZPt/s1600/American+5+year+warranty+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQj225ViMifPHAQzSp_pCQiiUg8YdAi5hA3X74xE6Bv_QRAja7HJwoEpyN6xC4Vv520ksFbdbV3JjV1yBrx3IRVjX2Niz2RF1c8rA1Dc2BewrrOPLrs1yhCQRJmaiSGyUGImVP4SFaZPt/s1600/American+5+year+warranty+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">American’s five-year warranty provided a
huge marketing advantage, especially since virtually all other boxes were
limited to a one-year guarantee.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By 1918, times were changing and the
company had begun producing cabs, beds, and other wooden parts for motorized
vehicles. Like many others in the wagon-making trade, they were compelled to branch out into additional lines of
business once the automotive industry gained a foothold. Following virtually the same production plan
now with truck bodies, the company built at least four variations of truck
beds. The convertible motor-truck bodies
included 8-in-1, 4-in-1, 3-in-1, and 2-in-1 designs. Applications ranged from grain bodies to hog,
stock, flat, poultry, basket, and flared racks.
Years ago, I came across a fine example of one of the motor truck beds
in a private vehicle collection in Bolivar, Missouri. The 8-in-1 American folding bed was mounted on
a 1918 motor-truck. More than just a
good-looking fit to the truck, the combination offered its original owner a
great deal of hauling options. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whatever the reasons - whether it was
the consumers’ reluctance to accept change, a limited distribution system, weak
financial capital, or simply a casualty of transitioning times - there is no
evidence to suggest that the convertible wagon beds ever grabbed a strong hold
on either the automotive or farm wagon market.
Even with an ingenious design and strong marketing principles, the wagon
company disappeared from city directories after 1922. Ironically, the firm noted for such a highly
adaptable product couldn’t quite adapt itself to the rapidly changing times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interestingly, among the directors of
the American Wagon Company were John Ringling of Ringling Bros. Circus as well
as H.H. Windsor who was the president, founder, and first editor of Popular
Mechanics magazine. The man that started
the American Wagon company was Ellsworth B. Overshiner, president of the
Swedish-American Telephone Company. In
1910, Overshiner worked hard to jump start the wagon box company’s capital with
editorialized ads in publications like <i>The Railroad Telegrapher</i> and <i>Locomotive
Engineers’ Monthly Journal</i>. The ads were
strongly worded with promises like, “A new Million Dollar corporation which I
am heavily interested in and President and Director of, will be one of the
greatest and best paying Industrial Corporations in the United States and its
stock will advance many times in value.”
Overshiner ratcheted up the hype with comments like, “I want to, and
will make every railroad man that joins me in this new enterprise, some real
money in sums worth while and on an investment of only fifty dollars and five
months to pay it in... Come along and get in on the ground floor.” It was a lot to live up to and,
unfortunately, the firm never came close to those expectations. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1XPNZ1azWpINA80AAktqlQ2E2-lRxsP6noCBTt_G_YevHHi9r1gvYn-AAjtiSz3ZoNywke2d5GSvncV2uuCsNOjofBH3TsBEChUNiLWGR5Fw7LFXu7TM2pw0ChNgPdRlXWy4XHLoHwiD/s1600/Motor+Truck+variations+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1XPNZ1azWpINA80AAktqlQ2E2-lRxsP6noCBTt_G_YevHHi9r1gvYn-AAjtiSz3ZoNywke2d5GSvncV2uuCsNOjofBH3TsBEChUNiLWGR5Fw7LFXu7TM2pw0ChNgPdRlXWy4XHLoHwiD/s1600/Motor+Truck+variations+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to their offerings for horse-drawn wagons, American's folding beds also brought quality, versatility, and
convenience to those using motor trucks.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One hundred years ago, it was fairly
easy to avail yourself of one of the ‘all-in-one’ wagon box designs. Today, the story is much different. Finding the rarest of rare artifacts has
become a challenge as many race to rescue the most significant parts of our
past before they’re gone. After all,
it’s these pieces that are the proverbial needle in a haystack – ultra rare
history that adds real intrigue to a quality collection while helping preserve
a valued portion of America’s farming, ranching, and transportation legacy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With just over a decade of production,
the Melrose convertible box is one of those genuinely hard-to-find pieces. By the company’s own admission, the boxes
were built to last. So, while the
whereabouts of most of these pieces isn’t known, somewhere another American
Melrose box is undoubtedly waiting to be discovered and its creative dreams
passed on to future generations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrkfeRIUB1MyH0o0IDyk43pcx2GmqRSWcutc39QqtQYsgd-r1HHI3j4TDVBnPUFaBYl67tGyyywq3Ir3NHH4FXRvZZtXxVSsfoP-xRYBi5Ee5Dms7buMBk6nT9O64l9EjXKs-SLhUmIDC/s1600/American+Catalog+Cover1a+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrkfeRIUB1MyH0o0IDyk43pcx2GmqRSWcutc39QqtQYsgd-r1HHI3j4TDVBnPUFaBYl67tGyyywq3Ir3NHH4FXRvZZtXxVSsfoP-xRYBi5Ee5Dms7buMBk6nT9O64l9EjXKs-SLhUmIDC/s1600/American+Catalog+Cover1a+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The American Wagon Company worked to
overcome product stereotypes by offering unique, patented wagon box designs.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-49335170499268960222017-07-26T04:30:00.001-05:002017-07-26T04:30:18.826-05:00Joel Turney & the Charter Oak Wagon<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With roots to the California gold rush
and America’s huge migration west, the Charter Oak wagon brand offers great
insight into the opportunity, trials, and character of our nation’s first
transportation industry. From the
overall story of this brand to its very name, the ‘Charter Oak’ moniker was
often associated with exceptional strength, resilience, and premium
quality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The actual title of Charter Oak is
centuries old and carries tremendous history and purpose. As the story goes, in 1856 (the first year
of the Charter Oak wagon brand), the legendary ‘Charter Oak’ tree fell during a
storm in Hartford, Connecticut. The tree
was no ordinary stick of lumber. It was a
massive white oak that Connecticut’s Royal Charter of 1662 was apparently hidden
in at one time. Tradition says that the
official document was placed there to prevent its capture by the English
governor-general who was seeking to reverse the state’s autonomy granted by a
previous king. As the years went by, the
tree became a well-known symbol of American independence, strength, and
faithful determination. Ultimately, it
proved to be an ideal name for a transportation brand that became one of the
best-known wagon firms in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like so many other vintage wagon makers,
Joel Turney owed a large part of his early manufacturing successes to the
California gold strikes and westward expansion of America. With countless souls headed west and the
transcontinental railroad yet to be built, the demand for horse drawn
transportation was growing exponentially during the mid-nineteenth
century. Turney’s experience, location, and commitment
to building quality vehicles all converged to make the most of
his business timing. While Turney built
his first wagons in 1852, the origins of the actual Charter Oak wagon brand are
dated to 1856. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj09ekPgRdvIWAssZFNdk48sisGLxQcTMN3MmmrpMuXIlM4gTBMaQa0qH8xVCgXfsfjjrX5IIbZ55XVJY1g44WpleidleZGY2pwGwykrfd5VSmAPBkx47rsv8GsQbpJSSSzOKL_w7fboL/s1600/1888+Joel+Turney+letter+cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj09ekPgRdvIWAssZFNdk48sisGLxQcTMN3MmmrpMuXIlM4gTBMaQa0qH8xVCgXfsfjjrX5IIbZ55XVJY1g44WpleidleZGY2pwGwykrfd5VSmAPBkx47rsv8GsQbpJSSSzOKL_w7fboL/s1600/1888+Joel+Turney+letter+cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This segment of a Charter Oak Wagon
letterhead dates to January 1888, just after Joel Turney moved his company from
Trenton to Fairfield, Iowa.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ultimately, it was Joel Turney’s earliest
experiences as a blacksmith that helped pave the way for his reputation as a
noted wagon manufacturer. In 1848, the
twenty-one-year-old left Columbus, Ohio with somewhere between fifty and one hundred dollars (depending on the period report you read) and
set up a blacksmith shop in Trenton, Iowa.
Even though his start-up fund was small, the discovery of gold in
California was the economic boost that he and many others needed to help secure
plenty of business. Trenton, it seems,
was just one of the way points in the route west for many travelers. As a result, this original location was crucial in helping establish
the Charter Oak brand as a significant competitor for over three-quarters of a
century. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the United States expanded, Turney’s
blacksmithing services also grew in demand.
Soon, he was repairing as well as building wagons. Time progressed and his facilities expanded
from a tiny shop to a modest factory.
Things were rocking along fairly well until 1879 when the plant in
Trenton suffered a fire. At that time,
several folks in Fairfield, Iowa tried to entice him to move to their
community. Turney had numerous, close friends
in Trenton. His roots were cemented
there and, for the moment, he just couldn’t bear to leave the small town and so
many friends that made the place feel like home. He picked up the pieces of his business and
immediately rebuilt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Success, and the challenges associated
with that growth, though, were destined to follow. By the mid-1880’s, the company was building
more than 500 wagons a year and the demand for the wagons was outgrowing the manufacturing facilities in
Trenton. The output was being sold far
beyond Trenton and railroad facilities were needed to help with distribution,
competitive opportunity, and profitability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to maintain a healthy, thriving
company, Turney knew he needed additional space and better access to shipping
by rail. His search for more efficient
facilities led him back to the folks that had reached out to him in 1879. The town of Fairfield was just a few miles to
the southwest and a new location here could prove to be a strong, shot-in-the-arm
for the firm. The community of Fairfield
had several thousand residents and was considerably larger than Trenton. In 1887, Turney decided to make the move. He and his sons, Ellsworth and Dillon, built the new operation alongside
the railroad tracks in Fairfield. Within
a year, production began and continued for a decade until a fire destroyed the
plant in 1897. Fires were familiar
tragedies among wagon makers and among the most feared perils. Dry wood, flammable solvents, and the open
flames of the forging processes maintained a strong brew of explosive
potential.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTGBPZaEC2Jml4XFLG8E510Gbftcx2A6EI9NISpwz_a1A18eAaAnhVZahNSgJHtUDzNTT77wwzJGPLNhNM9cBE7Nt78KOe4EcuH96C70KcUSgH3tCoKPAtNKIARgKh98vfxr8wydHHiD3/s1600/Charter+Oak+Wagon+Factory+tweaked+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTGBPZaEC2Jml4XFLG8E510Gbftcx2A6EI9NISpwz_a1A18eAaAnhVZahNSgJHtUDzNTT77wwzJGPLNhNM9cBE7Nt78KOe4EcuH96C70KcUSgH3tCoKPAtNKIARgKh98vfxr8wydHHiD3/s1600/Charter+Oak+Wagon+Factory+tweaked+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Charter Oak factory measured nearly
100,000 square feet under roof with a capacity for 6,000 wagons produced each
year.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">No strangers to hard work and
commitment, Turney and his sons quickly went to
work. This time, they put up an even
larger plant built from brick construction.
The firm continued to grow and, by 1902, the Turney Wagon Works employed
80 people. June of 1905 brought the
family another setback as Joel Turney passed away. By this time, though, Dillon and Ellsworth were
already in complete charge of the factory.
Just prior to the teens, the company had grown into a capacity of 6,000
wagons per year. Similar to other wagon
manufacturers, they began marketing an entry-level brand alongside the premium
quality Charter Oak name. The
competitively-priced brand was known as ‘Fairfield’ and it was offered as a
wagon, truck, trade box, and bob sled. The company also made a ‘Turney Special” farm
truck. ('Trucks' might look like a typical wagon gear but they were utility vehicles with cheaper construction and less features than a wagon) Dealers could order the entire
wagon or just the box or running gear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1918, the company suffered another
fire causing roughly $40,000 in losses to buildings and machinery. Only about half of the damages were covered
by insurance. Still, the factory in
Fairfield, Iowa continued to produce thousands of wagons throughout the
twenties. (As a side note, the company
suffered at least 4 fires during the life of the business – 1879, 1897, 1900, and 1918) In 1931, the fate of the company took one
more hard turn when it’s leader, Dillon Turney, died as a result of a cerebral
hemorrhage. The son of the brand’s
founder was sixty-five. In
many ways, it was the last straw for the firm.
Countless other wagon makers had already succumbed to the changing
times. Dillon and his brother,
Ellsworth, had provided a stabilizing force to the company upon the death of
their father in 1905. The passing of Dillon,
combined with the pressures of the Great Depression and America’s increasing
reliance on motorized transportation, left the business with few
alternatives. The Charter Oak plant was
closed soon after the death of Dillon. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPYdf3PdYWFCVEX95Q1hlaEFloTcxzKEhe9PEE3ieTi393-7c9TRcW9r0XzPt3d8X5-LenKYSlbxbvAHHW3H4i-CdgFHqYfsHu7FMOwn5xJweWbAJHWB6U0YFCt9jyIyosL-UPwuRv6w1/s1600/Charter+Oak+tweaked+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPYdf3PdYWFCVEX95Q1hlaEFloTcxzKEhe9PEE3ieTi393-7c9TRcW9r0XzPt3d8X5-LenKYSlbxbvAHHW3H4i-CdgFHqYfsHu7FMOwn5xJweWbAJHWB6U0YFCt9jyIyosL-UPwuRv6w1/s1600/Charter+Oak+tweaked+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This rare, surviving Charter Oak wagon
retains almost all of its original paint.
It likely dates to the late teens or early twenties of the twentieth
century.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Charter Oak wagons were made in at least
two dozen models while the Fairfield designs were made in at least four
different sizes. Capacities ranged from
2500 to 6000 pound weight capacities.
Cut-under gears were also available.
According to period promotional literature, a variety of wood stock was
used in the wagons. Hickory was employed
for axles, neck yokes, singletrees and doubletrees. White Oak was selected for hounds, bolsters,
wheels, and tongues. Cottonwood was used
for sideboards and long-leaf, yellow pine or fir was used for the box
bottoms. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over time, there were numerous other
products that touted the “Charter Oak” name.
Towns, stoves, banks, farms, bicycles, and countless other organizations
took advantage of the strength of the label.
Even so, few acquired the recognition, significance, and brand longevity
that Turney’s wagons did. When Joel
Turney first left Ohio and stopped in Trenton, Iowa, he was on his way to the
California gold fields. His stop was
meant to be a temporary stay with an opportunity to make a little more money
for the trip. If he had forged ahead,
blindly focused on a desire for gold, we might never have heard of him or his
dreams. As it happened, he traded one
aspiration for another. The result being
that every surviving vehicle produced in the Charter Oak factory is a reminder;
a notice of what can happen when opportunity comes knocking and we’re ready to
make the most of it. In Joel Turney’s
case, he saw great value in raw timber and even more fortune in the security,
stability, durability, strength, and promise of what it could become. Ironically, these were the same qualities
held in the original Charter Oak tree.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-71442965736423950422017-07-19T04:30:00.000-05:002017-07-19T04:30:04.947-05:00Wagon & Western Vehicle Categories<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 78.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve been
traveling a fair amount this week so this post is a little shorter than what I normally
share. Nonetheless, there’s some good
info here and, hopefully, enough fodder to get us all to thinking about vehicle
origins, provenance, purposes, and the like.
So, without further ado, here ya go... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes we
overlook the obvious when we’re searching for things... kinda like hunting for
a pair of glasses we forgot were propped up on our head or a set of keys left
in a car ignition, or even a desperate attempt to find our cell phone as it’s
ringing – Only to finally figure out it was with us the whole time in a hip
pocket! Yes, I actually had someone tell
me that happened to them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Humans. We’re funny creatures. From mid-sentence, mind-wanderings to failed
recall, it’s easy to forget or overlook the simplest of things. (Don’t pretend it doesn’t happen to you) As a kid, I would sometimes get frustrated
when I faced situations where I had misplaced something. With a smile, my mom would reassuringly
encourage me to look “in the last place I left it.” Yeah, yeah, mom. Now where the devil IS the last place I left
that whatchamacallit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What do these trials have to do with
this week’s blog? Well, after writing
hundreds of pieces related to America’s first transportation industry, I often
wrestle with what to cover next. Maybe
it’s writer’s block, a weak mind, or maybe it’s just old age... nah, it couldn’t
be any of those. At any rate, as I
pondered the topic for this week’s blog, I hit a wall for a moment. My thoughts drifted - maybe I should cover
this type of vehicle or perhaps this particular style or possibly folks would
be interested in reading more about a certain design feature. The more I questioned myself the more unsettled
I became. Time was ticking and I had a
deadline to meet. Then, it hit me. One topic that I’ve never seen collectively discussed
is the actual naming conventions of these old wheels. In other words, what relevance is there to
the way wagons and western vehicles were looked upon and referred to ‘back in
the day?’ It’s such a basic and
fundamental connection to these pieces that it’s almost too obvious of a
subject. As a result, it’s an easy
message to overlook. Even so, it’s an
important part of a vehicle’s personality and provenance. As groups and individuals, we regularly reference
many of the names – whether we’re commenting on a ‘farm’ wagon, military
‘escort’ wagon, or something business-minded like a salesman’s or ‘huckster’
wagon. Sometimes, it’s good to slow down
and question the ‘whys’ of a topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I ran through the makeup of America’s
first transportation industry, I came up with at least a half-dozen categories
that help define the farm, freight, ranch, coach, business, and military vehicles
we review in this blog. As I focused on
the different pieces, it became clear that the labels they go by are often a
derivative of what they do, where they go, how they’re made, what they haul,
and even who occupies the vehicle. Many
times, a single vehicle can be lumped into several of these categories. For instance, a ‘tobacco’ wagon and ‘crooked
bed’ wagon can be the same thing. In
this case, the vehicle is not only defined by what it hauls but also by how
it’s made/designed. Take a look at the
list below and see how many more wagons and western vehicle types you can come
up with that fit into the various categories...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What They Do</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – This category
focuses on activities the vehicles are associated with. Whether you’re looking at a Dump wagon,
Escort wagon, Sprinkling wagon, Lunch wagon, Telegraph wagon, Chuck wagon,
Round-up wagon, Ticket wagon, Stage wagon, Delivery wagon, or even a Patrol
wagon, each bears a name that indicates occupations, pastimes, and pursuits
that the old set of wheels was designed for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe6eCH2X7rM6mYzl9-MXtb0n7jhknD96i183Lz3G5D4Voy4RNXDSPExQkyuB_jFPbMJPYXCMxGg936KETVBpPKtQGUjAM0phXdZpYj6sQE0jlTNbfsUnNFIVZtGVkIXe_GqSXCscL1IsS/s1600/Dump+wagon2+-+sized+with+text+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe6eCH2X7rM6mYzl9-MXtb0n7jhknD96i183Lz3G5D4Voy4RNXDSPExQkyuB_jFPbMJPYXCMxGg936KETVBpPKtQGUjAM0phXdZpYj6sQE0jlTNbfsUnNFIVZtGVkIXe_GqSXCscL1IsS/s1600/Dump+wagon2+-+sized+with+text+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patents for horse-drawn dump wagons were
granted as early as the 1840’s and continued well into the 1900’s.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where They Are
Used (</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">or
came from)</span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– This refers to any geographic connection including a relationship to a
particular region or locale – It’s a category that includes work vehicles like
a Road wagon, Mountain wagon (both types), Pacific wagon, Farm wagon, Conestoga
wagon, <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2017/06/tom-betty-watts-antique-vehicle-sale.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Florida wagon</span></a></b>, Concord coach,
Yellowstone coach, Station wagon, Depot hack, Beach wagon, Santa Fe wagon, Mud
wagon, Red River cart, and more. A lot
of early vehicle brand names also shared geographic ties; with labels mirroring
the city or state of manufacture.
Examples like Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, Pekin, Tiffin, Troy,
Florence, Stoughton, and Springfield were well-known all over the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTHQjI5iHAMl_e-ajn0N7wjlTJlIbLPB26oPc9bsK16FUA4wj_fxUUSTf7D16S4oMZ4aPL-Nx4_Vy6e31BfnHesfGOQz0DGrMRrBNDJw44vVfjNjxrxQCezIEsUckjqjg4wV_tZAyzJkV/s1600/Conestoga_blog+-+sized+wiht+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTHQjI5iHAMl_e-ajn0N7wjlTJlIbLPB26oPc9bsK16FUA4wj_fxUUSTf7D16S4oMZ4aPL-Nx4_Vy6e31BfnHesfGOQz0DGrMRrBNDJw44vVfjNjxrxQCezIEsUckjqjg4wV_tZAyzJkV/s1600/Conestoga_blog+-+sized+wiht+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The legendary Conestoga style of wagon
takes its name from the Conestoga River/township region in Pennsylvania.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How They’re Made</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Vehicles in
this category can be defined and referred to by mentioning a prominent design feature(s)
– Some examples include Crooked bed wagons, Dead axle wagons, Spring wagons, Cut-under
wagons, Rack bed wagons, Boot end bed wagons, Crane neck drays, Low-Down
wagons, and even Double and Triple box wagons.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchSe4VWtKVZ3m4SeSuPERXNrhZbr-c734WDxpo30JtGs4MS7GOq-lX2cYoW25zvPDRST9h4ink9J6GAVTO1sptacb0sDXgXluClF082CllktSWc5o5tBAVleqFCJ3koqmnEOV2sVZ_rbN/s1600/FM_Crookedbedwagon_desktop2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchSe4VWtKVZ3m4SeSuPERXNrhZbr-c734WDxpo30JtGs4MS7GOq-lX2cYoW25zvPDRST9h4ink9J6GAVTO1sptacb0sDXgXluClF082CllktSWc5o5tBAVleqFCJ3koqmnEOV2sVZ_rbN/s1600/FM_Crookedbedwagon_desktop2+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not to be confused with a Conestoga
wagon, a ‘Crooked-bed’ wagon is considerably smaller and more lightly
built. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What They Haul</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Sometimes a particular
set of wheels was called out by what it was designed to transport. This category can be closely related to the
first one mentioned above (What they do) since both are involved with a variety
of occupations. Vehicles included in
this category were transports like a Tobacco wagon, Turpentine wagon, Potato
wagon, Cotton wagon, Coal wagon, Tool wagon, Freight wagon, Water wagon,
Grocery wagon, Milk wagon, Mail wagon, Ladder wagon, Popcorn wagon, Log wagon,
Lumber wagon, Ore wagon, Ice wagon, whew!
That’s just a start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbnOv84pwr7jFNP6uac4QpwisCHLIDocTA9ewp2pL5_8t-IButbkwcKE4furgoZPCAFaieU_vAX5uKznDUyUp0dtam7vm-W3Hjk2NjWbNuMgzNtENy-f-KqyI8odAuLy_f6P4_sGlwTHv/s1600/Harrington+Mail+wagon1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbnOv84pwr7jFNP6uac4QpwisCHLIDocTA9ewp2pL5_8t-IButbkwcKE4furgoZPCAFaieU_vAX5uKznDUyUp0dtam7vm-W3Hjk2NjWbNuMgzNtENy-f-KqyI8odAuLy_f6P4_sGlwTHv/s1600/Harrington+Mail+wagon1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This extraordinary example of a
Harrington brand mail wagon retains almost all of its original paint and
signage. </span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who Occupies The
Vehicle</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– A Huckster or Peddler’s wagon, Gypsy wagon, Sheep herder wagon, Contractor’s
wagon, Pallbearers’ Coach, and Grocer’s wagon are just a few of the specialized
designs that can be defined by the person or occupation using a set of
wheels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1Gr8nMdZZZ849t34xlB-_j3KD8Hy6VeTHr4QTPim59s0m7muHWr4-sg6CToXl63tURY4Bbu4zbWAoG7abjmdEghBllHHav6XTaq_t272Jh-pNKG5aCfOUZuy7c0CPS6_cXxoG11vs_p/s1600/SheepWagon+Crop+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX1Gr8nMdZZZ849t34xlB-_j3KD8Hy6VeTHr4QTPim59s0m7muHWr4-sg6CToXl63tURY4Bbu4zbWAoG7abjmdEghBllHHav6XTaq_t272Jh-pNKG5aCfOUZuy7c0CPS6_cXxoG11vs_p/s1600/SheepWagon+Crop+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Referred to as Sheep, Sheep Camp, or
Sheepherder wagons, these vehicles were often highly customized by the
user. Even so, some time ago, we
uncovered a <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/11/sheep-camp-wagon-patents.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">pair of patents</span></a></b> on these
designs.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">6)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who originated
the vehicle</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– Labels like Herdic coach, Hansom Cab, and McMaster Camping Car are all tied
to their inventors. Similarly, there are
countless brands like Fish Bros., Studebaker, Peter Schuttler, Weber, Gestring,
Espenschied, Luedinghaus, Nissen, Bain, Mitchell, Murphy, Mandt, Knapheide, and
Cooper that were named for their founders.
In fact, the practice of naming the transportation brand after an
individual who either owned or was instrumental to the firm’s beginnings
continues to be a part of modern day car companies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Connecting vehicles to specific
categories may seem like a tedious and trivial exercise. The truth is that the act of studying every
vehicle a bit deeper almost always sheds greater light onto the provenance, personality,
and potential of a vehicle. It’s the
start to every wagon and western vehicle story; it’s who it was, where it
worked, what it did, the folks involved with it, businesses that needed it, and
how it was engineered to accomplish its purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Focusing on these details helps us
develop a more thorough understanding of different vehicle types as well as a
deeper appreciation for the complexities of the individual pieces. It also helps us avoid lumping so many of
these old workhorses into a generic perception that tends to over-simplify the
significance of a set of wheels.
Ultimately, it’s one more way to put America’s first transportation
industry into greater perspective while increasing opportunities for more
broad-scale interest.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-34985323857800524752017-07-12T04:30:00.000-05:002017-07-12T04:30:01.705-05:00Have You Seen These Wagon Brands?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The study of America’s first
transportation industry – wagons and western vehicles, in particular – continually
takes me down trails that can be confusing, hard to follow, and even phantom-like
as they appear and then disappear. It’s
still well worth the chase, though, as the mystery of the unknown can provide
amazing insights into vehicle provenance – not the least of which is the
narrowing down of manufacturing time frames.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I was at <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2017/06/tom-betty-watts-antique-vehicle-sale.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Tom and Betty Watt’s auction</span></a></b> about a month ago, something else
struck me. The most expensive-selling
farm wagon was not only a mix of two brands (box & running gear) but, the
box was from a very small maker in Anderson, Indiana. It was built by the Rhoads Wagon Company and
is the only one I’ve ever seen. Years
ago, I had done research on the firm and, through a lot of digging, was able to
provide some background within the pages of our <i>Borrowed Time</i> book. Still,
the ability of this small brand to outsell major brands with huge legacies got
me to thinking. What other industry icons
with fascinating histories have I seen limited examples of? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I began to think about all those brands
with strong reputations that I’ve seen at least one example of but no more than
a handful of survivors in total. After a
fair amount of consideration, I believe a number of these brands also have the
opportunity to excel in resale values – especially when found in above average
condition. So, with all of this as background, I thought we’d look at a half dozen more brands that are seldom
seen but could be excellent additions to any wagon or western vehicle
collection. Certainly, the back-stories
to the brands are filled with thought-provoking details. What follows is a simple overview of some of
those makers...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Beggs</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Many folks
may associate this brand with Circus wagons or even early automobiles as it
became so well-known for in Kansas City, Missouri. Long before these products were part of the
company’s offerings, though, the firm was producing a host of other horse-drawn
vehicles. Samuel Beggs grew up learning
both the farming and wagon-making trades of his father, James Beggs. According to the <i>Centennial History of Missouri</i>, when Samuel turned twenty-two years
old in 1881, he started his own wagon manufactory in King City, Missouri. A half dozen years later, he moved to
Carrollton, Missouri and continued to turn out quality farm,
freight, and transfer wagons. In 1905,
the company moved from Carrollton to Kansas City to take advantage of better
shipping facilities and freight rates. Production
of farm, freight, log, and mountain wagons was maintained at least through the
mid-teens. Within a few years of moving
to Kansas City, though, Beggs also took up the manufacture of all types of
circus wagons, including chariots. As another
decade began to pass, the firm shifted its transportation focus once more. This time, the only horses involved were
under a sheet metal hood. By 1917, it
had become clear to the folks at Beggs that the future of ground transportation
would not be focused on horse-drawn vehicles.
The auto industry was already well-entrenched and was gaining ground on
virtually every front – from commercial and farm uses to mining, military, and
personal use. So, in that same year, the
Beggs Wagon Company began manufacturing motor cars and expanding their
distribution from coast to coast. In
spite of that vision, the company ceased operations before the mid-1920’s. With Samuel Beggs dating his vehicle-making
beginnings to 1875, the Beggs firm could lay claim to being in business for
almost a half century. Still, finding a
quality example of a Beggs wagon in the twenty-first century can be a tall
order.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXYUi4icSJz2RGtbL_Z2unwKxTVTsXeKyCzYJShiWAqidhRGmUlxfEb5xEO7FVCnIeM0YrUuyNdXJhM_un_XOsEuwY7CyIqw84nYItOdgdRF7AJuHGS2_BVmm2AiFmkRuLqxEz3Gjcjbj/s1600/Beggs+California+Rack+Bed1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXYUi4icSJz2RGtbL_Z2unwKxTVTsXeKyCzYJShiWAqidhRGmUlxfEb5xEO7FVCnIeM0YrUuyNdXJhM_un_XOsEuwY7CyIqw84nYItOdgdRF7AJuHGS2_BVmm2AiFmkRuLqxEz3Gjcjbj/s1600/Beggs+California+Rack+Bed1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the toughest Beggs brand wagons
to find is their California Rack Bed.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Flint</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> – In 1882, the
same year that Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford – four years before the
surrender of Geronimo and a full decade before the historic Johnson County War,
the Flint Wagon Works was formed in Flint, Michigan. Many of the earliest examples of these wagons
were adorned with scenic murals similar to those found on Concord
stagecoaches. It was a significant
visual difference between Flint and other wagon makes with the ultimate purpose being to draw attention and quality perceptions to the
brand. Even though the West was still
wild during the early days of this firm, the company was <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2015/01/production-capacities-of-wagon-builders.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">destined to be different</span></a>. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The manufacture of wood-wheeled wagons was
a business model that would, eventually, be abandoned as part of the
transportation revolution in America. James
Whiting could see the change coming. He was one of the Flint Wagon Works founders and roughly two decades after he and
his partners established the brand, he announced that the firm had
purchased the newly-founded Buick company so they could produce gasoline engines
for farm customers. There is speculation
that, from the beginning, Whiting intended to use the purchase as a launch for
leaving the horse-drawn era and pursuing the age of travel by internal
combustion. Unfortunately, the entire
operation was under-capitalized, putting a strain on the Flint Wagon Works. Whiting and his partners would need more help
if they were going to make this venture work.
Enter another highly successful horse-drawn vehicle maker, William C.
Durant (Durant-Dort Carriages). By all
accounts, Durant was a popular entrepreneur with extensive manufacturing
experience, a long list of investor connections, and an uncanny ability to sell
just about anything he believed in.
After initial talks with Whiting, Durant accepted the opportunity to
take charge of Buick and grow the brand.
It was the beginning of a major transition into the U.S. auto
industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">With consistent growth and
attention-building excitement, Durant significantly grew the Buick brand. By 1908, he had formed a parent holding
company, General Motors, and within another couple years, he’d added Cadillac
and multiple other auto brands as part of the overall organization. While many of these vehicles were initially built
elsewhere, by 1909 the old wagon factory was rapidly being looked upon as a
valued automotive asset. The July 1909
issue of <i>The Hub</i> reported that the Flint
Wagon Works had already “completed a half dozen or so machines” and expected to
“put out a complete line of cars in 1910.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ultimately, that interest in early autos
led to the Flint wagon factory being the place where many of the first Buicks
and Chevrolets were built in this country.
Production of the last Flint wagons appears to have wrapped up by 1912. In the following decades, the only mentions
of Flint Wagons in old directories are those referring to replacement skeins. Those skeins could be purchased from Illinois
Iron & Bolt Company in Carpentersville, Illinois. The Flint brand is special because it’s a
visible and firm connection between two worlds – the Old West and some of the
earliest beginnings of General Motors – especially with the Buick and Chevrolet
brands. Finding a surviving Flint wagon
today is a rare treat. Owning one is even
more uncommon. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UALS47eE1oEKItG1yIfoyXsKYI_Sbc7FgKv5hIZNh833hqRqzu9devYK0_Stv2PiAOrXF_P0oF75bCJuVNJBdPXXn5IawmLuhREisxXc7xT_OzDQY2SCEQHe7XyAqbAhSrfrYYFGrlWV/s1600/Flint+logo+tight+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UALS47eE1oEKItG1yIfoyXsKYI_Sbc7FgKv5hIZNh833hqRqzu9devYK0_Stv2PiAOrXF_P0oF75bCJuVNJBdPXXn5IawmLuhREisxXc7xT_OzDQY2SCEQHe7XyAqbAhSrfrYYFGrlWV/s1600/Flint+logo+tight+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This logo is part of a well-preserved Flint survivor in a private collection.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><u>Fish
Bros. - Racine, Wisconsin or Clinton, Iowa.</u></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– You may be looking at this and saying, “I thought Fish Bros. was a large
wagon manufacturer in Racine, Wisconsin.”
If so, you’d be right. Ultimately,
there were two, highly publicized firms incorporating the ‘Fish Bros.’ name
within their company monikers. The Fish
Bros. Wagon Company in Racine was started in 1864 by Abner Fish and his
brother, Titus. The firm had actually
begun operations a year earlier under the name of Fish and Bull (only to have
Mr. Bull retire in 1864 and the Fish brothers take over the firm). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Within a few years of the startup, the company
began to struggle financially and engaged the support of J.I. Case. The financial hardships continued and, by 1883, Case was appointed receiver and took control of the factory. At that point, Titus Fish and E.B. Fish
struck out on their own, enlisting the help of the <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-end-of-olds-wagon-works.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Olds Wagon Works</span></a></b> in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to build a separate brand of Fish
Bros. wagons. By the mid-to-late 1880’s,
the brothers had gradually returned to the original factory which was now under
new ownership in Racine. However, the
harmony with the new proprietors didn't last and the Fish family and brothers
were back on their own by 1890. This was
the start of another new Fish Bros. firm. This time, the family reached out to a different brand, the
Labelle Wagon Company, to help build the wagons for the new venture. Even with the added business, by the mid-1890’s, the Labelle factory had
become insolvent and the brothers were in the midst of a move to Clinton, Iowa. There, they set up their own factory to build
‘Fish Bros. Wagons’ under the company name of Fish Bros. Manufacturing Company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the original factory in Racine continued
to thrive, the name similarities between the new Fish Bros. operation and those
in Racine were causing quite a stir. To
the folks in Racine, the use of the name was an unthinkable violation of
trademark laws. To the family members,
it was a clear and rightful use of a brand name that had always belonged to
them. Ultimately, it was a source of
constant irritation to both sides and a long line of lawsuits and legal
wrangling ensued as the Racine firm sought to squelch the family from using the
name. Even the Labelle Wagon Company had
been drawn into the fray and others similarly contemplating association with
the ‘new’ Fish wagons were threatened with legal action by the folks in Racine. Nonetheless, after years of infighting and
countless monies spent, the end result was that both firms were deemed to have
legal right to the name, ‘Fish Bros.,’ as well as the use of a fish in the
company logos and branding efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 1904, the Clinton, Iowa factory
claimed a capacity for 20,000 wagons annually. It's a sizeable number that seems to point to a healthy business. Even so, both the Iowa and the Wisconsin brands disappear from industry
directories by or before the early teens of the twentieth century. As a result, it's a safe bet that any original survivor of either
of these brands is over a century in age. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkNHGB2SnopL6fkW4dbCqHKybptbQ8bOzsEm2hdmTR8i1jVfSEnkQbab1eqtbtKJTJCI0yVkcAyMshaJf_sU7ZBGsz1ZQIXfb441rBKygWWmvKE_oTl7ErvdzX1O2HKVFKgDPwR20RtBI/s1600/Fish+Bros+-+Clinton+restoration+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkNHGB2SnopL6fkW4dbCqHKybptbQ8bOzsEm2hdmTR8i1jVfSEnkQbab1eqtbtKJTJCI0yVkcAyMshaJf_sU7ZBGsz1ZQIXfb441rBKygWWmvKE_oTl7ErvdzX1O2HKVFKgDPwR20RtBI/s1600/Fish+Bros+-+Clinton+restoration+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Years ago, we worked with <b><a href="http://www.hansenwheel.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Doug Hansen</span></a></b> and his team at Hansen
Wheel and Wagon Shop to restore a Fish Bros. wagon back to its former
glory. The wagon was originally built by
Fish Bros. Manufacturing Company in Clinton, Iowa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fort
Smith</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
– The Fort Smith Wagon Company was organized in 1903. By 1907, John Deere had begun purchasing
shares of the firm with a total buyout taking place a few years later. I’ve always been fascinated with the brand
for a number of reasons. While the
western legacy attached to the Fort Smith name is one draw, the company’s
association with John Deere along with the production of wagons for Native
Americans is another intriguing part of our nation’s early transportation history. Even though the brand is fairly well-known
(with sales extending into the 1940’s), original wagons with the Fort Smith label
are extremely tough to find today. In
all of my searching, I’ve only come across two survivors and both had been repainted. In my view, an unrestored, solid Fort Smith
wagon is an excellent – and extremely rare – piece to have in any
collection. You can read a little more
about the unique background of this brand in a <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2014/11/john-deere-fort-smith-wagon-company.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">brief bio</span></a></b> I wrote in one of our blogs from 2014. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGeXxtL2synbVTGyf8CGv8A-KtriE6jiSO8r7qQlTSLkcv7SlQJJxCzsTaJ2RiTsvTIlWwFHBH1KWvk-8agMHm676-X6D6QqoW8UU1-vnH5Y70twFYgsjK2sbS1qxqm2Zh_qtle23YsXm/s1600/1906+Ft.+Smith+letter+-+redux+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGeXxtL2synbVTGyf8CGv8A-KtriE6jiSO8r7qQlTSLkcv7SlQJJxCzsTaJ2RiTsvTIlWwFHBH1KWvk-8agMHm676-X6D6QqoW8UU1-vnH5Y70twFYgsjK2sbS1qxqm2Zh_qtle23YsXm/s1600/1906+Ft.+Smith+letter+-+redux+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even though the Fort Smith wagon brand
enjoyed strong sales and distribution for over forty years, surviving examples
of this brand are tough to find today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Labelle</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – With origins
dating to 1868, the Labelle Wagon Works of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin was once one
of the <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-top-wagon-makers-in-west.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">most recognized names</span></a></b> on the
western frontier. So prominent was the
firm in Old West that, within its first decade of production, it was already
being recognized alongside other firms who were decades older. In 1874, the company was purchased by
Benjamin F. Moore and A.G. Ruggles. At
that time, the name was changed from Farnsworth Bros., Knapp and Company to the
Labelle Wagon Works. By 1880, the brand
is purported to have been building around 5,000 wagons per year and, by 1887,
it was viewed as a highly profitable investment opportunity by a group from
Minneapolis. As a result, the brand was
sold and moved to Superior, Wisconsin in 1890.
In 1892, period records indicate that Labelle produced over 8,000 wagons
at its factory in Superior. It was an
impressive 17% increase over the previous year and the company was preparing
for annual production rates to rapidly approach 10,000. It should be noted that, during this same
time frame, Labelle was producing wagons for the family members who were
responsible for starting and running the original Fish Bros. Wagon Company –
Titus Fish, Edwin Fish, and Fred Fish who had separated from the Fish Bros.
factory in Racine, Wisconsin and had started their own company. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the last Labelle was likely built
in Superior around 1896, this was not the last time the brand would grace the
side of a high wheel wagon. For the
first decade of the twentieth century, the Labelle and New Labelle names were
built by the Fish Bros. Mfg. Company wagon firm (Fish family) which had finally
located itself in Clinton, Iowa. In a
way, it was likely a tribute to the brand while also an opportunity for the
Clinton, Iowa maker to capitalize on a quality, well-known name. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP_YpSdITaYtgjzdJig7wM1cQK54AvsPKbvtK25D42wa7zjgzeRTdk4VH_ziWnqYtBoO61hMn6fBDGnVBcOaEoN87Jbp9Enbf6CFEALkVJ3Xpe15T3gxttzR1H7hEvKSnjemjio4J81k_/s1600/1895_Fish+Bros_Labelle+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTP_YpSdITaYtgjzdJig7wM1cQK54AvsPKbvtK25D42wa7zjgzeRTdk4VH_ziWnqYtBoO61hMn6fBDGnVBcOaEoN87Jbp9Enbf6CFEALkVJ3Xpe15T3gxttzR1H7hEvKSnjemjio4J81k_/s1600/1895_Fish+Bros_Labelle+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A Labelle brand wagon from an 1895
advertisement.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Luedinghaus</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – In October of
2013, I wrote an <b><a href="http://www.farmcollector.com/equipment/st-louis-wagon-builders-zm0z13octzbea" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">article for Farm Collector</span></a></b> magazine that highlighted six period wagon makers from St. Louis,
Missouri. One of those was the legendary
firm of Luedinghaus Wagon Company. Founder,
Henry Luedinghaus’ earliest days in St. Louis are connected to another
well-known wagon brand - Gestring (pronounced as 'Guess - String'). During Gestring’s early years and, until just after the Civil War,
Luedinghaus was a partner with the brand’s namesake, Casper Gestring. By 1866, the partnership had dissolved with
each man’s separate shop still being within sight of the other. Luedinghaus continued to grow and by 1889
had merged with another legendary St. Louis maker – the Espenschied Wagon
Company. By the late 1890’s, reports in
industry trade publications indicate the brand continuing to grow with fifty
completed wagons being built each day. After
several attempts to compete in the automobile and trailer industry, the
Luedinghaus firm finally closed its doors in 1934. Henry Luedinghaus had died almost two decades
before on Christmas night of 1916. He
was 83. In all of my searches for early
wagons, I’ve only come across a handful of Luedinghaus wagons. They are among a number of legendary but elusive
brands. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aKTo2_JqIic1iuAqLgfk-e_4xhwXOpBnMvWqVO9FuuEBVmJoscgKpsWdpFNjq_sQgW0lxV_STDJsHGgOGGzOG5wXNMOr22kND452RWScfXaBfAn6JBPrD1aGU49u8Ec8Du5reuub8o9h/s1600/FR_1900+Luedinghaus+Freight+wagon+cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aKTo2_JqIic1iuAqLgfk-e_4xhwXOpBnMvWqVO9FuuEBVmJoscgKpsWdpFNjq_sQgW0lxV_STDJsHGgOGGzOG5wXNMOr22kND452RWScfXaBfAn6JBPrD1aGU49u8Ec8Du5reuub8o9h/s1600/FR_1900+Luedinghaus+Freight+wagon+cropped+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Luedinghaus-Espenschied brand was
still marketing large freight wagons at the turn of the twentieth century.</span></h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The six examples above are just a few of the tough-to-find brands worth adding to any collection. There are many others. Brands like Chattanooga from Chattanooga,
Tennessee, James & Graham from Memphis, Tennessee, and Racine-Sattley with
either Racine, Sattley, or both names combined on the side of the wagon are
among a host of medium to large-sized wagon firms with very few surviving
examples today. These, and many others,
are worthy of serious evaluation and, if you know of one, I’d enjoy hearing
from you. These rolling legacies can
easily possess the history, rarity, and the intrigue to be coveted by
enthusiasts everywhere. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-39538690658950945662017-07-05T04:30:00.000-05:002017-07-05T04:30:05.225-05:00America – Land of the Free. Home of the Brave.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qlnx8bWcHtR2rZaYwJNmJyNLDV8QZawrtZhn95E2REwyvXwplzgWnpKNXQuQXtEfmldB-gpUXd_bP6AauiOpTZ4gj5J19NEn24_ibmH4tht40lqDcIkOsbqy96c120mDvelm7nA77zkc/s1600/American+Flag+1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qlnx8bWcHtR2rZaYwJNmJyNLDV8QZawrtZhn95E2REwyvXwplzgWnpKNXQuQXtEfmldB-gpUXd_bP6AauiOpTZ4gj5J19NEn24_ibmH4tht40lqDcIkOsbqy96c120mDvelm7nA77zkc/s1600/American+Flag+1+-+sized+with+text+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
Happiness. As America’s founders put it
so well, these are inalienable rights granted to us by our Creator. Even so, every one of those individuals
signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776 knew what that proclamation
meant. It meant that they would no
longer be subject to absolute tyranny and a lack of voice in government. It meant that they would be personally targeted
for speaking the truth. It meant that
they would rely (as stated in the final sentence of the Declaration) on the
protection of God. It also meant that
they were willing to sacrifice everything they had for freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Independence we enjoy in this Great
Land is directly connected to the dreams of so many who have gone before us and
will come after us. Those Liberties are bigger
than a cause and crucial to every individual. They not only bind us together but are a priceless
inheritance granted at the highest cost.
They remain dear to this day. As
we celebrate the blessings of our nation, we remember those patriots who have
made America possible and those who continue to help us guard against
oppression. From sea to shining sea, the
Hope we share with the world is a reminder of what can happen when we look
beyond ourselves and join together to achieve something much bigger – One
nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wishing you and your family a wonderful
week! We’ll have more details related to
early wagons and western vehicles next week. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-20094656494264412872017-07-03T04:30:00.001-05:002017-07-03T04:30:29.765-05:00Gunsmoke on INSP in July!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
most of our readers know, the good folks at the </span><b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.insp.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">INSP television</span></a></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> network have been supporters of western television programming,
as well as our western vehicle blog, for some time. So, anytime I receive news from them that
relates to promotion of the Old West, I’m happy to pass it along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2016/10/" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">October 26, 2016 blog post</span></a></b>, I
shared some insights from an interview with Buck Taylor, famed actor (and
artist) from the legendary television series, <i>Gunsmoke</i>. As I’d mentioned back then, the series is a
deeply rooted part of my growing-up years.
So, when INSP told me they were planning a ‘Justice in July’ promotion
with a focus on <i>Gunsmoke</i>, I knew that others would also want to know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67irDe6zMSyq6o3tdJ7rs-ZBtrQ2a6tJUh2LG8lJCvhhArPmAfDkkaKjHEyzUWhy94THUe7C3YOLgveKfpLOujwhzr0jGQ8klRfXtxi_aNNiAfWPrqMEH0ZxvUkwOl6yOZAfMm-8tlYb9/s1600/Justice+in+July+on+INSP+-+sized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67irDe6zMSyq6o3tdJ7rs-ZBtrQ2a6tJUh2LG8lJCvhhArPmAfDkkaKjHEyzUWhy94THUe7C3YOLgveKfpLOujwhzr0jGQ8klRfXtxi_aNNiAfWPrqMEH0ZxvUkwOl6yOZAfMm-8tlYb9/s1600/Justice+in+July+on+INSP+-+sized.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According
to their sneak-peek info, during the month of July, INSP will be featuring a
marathon of Gunsmoke episodes and movies.
Focusing on the theme of justice throughout July, the shows will kick
off with the network premiere of <i>Gunsmoke: To the Last Man</i> on July 8th at 2pm
Eastern Time. The marathon will continue
throughout July with the following shows and times (all times listed are
Eastern)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: To the
Last Man</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 8th at 2pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Return to Dodge</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> on July 16th at
2pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: All
That</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 22nd at 10am ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: Long,
Long Trail</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 22nd at 11am ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: The
Squaw</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 22nd at 12pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke:
Chesterland</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 22nd at 1pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: Milly</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> on July 22nd at
4pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: Indian
Ford</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 22nd at 5pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: The
Long Ride</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 23rd at 2pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Gunsmoke: One
Man’s Justice</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
on July 23rd at 10pm ET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Consider
yourself duly informed with plenty of time to set your DVR or arrange your
schedule so you can walk the streets of Dodge City with all your friends. <i>Gunsmoke</i> is one western that I always have
time for. Have a great 4th of July week!
Those celebrations will be a good lead-in to the <i>Gunsmoke </i>marathon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060202069971447450.post-70784988824706324942017-06-28T04:30:00.000-05:002017-06-28T04:30:44.995-05:00Recognizing Originality in Early Wagons <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In last week’s blog, I featured a number
of visual highlights from <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2017/06/tom-betty-watts-antique-vehicle-sale.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Tom and Betty Watt’s antique vehicle</span></a></b> auction in Colorado.
It was a great experience to be surrounded by such a strong collection
and good folks from all parts of the country.
What I didn’t have time to mention last week were the numerous wagon questions
posed to me while at the sale. It’s a
scenario that’s always a welcome exchange.
I enjoy seeing strong interest in these wheels as well as the
opportunity to pass along early vehicle insights. In truth, the questions also have a way of
making me stronger in the subject. They
help keep me on task and more studied.
That said, if I don’t know something, I’ll say so. After all, even after intensely researching
this subject for the better part of a quarter century, there’s one thing I
definitely do know – I don’t know it all.
The subject is so large that there will always be more waiting to be
discovered and understood. That said, if
I’m stumped on a point, the curiosity factor tends to bug me until I’ve dug
deep enough to learn more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the most commonly-asked questions
I receive goes along the lines of, “How do you know what’s original on an old
wagon?” It’s a great inquiry that can be
answered quickly or with a much more detailed reply – depending on the level of
interest. Simply put, we recognize
originality by continually and meticulously studying originality. While that may sound like a frivolous play on
words, the reality is that it’s dead-on accurate. Consider this – how do U.S. Treasury
officials come to understand whether a piece of currency is counterfeit or the
genuine article? A significant part of
the answer is that the agents become so close to and familiar with the original
that anything less is immediately recognized as suspect. That’s the exact focus I’ve had for decades. It’s also the reason I’ve backed away from
some purchases for our collection. There
were just too many elements in the vehicle’s fit, finish, and features that
weren’t right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From the start, this subject has prodded
me to always want to know more. In fact,
it can still absorb the vast majority of my extracurricular time. It was the same story in those early days as
I concentrated on soaking up as much knowledge as possible. Simultaneously, the collecting efforts grew
with first one, then two, then dozens, then hundreds, and now literally thousands
of period artifacts. Along the way,
something began to happen. All those original
catalogs, flyers, ledgers, photos, and other promotional pieces were getting
stored in my recall. It became easier to
recognize more and more of the distinctive design features promoted by early
builders. The old makers were tutoring
me and the seeds of brand identification were taking root. As the historic images and literature began
to accumulate, I started noticing industry trends as well as the implementation
of patents and the evolutionary changes in brands. Likewise, these revelations were pointing to who
did what and when – all of it being vital to the process of determining timeframes
of manufacture and additional provenance.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that every wooden wagon and
western vehicle is unique. Even if two vehicles
of the same brand are side by side, there will be differences. Some of those variations will be reflected in
different ages and use patterns while others may be indicative of a regional
style of vehicle, a different set of features and accessories, or some other attribute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most of these points will be of minimal
importance if all someone is only looking for is a good, solid set of wheels
for driving or, perhaps, a static display.
That said, if you’re looking for something that has the best chance of truly
standing out in a crowd and growing in value over the years, you will have to
consider the subject of originality. The
best way to learn is to dive in. Ask
questions. Be discerning. Be thorough.
Be patient and learn to recognize what distinguishes the scarcest pieces
– those high quality, brand-central survivors that seldom come along. A word of caution... this is not a subject
that can be mastered overnight. So,
settle in and start the learning process.
Dissect every piece you see, observing differences and noting anything
that appears to be a modern addition. At
the end of the day, it’s hard for buyer’s remorse to creep into our thoughts if
we’ve done our homework, avoid getting in a hurry, and understand exactly what
we want to acquire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As for me, when I look at these old
transports in an auction or private setting, I automatically go into evaluation
mode; looking for anything that doesn’t measure up. It might be a missing part, amalgamation of
parts, contemporary adaptation, veiled weakness, or some other flaw. Finding rolling works of art with the fewest imperfections
and strongest documented provenance is a priority in my quest. Oh, and by the way, you’ll never find a
totally perfect piece. Most of these
vehicles are either near or over a century in age. Things happen over the decades that make it
hard to remain pristine. Every time I
look in the mirror at my thinning head of hair, I recognize that truth. Reinforcing that point... one of the prized
pieces in our collection is a nineteenth century <b><a href="http://wheelsthatwonthewest.blogspot.com/2013/11/aa-cooper-another-rare-survivor.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Cooper brand wagon</span></a></b>. It’s far
from being perfect, has a lot of wear issues, and even a few sad-looking felloes. All in all, though, those details are pretty
common among many survivors. What’s
attractive to me is not only the legendary brand but the age of the piece and
the design features shown. This Cooper
is a significant find from a time when the West was still wild. As such, it’s a scarce set of wheels to find
in any condition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While most folks will tend to look at a
vehicle as a whole and ignore the individual parts, my tendency is to go for
the jugular. In other words, I’ve
learned to hone in on specific details as well as any inconsistent elements. Here’s a couple points of reference – do all
of the bolster standards match? What
about the end gates? Are they all there
and matching? How about the front and
rear portions of the running gear? Are
they consistent with the brand?
Sometimes a sizeable number of different sections from different
vehicles wind up together, creating a jumbled hodgepodge of parts. Evaluation tips like these and many more are
among the details I’m happy to help with.
On other points, I’m less transparent with what becomes public
knowledge. Why? Well, over the years, I’ve seen a number of
attempts to place perception ahead of reality.
In fact, as many of these old wheels have become even more scarce (and
valuable), the temptation to misrepresent something is hard for some
unscrupulous souls to resist. How do I
know this? Believe it or not, some of
them have been bold enough to tell me they’re confident that they can put one
over on anyone. For some, this game of
cat and mouse is just that – a game. For
me, it’s as serious as any effort dedicated to preserving the integrity of
authentic history while maintaining trustworthy investments. Fortunately, most people are honest but, it’s
a reminder of the importance of working with quality, well-established
folks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes it can be difficult to confirm
originality without sufficient primary source materials or extensive experience. Again, it’s why we’ve assembled so much
background on these vintage vehicles. Even so, there are some important general guidelines
that can help all of us avoid purchase pitfalls when reviewing a set of wheels... <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Non-Supported
Word-of-Mouth Provenance</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Like many readers of this blog, I
regularly hear stories about how a particular vehicle was used by such and such
person or traveled West during a certain time frame. While the statements might be true, in order
for it to have pertinence to collectors, there must be primary source
documentation such as a photo, news article, signed affidavit from the period, or
some other document bringing clear corroboration and certification to a
statement. This sort of recorded
verification is valuable as it helps highlight the distinctive personality and
story behind a set of wheels. To that
point, I once told a collector that I possessed the full ownership records of a
wagon in his collection. I had once
owned the piece and would have been happy to have given him that
information. Regrettably, he had no
interest in where the wagon had been, how it had been used, how much it had
sold for at different times in its life, who had owned it, and their associated
contact information. It’s like saying
I’m not interested in the personality that separates this vehicle from
another. Truthfully, that kind of detail
is hard to come by and important to have – if you can get it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Non-Supported
Statements of Absolutes</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – We have to be very careful when using
words like ‘always’ and ‘never’ to describe what a particular maker did or
didn’t do. When a statement can’t be
objectively supported, it can create confusion.
I once heard someone say that the well-known Peter Schuttler farm wagon
design was never changed throughout its history. It’s not a true statement. There were a number of changes and it’s one
more reason to explore every era of a maker’s history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brand Identification
Based on Minimal Points of Reference</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – We live in a society that
tends to want everything quick. We don’t
want to wait for anything. When it comes
to early vehicle identification, the desire for hasty results is an impetuous
temptation that can easily land you in a pool of regret. Nonetheless, as a researcher, historian, and
consultant, I regularly run into folks wanting me to identify a piece based on
one or two features. It’s not something
I do because there are too many opportunities to jump to conclusions with an
inaccurate assessment. The individual
parts and the resulting sum of the whole will always be the most accurate way
to conclusively identify a maker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Unsupportable
Timeframes of Manufacture</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Over the years, I’ve heard countless
claims related to dates; an 1870 this, 1880 that, or even a pre-Civil War
creation claim. One of the more
prevalent manufacturing date assertions I’ve heard is that of a purportedly 1880’s-era
John Deere wagon. Before getting into
the details of why this type of statement is suspect, I have often asked folks
how such a date was determined. In every
instance, the date was a ‘best guess’ with no objective use of primary sources in
the conclusion. Many times, these
suppositions are innocently made. Nonetheless,
they are far from the truth. As for John
Deere-branded wagons (including John Deere Triumph), they were not marketed
until after the purchase of the Moline Wagon Company in 1910. These types of claims can often be debunked
with just a little research to determine when a company started building
wagons. For the record, there were a
number of wagon companies with ‘establishment dates’ that do not coincide with
the time when their first wagons were built.
Birdsell is a good example. The
company traced its beginnings to 1855 but they didn’t build their first farm
wagon until 1887.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mixed elements
within a running gear or box</span></u></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> – Not long ago, I was reviewing some
wagons in a museum. One, in particular,
caught my eye. Not because it was an
outstanding survivor but, rather, because it was a poor reflection of what it
was set up to represent. It was supposed
to be an early emigrant wagon. Instead,
it was a mixture of multiple wagon brands woven into a wide array of modern (non-period)
adaptations. My heart sank as these are
the places where genuine history is supposed to be of foremost concern. It’s our opportunity to reach the masses with
reality. After all, we owe it to
ourselves and future generations to do our best to get the story right. If not, what’s the reason for our
efforts? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If I could only emphasize one point in this week’s blog, I’d try to relay how important it is to really get
to know a piece before you buy it. Not
only is it good business sense but it can add lasting appreciation for you as
well as subsequent owners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">America’s first transportation industry and
the vehicles built during that time are not only the historical backbone of
this country’s amazing growth but they also represent tremendous personal
struggle, achievement, freedom, and opportunity. The old master craftsmen were inextricably
connected to immigration into this land as well as exportation into
others. Likewise, the subject highlights
the study of math, science, geography, forestry, construction, manufacturing
efficiencies, free enterprise, marketing, mining, the military, and well, just
about any part of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries you can imagine. Talk about a subject with near endless
stories! And they’re all wrapped up in a
frame of wood, metal, and paint – just waiting for you to take a closer
look. The American story and the West,
in particular, are about as original as you can get. If originality is not among your priorities
when collecting, it will be tough to experience the most that these investments
can provide. So, build your knowledge
base, get help when you need it, and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing exactly
what surrounds you. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 9pt;">Please Note</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">: As with each of our blog writings, all imagery and text is copyrighted with All Rights Reserved. The material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written permission from David E. Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLC</span></span></div>
David Sneed, Wheels That Won The West® Archives, LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17600726475161381157noreply@blogger.com