Seldom does a week go by that I
don’t receive a number of questions related to early wagons. It’s a
subject of constant curiosity and fascinating connections to America’s movement
west. This week, we’ll provide the next dozen answers from the original list of questions we
shared on April 12th. If you have a particular question
related to an early wagon brand or the industry as a whole, drop us an
email. We’d enjoy hearing from you...
13) Nineteenth century military forces were sometimes
accompanied by ‘Balloon wagons.’
Very true. The term, ‘Balloon
wagon,’ refers to a four-wheeled escort-style wagon (some with undercut wheels)
equipped to carry the necessary fittings and gear, including thousands of feet
of wire rope, necessary for military balloon operations. Also accompanying
the balloon wagons were Cylinder wagons holding the gases for the
balloons. As early as America’s Civil War and for more than a half
century afterward, tethered balloons were raised with personnel on board to
help provide aerial reconnaissance of the enemy and surrounding terrain.
From design to operation, it’s a subject that warrants greater attention than
what we have time for in this brief blog.
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This rare, original photo shows four different types of military transportation used during WW1 – balloon, airplane, wagon, and automobile. The image is part of our collection highlighting early military transportation. |
14) The Springfield wagon company only used one style of seat -
a lazy back.
While many are familiar with the
‘taller’ lazy back seat (with backrest) that is fairly common on a Springfield
wagon, the firm actually made several different styles without a raised
backrest.
15) To keep a skein from having too much longitudinal wear,
there should never be any slack when the wheel is rocked side to
side.
This one is false as the wheel is
supposed to move roughly a quarter inch on the longitudinal axis of the
skein. It’s a design feature that helps distribute the axle grease.
I wrote a blog back in September of 2013 that included period documentation
highlighting the fact that some longitudinal movement isn’t just normal – it’s
necessary. Click Here to see that research.
16) Tongue supports or springs (for wagons) were in use as early
as the 1850’s.
Absolutely true. Our files
include multiple patents for tongue springs and various other methods of
supporting a wagon tongue. The earliest patent for a tongue spring that
we’re aware of dates to 1857. The purpose for a tongue spring was to take
the pressure and weight of the wagon tongue off of the draft animals while
still allowing hinged movement of the drop tongue.
17) While a wagon is being drawn forward, the pressure on the
reach pin makes it impossible for it to work itself out of the reach plate and
coupling pole.
Anyone who’s ever driven much or
looked closely at a reach pin knows this to be a false statement. Most
reach pins have a slot for a cotter-type key, nail, wire, or some other
‘keeper’ in the hole on one end. The reason? As a wagon travels,
rough terrain and jarring motions of the vehicle can easily dislodge an
unsecured pin. The results can be unsavory to say the least. Some
wagon builders, like the Stoughton Wagon Company, even used a reach pin that
screwed in, making it especially tough to loosen up and fall out.
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Many Stoughton brand wagons utilized a reach plate with a threaded pin and tension plate. The design was originally created by T.G. Mandt. |
18) The running gears of Bain brand wagons were always painted
orange.
Orange was the predominant color of
most Bain wagon running gears. That said, yellow was also used in a
number of instances. In fact, in November of 2014, we highlighted a
very nice Bain rack bed wagon located in the Angels
Camp Museum in California. We share these types of
small details to help increase awareness and limit erroneous stereotypes that
can often be applied to these early wheels.
19) Wagons with Bois d’arc (Osage Orange) wheels were not
desirable on the plains.
This statement is a complete
falsehood. Bois d’ arc is also referred to as ironwood or Osage
orange. It’s well-documented throughout the latter half of the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries as being an important wood for use in wagon
wheels. Inside the pages of “The Prairie Traveler,” published in 1863,
those heading west by wagon are given numerous recommendations for overland
travel. Among the valuable tips in this guide was this counsel...
“Wheels made of bois-d arc, or Osage orange-wood, are best
for the plains, as they shrink but little, and seldom want repairing. As,
however, this wood is not easily procured in the Northern States, white oak
answers a very good purpose if well seasoned.”
According to period publications, the natural range of the tree was from southern Arkansas through southeastern Oklahoma and down to southern Texas. A wider range of economic planting, though, reached out much farther, including the middle western states from Illinois southward and then westward to eastern Colorado and New Mexico. It’s possible to be grown in more northern climates but harsh winters take a toll on the tree. Due to the continued interest in this wood, we’re considering writing a lengthier article on its history, use, and significance.
20) Not all period chuck boxes utilized a folding leg(s) to
support the hinged table.
While most period chuck wagons do
appear to have used some variation of a folding leg to support the chuck box
lid/table, there were exceptions to the rule. In our collection of
pre-1900 and turn-of-the-century imagery, there are several original photos showing
a chuck box equipped with either ropes or chains to hold the table level when
lowered.
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This portion of an original cabinet card photo shows the chuck box table held in place by ropes. Time and again, our extensive collection of period imagery helps paint a clearer image of how things were done back in the day. |
21) Round edge tires were common on wagons used during the Civil
War.
This is a false statement and is one
of the design technologies that can be helpful in narrowing down time frames of
manufacture in early wagons. Notable manufacturers were touting round
edge tires as new and innovative designs in the early 1880’s.
22) Not all king bolts were made of a single, solid piece.
Some were designed to bend.
As crazy as it may sound, this is
true. Clearly, most king bolts on wagons were made from one, straight and
solid piece of metal. Sometimes, though, the pin was shaped like a ‘T’ to
allow the rocking bolster to move side to side without putting pressure on the
main pin. Similarly, in 1884, Richard Blackwell of Kentucky created a
king pin with a hinged joint to allow more fluid movement of the rocking
bolster without undue pressure on the main pin.
23) George Milburn (Milburn Wagon Company) was related to the
Studebaker Brothers through marriage.
In 1857, George Milburn needed help
fulfilling a U.S. Army contract for wagons needed in the Mormon conflict in
Utah. Milburn subcontracted the completion of 100 wagons with the
up-and-coming Studebaker Brothers in South Bend. It was the beginning of
an even closer relationship between the brands as Milburn’s daughter, Anna,
married Clement Studebaker in 1864. By 1868, the Studebakers had incorporated
the business with Clement as president.
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With roots to 1848, the Milburn Wagon Company was a significant vehicle maker throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. More history on the company can be found by checking out our March 16, 2016 blog. |
24) The California Gold Rush was started by a wagon maker.
This is a relatively obscure
fact. James Marshall was a wagon maker long before he discovered gold at
Sutter’s Mill. Reinforcing that point, here’s a brief article from the
July 1890 issue of “The Hub”...
“The original discoverer of gold in
California was a Jersey man. He had learned the wagon-maker’s trade of
his father, and went to California in 1845, when he was thirty-two years
old. On the 19th of January, 1848, while engaged in the construction of a
millrace at what is now the thriving town of Coloma, his attention was
attracted by the glitter in the sand that had been washed down by the
stream. He was a man of considerable practical knowledge, and soon came
to the conclusion that the bright particles were gold. Not appreciating
the significance of his discovery, he revealed it to his fellow-workers.
Very soon afterward gold was found in paying quantities in several parts of
California and the great rush to that State from all parts of the Union
began. His name was James Wilson Marshall, and quite recently a monument
was erected at Coloma, Cal., to his memory, near the spot where he first found
the hidden treasure. It bears the inscription: ‘Erected by the
State of California in memory of James W. Marshall, the discoverer of gold."
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, LLC
