There's a scene from the movie, Dances with Wolves, that shows a freight wagon driver laughing at the dry, bleached bones of an emigrant lying near his destroyed wagon. His comment to Kevin Costner's character is.... "Somebody back East is saying, 'Why don't he write?'" It's a sensitive moment mixed with the somber reality of the brevity of life and the hardened way we can approach moments in time.
Paralleling the thoughts above, early American wagon relics are often looked upon as meaningless reminders of an unsophisticated and elementary time. It's a thought process akin to saying the kite used by Ben Franklin was just a wad of wood, silk, and string and wouldn't be worth having today. Comments like... "It's a pile of junk, an old worthless wagon, a waste of time, nothing to brag about, and garbage to haul off" are not unusual to experience. I've heard a litany of these types of remarks and, very often, the statements come from a disconnected place of misunderstanding or total lack of knowledge. Just to be fair, some remains can be less desirable, but I'll make the case that this only exists if we know EXACTLY what it is that defines that specific vehicle and can also confirm its historical frame of reference and associated desirability or lack thereof. In other words, if we can't identify the maker, era, or background of an old wagon, how do we 'know' it's leftover junk? Just because the value isn't immediately obvious doesn't mean it's not there. On top of that, what may seem irrelevant to some may have tremendous appeal to others.
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to buy several spring seats for wagons. Far from the norm, these pieces carry much earlier maker dates. Vehicles, accessories, and parts from wagons dating to America's frontier era are hard to come by in the twenty-first century. Considering these seats are the better part of 150-years-old, the ornate paint and overall condition of each is amazing. One was a legendary brand I've been tracking for decades. Of all the early transportation collectibles in the Wheels That Won The West® Archives, this one will rank among our most prized. Even so, it had been overlooked by numerous folks and treated as a relatively common piece.
This image shows the Peter Schuttler brand wagon gear retrieved from the Steamboat Arabia which sank in 1856. We've been able to learn a tremendous amount about early wagon technology from this one discovery.
Another example of this point includes a time when someone told me about a wagon that had rotted down and was available for the asking. By the time I heard of it, the piece had been stripped of a number of its parts.The remaining wood and metal were then thrown away. What pained me about it was the vehicle was an early Weber & Damme brand that, from the photos supplied, I could objectively date to the mid-1870s. Legendary St. Louis vehicles from that western era are few and far between - in any condition! This 150-year-old set of wheels built in the Gateway to the West was easily worth saving, restoring, and sharing. It lasted a century and a half only to have its final legacy parted out, tossed, and lost.
The primary points I'm driving home are that most of these old transports are more than wood, paint, and metal. Each one contains a personality, purpose, legacy, and story. Anytime you're looking at an old set of wheels, I encourage you to ask yourself, "How much do I really know about this part of yesterday?" Some might say, "Why would I care?" I'll answer that with another question... Why would you not want to know how valuable something might be or what story it held? What if the remainders in front of you could be confirmed to be from a time when a significant event took place on the western frontier, was from a highly coveted brand with no known survivors, or a one-of-a-kind find showcasing unique evolutionary features. What if the remains are so desirable that someone has been searching for a lifetime for them? How close to real western history do we want to be?
What can seem like a pile of trash can actually include valuable parts of our transportation past.
Clearly, not every set of wheels or part thereof will date to the 1800s and not every old part will have an exciting story. However, some do and knowing the difference can make all the difference. Some survivors are just that; pieces that have managed to cling to some semblance of survival but aren't unique enough to command a respectable price let alone the interest of someone who might see merit in the old bones. With all due respect, though, we can't always determine the value of something by a cursory glance, auction interest, or even its condition. While soundness can be an important factor in prices, there are instances where the condition of the piece will take a back seat to sheer existence. For example, any history that can legitimately be traced to a Joseph Murphy, original Espenschied, or Jackson wagon brand should quickly turn our collector-driven heads. While photos, promotions, catalogs, and advertising for these mega-brands have survived, as of this writing, there are no known wagons still in existence from these makers (but we do now have a seat from one!). Nonetheless, from massive freighters to army, emigrant, and farm wagons, the three names above are regularly touted in nineteenth century writings as being among the most popular brands in the Old West.
Another example of recognized rarity occurred a few years ago when I was surveying a sea of bone piles at Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop in Letcher, South Dakota. As Doug Hansen and I walked along, we were discussing interesting aspects about each piece in the numerous piles. Then, Doug pointed to a one-horse wagon and mentioned that it was an Indian wagon. I immediately stopped. It was a pile of wood and metal that most folks would walk past. However, in the history of western transportation, these wheels are extremely hard to come by and represent a rarely profiled part of our past. These wagons were often supplied to Native Americans by major builders with contracts from the U.S. Government. Any confirmed example of these vehicles can easily be a significant addition to a western collection.
From unique features and frontier heritage to the overall brand story, a lot of highly desirable pieces are still missing. So, the next time you're tempted to walk past the remains of a weather-beaten warrior on wheels, ask yourself questions like... Could this be a valuable part of yesterday? What stories are being told here? Are these leftovers the ultimate unicorn for a serious collector? As is the case with many overlooked gems, we often need to spend some time sifting the chaff to uncover the good stuff. From the places we go to the way we view this world of wheels, oftentimes, there is a lot More To It!!
