From time to time, I’m asked, “Who were
the leading wagon makers back-in-the-day?”
It’s a great question but like so many other queries, there are some
caveats. The answer depends a lot on
what timeframe you’re looking at. Wagon
companies, like countless establishments today, could experience significant
fluctuations in business, both positive and negative. While many benefited from steady growth,
challenges to progress could easily be inflicted by sagging national or regional
economies, a lack of capital to keep the brand competitive, lawsuits,
poor management, workforce issues, raw material shortages, or weak distribution
channels. Even natural disasters such as
fires, storms, and floods often created huge setbacks for firms. As a result, some of the premier brands could
occasionally be seen rotating in and out of market dominance.
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This extremely rare promotional brochure was distributed during the 1880’s. It goes to great lengths to describe the superior features of the ‘Whitewater’ wagon made by the Winchester & Partridge Mfg. Co. |
With those thoughts in mind, not long
ago, I was fortunate to uncover a number of rare insights into the vehicle
makers producing the most western wagons in the late 1870’s. The primary source account highlights nearly two
dozen of the top farm wagon companies in the West. It’s such a scarce find that it’s possible
this blog post marks the first time the details have been shared with any modern
day audience. The piece appeared in the
June 1, 1879 issue of “The Hub,” a well-known and highly-respected voice for the early wagon
and carriage industry. While
the story was primarily focused on producers of farm wagons, it’s interesting
to note that most of these firms also built freight wagons. I’ve reproduced the text from the article
below. Please note, for greater
separation and clarity, I placed hyphens between the individual makers…
“The Farm Wagons Built In The West annually
aggregate upwards of 125,000. The
leading houses which make a specialty of wagons for farm purposes are the
following: Mitchell, Lewis & Co. –
Fish Bros. – and the Racine Carriage & Wagon Co., in Racine, Wis. – Edward
Bain, Kenosha, Wis. – LaBelle Wagon Works (B.F. Moore) Fon du Lac, Wis. – The
Winchester & Partridge Mfg. Co., Whitewater, Wis. – The Northwestern
Furniture Co., Fort Atkinson, Wis., who have recently extended their business
and added farm wagon work to their previous specialty of furniture. – Studebaker Bros. Mfg. Co. and A. Coquillard,
South Bend, Ind. – Milburn Wagon Co., Toledo, O. – Robinson Wagon Co.,
Cincinnati, O. – Austin, Tomlinson & Webster Mfg. Co., who have two
factories; one at Jackson, Mich., where they employ convict labor and build
about twenty wagons a day; and the second at Moundsville, W. Va., with a
product of about ten a day. – S.G. Krick, farm wagons as well as carriages,
Niles, Mich. – Wm. Harrison, Grand Rapids, Mich. – Burrell Bros., wagons and
carriages, Kalamazoo, Mich. – Newton & Co., Batavia, Ill. – Moline Wagon
Co., Moline, Ill. – Peter Schuttler, Chicago, Ill. – A.A. Cooper, Dubuque,
Iowa. – Star Wagon Co., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. – Kansas Mfg. Co., Leavenworth,
Kas. Judging by the reports of the proprietors
of the twenty-two factories named above, the product of these alone, during the
year 1878 was 104,000 farm wagons. This
fact gives a slight glimpse of the magnitude of the great West, and of its
wonderful growth both in agriculture and manufacturing.”
Of course, the information in the article
is only a snapshot of this particular time in the late 1870’s. Nonetheless, it does provide us with better
awareness of production numbers and wagon makers considered to be prominent on
the plains and frontier during the era.
Clearly, there are some builders given high accolades today that are not
included in this listing. It’s quite
likely that, in most cases, the firm had either (a) already peaked and was in
decline, (b) was in a momentary production lull, or (c) had yet to achieve its
legendary status.
As home to so much western vehicle
history, we’re pleased to share that the Wheels That Won The West® Archives
contain period literature and imagery of virtually all of the builders listed
in this article. While a few of the
aforementioned brands are largely unknown to enthusiasts today, they were
popular brands and active leaders during some of the most historic and momentous days in the
American West. We'll share a bit more on several of the lesser known legends in the coming months.
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