South Bend Business Wagons by Studebaker

I enjoy digging through period accounts of the early wagon industry.  In the dusty and all-but-forgotten pages of so many early publications there is a wealth of material covering the how, when, where, why, and who of the trade.  It’s a great resource for adding to our modern day knowledge and helps to bridge the gap when trying to put the pieces of history together.

Among the Studebaker catalogs in the Wheels That Won The West® Archives is this inaugural book for the ‘South Bend’ vehicle brand.

So, as we prepare to welcome in a New Year, I thought I’d pass along a piece I ran across in the October 1908 issue of “The Hub.”  It’s a short blurb of editorial originally submitted to promote a new line of modestly-priced business wagons from Studebaker.  Details from the article not only share a window into yesterday but, have a way of adding to our understanding of brand history as well as specific vehicle provenance.  In this case, the story helps us fix a beginning to Studebaker’s South Bend brand.  Based on the details here, it’s clear that the earliest date of manufacture for any surviving ‘South Bend’ business wagon will be 1908.  (As a quick note... this is not the “South Bend” brand of farm wagon as those were manufactured by a different firm)

With that as a bit of backdrop, here’s the text from the 1908 article...

Within the last few weeks Studebaker Bros. Mfg. Co., South Bend, Ind., has completed an entirely new line of business wagons, embracing some sixty-five different styles. 

For many years, this company has been building delivery wagons of the very highest grade, but realizing that there is a growing demand for a medium grade of delivery wagons, selling at a popular price, they decided to put a line of this kind of vehicles on the market under the name of the “South Bend Line.”  The styles are all up-to-date and the wagons are substantial and most attractive in appearance.  Many of the wagons are built with knock-down tops so as to enable them to crate very close, thereby effecting a large saving in the freight charges; in fact, most of these jobs will crate under thirty inches.  The styles are all new and original and very pleasing in their details, and the Studebaker company has already booked a great many orders for this line, which embodies wagons suitable to nearly every kind of business.

The gears range from 1 1-16 in. to 1 3-8 in. inclusive.  All jobs are equipped with Concord axles and double stay braces, with either three or full elliptic springs, with low front wheels to turn under body or high wheels and short turn fifth wheel.  Bodies are 42 in. and 45 in. wide, 7 ft. 6 in. long, thus making a very roomy body; with or without wings, and with duck or panel top.  The wheel house wagons are among the most attractive in the line.  Some very tasty wheel house designs are shown, especially for the laundry and department store trade.  The accompanying plate, from their catalog, is one of the lightest wood panel top wagons on the market, weighing only 450 lbs., and especially suitable for small horse or pony.

In designing this line, the needs of grocers, butchers, dairymen, bakers, furniture dealers, and all those who have use for a light top or open delivery wagon at a medium price, have been carefully studied, and the line will undoubtedly meet with the approval of those in need of delivery vehicles.

The new catalog for the “South Bend Line” will soon be ready for delivery and will be gladly mailed to anyone interested.

Weighing just 450 pounds, Studebaker claimed that this particular 'South Bend' vehicle design was “the lightest wood panel top delivery wagon on the market.”

I hope you enjoyed this final blog for 2015.  It’s one more element of this brand’s history that can be shared with confidence and, hopefully, it's of benefit to someone seeking more information on a surviving business wagon. 

Ultimately, these details are just a small part of the history we’ve been able to uncover and collect this year.  We have a number of speaking engagements coming up and look forward to sharing even more of our findings.  In the meantime, we wish each of you safe, prosperous, and Happy New Year!

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.

Merry Christmas

During this special season of celebration, we wish you, your family, and friends a wonderful time together.  May God Bless You. 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours,

David




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.

Moving Antique Wagons In Tight Quarters

If you own an old wagon, at some point, you’ll likely want to move it.  Maybe you’re just rolling it across the floor a few feet or possibly hauling it completely across the county.  Whatever the plan, the process should be done with plenty of forethought and care.  After all, the downside of getting in a hurry has the potential of creating a less-than-positive experience.  Over the years, I’ve actually come across folks as they were gathering the shattered pieces of a family treasure scattered along the highway.  Stories like that, with pieces coming loose on an open trailer, are the kind no one wants to encounter.    

I’ll share some details about methods of and preparations for long-distance hauling in a later blog.  Today, though, we’ll cover something that hits even closer to home – moving a wagon within an enclosed space like a shop or garage.  In and of itself, the moving activities aren’t something that would typically warrant many comments – even for a short blog.  That said, it can be easy to overlook obstacles within tight quarters and it’s not always possible to undo a mistake.  Ultimately, no matter how far you’re moving a piece of history, you’ll want to do all you can to protect it.      

If some of this sounds a bit over the top, let me share some negative things that can happen – even if an old wagon is only being rolled a few feet...

• Loose tires falling off
• Spokes being manhandled and pulling loose from felloes or hubs
• Other weakened wooden elements loosening and becoming less stable
• Severely worn rub irons getting hit by sudden turns of a wheel with the possibility of them breaking in half
• The wagon hitting and damaging something while marring itself or another vehicle.

Truly, there are countless unforeseen problems we can run into when moving an older vehicle inside a structure.  Vigilance is always important in the process and, no matter how limited the space, never drag or skid a wagon sideways against the floor surface.  Those actions can severely weaken and heavily damage the wheels and other parts.  So, what’s the best way to move a heavy, antique wagon in a crowded environment?  The first thing to remember is that the more the vehicle is handled, the more opportunity there is for something to be damaged. 

As long as the floor is of a relatively smooth and solid type – concrete, wood, tile, tightly woven carpet, or even asphalt – one of the best ways is to use individual car wheel dollies.  There are multiple types of dollies and each has its benefits.  One of the least expensive is a fixed position dolly.  The downside to this one is that it requires a jack to be placed under the wagon axle so the dolly can be placed under each of the wheels.  I’ve used these and like them but have never been comfortable with jacking up the wagon.  It leaves too much opportunity for the jack to fall and parts of the wagon to be damaged. 

Fixed position (non-jacking) dollies are inexpensive but require a separate jack to be placed under the wagon axles.

My favorite types of dollies are those with built-in hydraulic jacks.  These smooth-rolling tools sit on four caster wheels, permitting 360 degrees of movement.  The handy devices are U-shaped to slip in around the base of the wheel and allow you to jack them up without the instability sometimes encountered from using taller, stand-alone jacks.  With carrying capacities up to 1250 to 1500 pounds each, the only downside I’ve found is they can be a little pricey.  A set of four can run from $350-400 or more – depending on the size.  The base set I use was designed for cars with tires up to 32 inches in diameter.  Translated into wagon wheel sizes, this particular dolly works well for wagon wheel heights measuring up to 45 inches.  That said, I have done some angling and finagling that allowed the same dolly to work on narrow-tired, 52 inch wheels.  A better size for these higher 52 inch wheels would be jacking dollies made for car tire diameters up to 36 inches.  Of course, they’re a bit more expensive.

The other benefit of these types of dollies comes into play with vehicles that are stationary for long periods of time.  Whether in a museum setting or private collection, wheels should be rotated on a regular basis to relieve and even out stresses.  The self-jacking dollies I use actually allow the wheel to be spun fairly easily while it’s raised, making it a simple task to rotate wheels without moving the wagon.  They’re relatively easy to find on the internet and in certain automotive outlets.  Amazon, Harbor Freight, National Tool, and others carry both the self-jacking dollies as well as the fixed position designs.

Car dollies with built-in jacks allow 360 degree movement.  Their use can make moving wagons on solid surfaces quick and easy.

At the end of the day, these types of car wheel dollies can make a challenging job of wagon moving quite easy, in spite of tight quarters.  The cost, ultimately, is a small price to pay for something you likely have a lot more invested in... And, for the hard-to-buy-for collector, this just might be the unique Christmas or birthday gift you’ve been looking for!

By the way, if you haven’t signed up to receive this weekly blog via e-mail, just type your address in the "Follow By E-mail" section above.  You'll receive a confirmation e-mail that you'll need to verify before you're officially on board.  Once that's done, you'll receive an email every time we update the blog.  Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can be of assistance.  We appreciate your continued feedback and look forward to sharing even more wooden vehicle info in the coming weeks. 

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.

Nissen Wagons

With a history spanning more than 150 years, the Nissen wagon brand (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was built by one of the longest-surviving wooden wagon companies in America.  The firm made wagons with both straight and curved beds.  Those curved or arched configurations have caused some to misidentify the vehicle as a Conestoga.  The unique designs are more accurately referred to as “Crooked bed wagons,” “tobacco wagons,” or “southern schooners.”  Even though many of the Nissen wagons share similar traits with a Conestoga, they are much smaller and lighter than those legendary heavy freighters so often used on America’s National Road. 

Behind the original Peter Schuttler and Bain wooden signs shown here is a rare, eleven bow Nissen wagon box.  Dating to the 1890’s, its size makes it among the largest examples of Nissen survivors.

Not long ago, I came across some additional history of the Nissen Wagon Works and thought I’d pass some of that along here.  Published in 1913, these primary source details give us even greater insight into a firm with origins almost as old as the American Revolution...

Throughout the Carolinas and Virginia, as well as in other parts of the country, the “Nissen” wagon has carried the name and fame of Winston-Salem as a manufacturing center, and probably no other product of the Twin City is better and more favorably known, certainly none has been known for so long a time.

The first “Nissen” wagon was made in Salem more than one hundred and twenty-five years ago by Tyco Nissen, a native of Denmark and one of the original colony of Moravians that settled that part of the State.  His descendants have nearly all been wagon builders (it seems to run in the family), and the immense plant that has grown through the years is now owned by William M. Nissen, proprietor of the George E. Nissen Co. 

From the time of the building of the first wagon in 1787 is a far cry, and the growth of the industry, backed always by intelligence, industry and fair dealing, has shown more plainly than any written word could do, how people appreciate a really good article.

It was not until 1834, when J.P. Nissen who died in 1874, took hold of the business, that its real growth began, and he is looked upon as the real founder of the enterprise.

The plant now covers about 15 acres, on which have been erected nearly half a hundred buildings and sheds, used for various purposes, but about 50 acres of the surrounding property is owned by the concern, for this is a growing industry, and preparations for future expansion have been made. The capacity of the plant is 8,000 wagons a year, and approximately 200 people are employed, not including the men engaged in selling this standard wagon.

It is only natural that in more than a century the construction would draw near to perfection.  Each generation of the family has contributed a share in one way or another, and every feature that in any way would better the wagon is adopted...  Some idea of its vast increase in the output may be gained by remembering the fact that on December 31, 1912, just one hundred and twenty-five years after the first Nissen wagon was built, a train consisting of eleven solid carload lots, consisting of 314 complete wagons, representing a cash value of $15,000, pulled out of Winston-Salem.  If the wagons in this one shipment were stood end to end, it would have made a solid string almost one and one-quarter miles in length.

These wagons had been produced, one every eighteen minutes of a working day, at the Nissen works.  Some further idea of the growth of the enterprise may be gathered when it is mentioned that in the pioneer days a complete wagon a day, working from sun up to sun down, was considered a great achievement, and the talk of the surrounding country.

Upon the retirement from active business of William E. Nissen, some three years ago, William M. Nissen became proprietor and general manager, and under his able and energetic leadership the enterprise continues to flourish and prosper, the product always being kept up to the high standard that has made the “Nissen” wagon so long famous.  Mr. Nissen was born in the neighborhood and has all his life been identified with the business-life of Winston-Salem.

Today, the rich history and long legacy of Nissen wagons continue to reinforce the brand’s popularity with collectors and enthusiasts.  It’s an age-old story retold every time an old home place is rediscovered, a barn door opened, and someone spots an all-but-forgotten part of America’s past.  Covered in hay, clutter, and generations of dust, these increasingly rare finds still have a way of capturing one’s imagination and appreciation for a well-crafted set of wheels – just the way it was more than a century ago.

By the way, if you haven’t signed up to receive this weekly blog via e-mail, just type your address in the "Follow By E-mail" section above.  You'll receive a confirmation e-mail that you'll need to verify before you're officially on board.  Once that's done, you'll receive an email every time we update the blog.  Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can be of assistance.  We appreciate your continued feedback and look forward to sharing even more wooden vehicle info in the coming weeks. 

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.

Authenticity In Early Western Vehicles

Earlier this year, I addressed the term “all-original” as it’s sometimes applied to early wagons and western vehicles.  This week, we’ll cover a term that’s strongly connected to originality but is not always the same.  ‘Authenticity’ levels within a period vehicle are always important considerations.  After all, the more authentic a piece is, the more it properly reflects a specific region of use, era, purpose, and brand.   

Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘authentic’ as something “made or done the same way as an original.”  As a result, for a wagon and its parts to be authentic, the integrity of the design must match proper period construction.  For example, if I have a predominantly original wagon built in 1890 but the spring seat is actually one that is a modern re-creation, made to the exact specifications of what would have been fabricated by the maker in 1890, it is authentic and true to the brand. 

By using original plans and measurements as well as period-appropriate materials, the folks at Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop have consistently reinforced the powerful legacy of the Concord stage coach.

Authenticating a wooden vehicle and its parts requires that multiple areas such as timeframe of manufacture, brand, construction style, technology, condition, and period adaptations be evaluated for consistency with original construction.  Let’s take a look at some of those points...

• Timeframe of manufacture – Horse-drawn vehicle makers often changed design standards and paint configurations over time.  As a result, it’s sometimes easy to spot mismatched pieces that are neither original nor authentic to a particular time period.  As an example... I once knew of someone wanting to incorporate the Winona Indian maiden logo within some restoration work being done on their vehicle.  The timeframe of the maiden was not a match to the era of manufacture for the vehicle.  So, even though both the wagon and the logo represented the same brand, in that particular case, the re-painted logo would not have been an authentic tie to the original build date of the vehicle.

• Brands – With tens of thousands of wooden wagon brands produced in the U.S. (and many Canadian brands also seen in the U.S. today), significant efforts are sometimes required to identify and authenticate a wagon in its entirety.  Virtually every brand had telltale design features that can help confirm whether a part is original or an authentic re-creation mirroring proper designs/styles.

This logo artwork showcasing the Weber brand is a decalcomine transfer originally applied by the maker in the early 20th century.

• Technology – To some, an old wagon is just an old wagon; meaning that there can be an assumption that these pieces are too similar to determine differences.  The reality is that every technology and design feature on period wagons had a beginning.  As a result, we’re often able to quickly determine an earliest time of manufacture for a particular vehicle.  Regrettably, few professional film makers have realized this and, as of this writing, I’m still waiting for the first, major western movie to consistently use authentic, period-correct wagons.

• Condition – Sometimes modern repairs or the addition of authentic parts can cause newer elements of a vehicle to appear mismatched with original portions of the structure.  By appropriately aging replaced and restored parts, the visual integrity of the piece can be reinforced without compromising the correct look and feel of the vehicle.  Wear marks, stains, and stress spots are all part of the proper historic appearance of a piece.  With that said, I’ll issue at least one disclaimer – Poor application of parts and/or treatments can actually hurt a vehicle’s historic integrity, resale value, and visual appeal.

• Period adaptations – Sometimes an original end-user made adaptations to a wagon or western vehicle to suit a particular need or preference.  One example could involve the addition of a rein tie to the upper end gate of a wagon.  While rein ties could be ordered as part of a wagon, many did not have them.  As a result, some farmers, ranchers, and pioneers added their own.  Even though it may not have been an original part of certain wagons, its presence can still be an authentic and original representation of how the vehicle was used during a particular timeframe.

Ultimately, for vehicle collectors and enthusiasts, both originality and authenticity are important considerations.  Each has its place in an evaluation process and each is beneficial to the visual integrity of an antique set of wheels. 



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.