02.03.09
Springfield Wagon Discovery
The Ozark hills here in Arkansas are always full of surprises. We recently experienced a crippling ice storm that left us without power or modern conveniences for nearly a week. Even so, we’re among the most fortunate to now have water, heat, etc. as many of our neighbors and friends will not have electricity for weeks yet to come – a similar fate being experienced by folks in Kentucky.
As I’ve been reminded from this ice storm, the unexpected can happen at any time. It’s a fact that’s continually reinforced as we add materials to our “Wheels That Won The West” historic vehicle archives. With so many American wagon makers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the depth of the study can be dizzying, but also extremely interesting as there is always something new to experience. One good example came about totally unexpectedly when a few months ago a friend mentioned he had some wagon skeins he wanted me to examine. They were a pair of Springfield Wagon skeins that were likely never used. Cast into the shoulders of the parts was the name – Springfield. Even though I’ve studied numerous Springfield brand wagons and even own several, I’ve never seen that feature before and wondered if anyone else has?
Drop me a line in the ‘comments’ section about this post. Better yet, gather up your aquaintances and friends and let them know about this blog. We won’t be able to cover everything, but I’m looking forward to sharing more of what’s happening at the “Wheels That Won The West” archives.
David
www.wheelsthatwonthewest.com
