Authentic Wagons

[Ozark Iron John]

I've got an opportunity to procure a few 75 - 100 year old wagons. They're in dang good shape. A little rust. A little wear and tear. But overall, they're solid. 3' X 10' X 3' Boxes w/ heavy running gear and 2" - 3" wide / 3' X 4' diameter wooden wheels.

Theses wagons have been in the barn for more'n 50 years folks. They may not be 1880's era antiques, but they are dang near authentic prairie schooner type box wagons. I reckon I can buy 'em for the money. Refurbish 'em and Sell 'em to CAS Clubs for a profit.

What say Ya'll? Is there any interest in this sorta thing?

Pointers to definitive resources would be greatly aprreciated.

[Delmonico]

They are not prairie schooners, which was a much larger wagon, they are plain farm wagons.  A good find, but not anywhere near a prarie schooner.   

[St. George]

There's a wide, wide difference between a true 'Prairie Schooner' and an everyday farm wagon - which these are.

If a club needed a 'decorator' for their range - they'd suffice - but for much else - I'm  not so certain, given that to be 'used' - they have a trained team 'and' a driver 'and' appropriate harness.

Seriously - I'd look at talking to a firm that does landscaping and/or 'decoration' and who specializes in the 'rustic' look.

If you do pursue them to refurbish - stored indoors or not - you're going to be a very busy man.

Good Luck.

Scouts Out!

[Ozark Iron John]

Well, I don't know.  That's why I posted here.  You guys are probably right.  They aren't big as boats!  Grain / Farm Wagons.  That's probaby right.

I still think there's an opportuntiy here.  A little sanding.  A little painting.  It'd turn into a dang nice prop for a stage, don't ya think?

And if'n a CAS Club has aspirations of grandure, a team ain't all that hard to come by.  Heck, I know where's there's three different teams right now!  and I'm gonna be working with a team of mules on Saturday.

[Delmonico]

Any wagon or similar vehicle that will be used with a team needs at the minimum the complete running gear disassembled and any worn parts replaced.  Wheels are a must, a wheel of that age is not safe to do anything but roll off and on a trailer and even that could be dangerous.  Here are two farm wagons that have been restored to the point they can be used, both were competely disassembled and all worn or weathered parts replaced including the wheels.  The third one in the background I am not sure of since I don't know the owner.  The first wagon took a year of spare time and still has some work to do, the second I am not sure of the time to rebuild it. 

The first one has been made into a chuck wagon and since the folks do not cook themselves I get to use it when it is somewhere I am.  This is not what a trail wagon would be, it is too small, but farm wagons were used and are still used on roundups where you are not far from a source of supply.

As a note both have had their brake pads rebuilt using modern tire material rather than the proper leather for safety reasons

[Ozark Iron John]

I guess there may be more to it than a little sanding and a little painting.

New Wheels?  Really?  Dang, that sounds like its going to get out of my price range quick.   

[Delmonico]

That may be the reason they are affordable to buy as is.

[Books OToole]

A friend of mine inherited an old farm wagon.  It had been his grandfather's.  When grandpa retired the wagon, he took it apart and put in in the loft of the barn.  Therefore the wheels hadn't rotted out where they rested on the ground etc.  Overall it was in very good condition.  It still took my friend two years to restore it.  Of course he is an annally retentive artist type, but still there is a lot more work there than you realize.

An old farm wagon would make a nice chuck wagon though.

Books

[Delmonico]

Even wheels like the ones on your friends wagon need to be checked over and retightened by a good wheelwright if you are going to pull it and checked again from time to time.  A broken wheel in the wrong place can kill you as dead as a blown tire on you SUV.  A "blow out" on a front wheel can toss you over the front and end up with the wagon being drug over top of you, front or back can cause a roll over with no seat belt or roll bar.

[Books OToole]

We actually worked that into a living history camp.  He had a neat contraption that held linseed oil in the top and you built a fire in the box under the trough.  Once the oil is boiling you rotate the wheels through the oil.  It was a fun liearnign experience.

Books