Studebaker

[Books OToole]

I just acquired an intersting book: History of the Studebaker Corporation, 1852-1923.

This is just one of the old wagon/buggy manufacturers to transition to automobiles.

"The firm of H. & C. Studebaker was established in South Bend Indiana, in 1852, with a capital of $68 and plant equipment of two forges.  They built two or three wagons the first year."

In 1868 their total sales were;  $360,619.25.

Pretty impressive.


Books

[Fox Creek Kid]

I read an article once on their wagons and the different types of woods for different purposes was absolutley amazing. It was an art form to be sure. Does the book describe this, Books? 

[Books OToole]

I've just skimmed the first of the book and it seems to be a family & corporate history.  No insights as to how their wagons were built or why they were better than their competition.

Books

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

My first car was a 1949 Studebaker Champion, bronze in color.

[Hardscrabble Gus]

This has been sitting on the corner through all four seasons for at least a couple of years now, I think. I didn't crawl under it (ticks, you know ) to see if I could find who made it. We have some iron parts at home that are Studebaker; kind of ironic, since the two generations of males in my family before me always made a point of having Studebakers.  The contact number can still be read but not the price; I don't recall what he was asking but it was in 4 figures, maybe as high as $6,000 or more.  Seems he would just as soon see it rot as not get what he wants for it.

[Fox Creek Kid]

MAN!! That would make a great NCOWS shooting stage prop!!!

[Ol Gabe]

Interesting pics, H.G., 
The 1902 Sears catalog has something similar on page 715. They show a pic of the wagon box, rack as they call it, and it has the same side booms that are adjustable up and down. It is described as thus, "Acme Combination Grain, Hay and Stock Rack....is the only practical stock rack built. Warranted to carry 4,500 pounds. A rear end stock gate and a rear hay standard are furnished with each rack...14 and 16 foot lengths...shipped directly from factory in Central Michigan....400 pounds...$12.95" It could possibly be the same wagon box as it was sold to go on any wagon frame, simply drop it on and off to the fields you'd go.
Books, if you have any older Sears or MW catalogs it may be listed there as well since it was most certainly in use prior to 1902.
F.C.K., even a broken down wagon box on steel wheels from the early 20th century will still bring $800 and up if in any kind of condition in our part of the state, but at a big horse auction such as Waverly, IA, $1,000 and up. The ladies like to seal them with clear varathane varnish then fill them with flowers and position them at the entrance to their acreages. And yes, I think that it'd make a more historically-correct prop than a flower stand, that is, unless I was selling flowers or wagons!
Best regards and if it has wheels, it'll sell!
'Ol Gabe 

[Hardscrabble Gus]

O.G., this wagon is located just outside Big Rapids, Michigan.  Big Rapids is considered in West Michigan, or West Central Michigan.  If you were to drive 50-60 miles east you would be about as mid-Michigan as you can get (Lower Peninusla, anyway).  I did a quick google but didn't locate anything on an Acme company that made wagons in mid-Michigan.  I'll have to do some checking, see if I can find where they were built.  Thanks for the info.

[River City John]

Hmmmm Ah memories! First car was a Studebaker Lark.

[Texas Lawdog]

They have turned the old assembly plant in South Bend into a museum. It traces the beginning of the Studebaker Bros. wagon building through the auto assembly until they quit building cars and trucks. There all types of vehicles built by Studebaker.  The wagons are quite impressive. They built the original Conestoga wagons.