“If you’re not moving forward, you’re
moving backward.” We’ve likely all heard
a variation of that quote from time to time.
Truth is, when it comes to collecting vintage vehicles, the statement is
good food for thought. Not long ago, I
interviewed a man who had been collecting early wagons and farm antiques for a
half century. No matter how you slice
it, that’s a long time. He had seen a
lot in those decades but freely admitted he was still learning and
growing. That kind of no-nonsense
attitude and straight-forward commitment can help anyone to be a better
collector. Ultimately, by always
striving to grow – no matter how much experience and knowledge we possess – the results can put us in perfect position to find things others unknowingly pass over.
With those thoughts as a backdrop, I
thought I’d pass along seven areas that can help us be more effective in
collecting early vehicles.
1)
Organizations
Joining
like-minded organizations like the American Chuck Wagon Association, Carriage Association of America, National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association, Santa Fe Trail Association, and Oregon-California Trails Association can provide us with more than just interesting
events. Networking with people in organizations
with complementary interests has a way of opening doors and growing our
knowledge base in ways that ‘going it alone’ could never do. If you’re not a member of one of these or a
similar group, I’d encourage you to take a closer look at what you’re missing.
2)
Travel
I’m often asked,
“Where do you find the better pieces?”
The answer is simple. You have to
always be looking. Rarely do the special
vehicles we’re interested in just happen to show up on our doorstep. That, coupled with the fact that many vehicle
styles are more prevalent in certain areas, means we usually have to actively
search, and search, and search, and search before something comes up that will
truly turn heads. So, hit the road and
keep your eyes open. You never know what
you may run across during an otherwise random road trip.
3)
Visit Museums/Collections
Some of the best
places to see a good cross section of early vehicles are in museums and private
collections. Unrestored examples of
period pieces can be especially valuable learning resources. Spend a little time researching where
collections are located and make it a point to visit as many as you can over
time. The efforts can be extremely
rewarding as many of the collections can hold vehicles you may not be aware of
(and may not be on a website). To that
point, I’ve been collecting and researching for over two decades and
continually run across extremely rare pieces in some of America’s most obscure
public collections.
4)
Attend Events
Whether it’s a
symposium of speakers, an auction with period vehicles for sale, chuck wagon
competition, or a gathering of vehicle enthusiasts, there are a variety of
occasions that offer first-hand looks at rare vehicles. Oftentimes, even small nuggets of information
gathered in these venues can pay off when you’re considering the collectability
of an early set of wheels.
5)
Read
While the
subject is too large to be contained in any one compilation, there are a number
of books with valuable details on horse drawn wagons. I’ve outlined a number of them from time to
time and even shared some in my February 26, 2014 blog.
6)
Pay Attention
One of the best
pieces of advice I could give anyone interested in period wagons and western
vehicles is to pay close attention to every element in the vehicle. Truly original pieces do still exist and
offer a great education for anyone willing to learn. That said, there are an even greater number
of vehicles that have suffered at the hands of even the best-intentioned. Time and attention to detail have a way of
making it easy to spot the best pieces.
7)
Don’t be afraid
to ask questions
There really is
no such thing as a ‘dumb question.’ No
matter the subject, we all start out knowing nothing. Reliable research, experience, and careful
cataloging of the results has a way of slowly building a knowledge base that
will enhance any collection. After all,
to be an effective collector of vehicles, it’s imperative to know what you’re
looking at. Invariably, that kind of
background has a way of producing solid results.
By their very nature, early vehicle enthusiasts are
always looking for elements to set their collection apart. Consistent focus on the points above can have
a positive impact on virtually any search for specific pieces. Remember... Don’t be afraid to ask questions and work to
understand the technologies involved in a set of wheels. Lastly, I'll leave you with five words that can help
each of us better understand America's rarest wooden wheels. Those words are – “I’ve never seen that
before.” What I mean is that only by recognizing elements we're
unfamiliar with can we continually grow our understanding and appreciation of these vehicles.
Please Note: 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.
Please Note: 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.
