Named for their legendary purpose on cattle trails and ranches, chuck (food) wagons are firmly tied to the rich heritage of the American West. Throughout the U.S. - and world - they're still one of the most recognized and coveted western vehicles. For almost 160 years, whether taking part in a roundup, trail drive, photo shoot, competition, or some other special event, these wheels tend to be the center of attention everywhere they go. For the next week or two, I'll be sharing some photos of quality chuck wagons that our readers either own or have owned. Stay alert because there will be multiple posts and you won't want to miss a single one.
Our Wheels That Won The West® Archives contain hundreds of period photos showcasing both nineteenth and early twentieth-century chuck wagons during their days on the ranch and range. It's a compilation with rare insights and a lot to share. Likewise, the images of present-day chuck wagons help connect and enrich our time together. Traditionally built on farm, mountain, or even earlier army wagon designs, these customized machines remain a reflection of strength, freedom, opportunity, and community. The overviews here won't cover all the details that make up a chuck wagon, but you will get a good look at some amazing examples that continue to celebrate the rich legacy of the West.
Overall, there will be a fair number of images to review. So, due to the limited nature of blog space and internet bandwidth, I will spread these out over multiple posts - at least four. If others with impressive chuck wagons would like to send additional photos, I'll likely pick a few more for overviews in the future. In the meantime, we have a half dozen cued up and ready. It's an interesting mix of frontier brands - Newton, Owensboro (two of 'em), Peter Schuttler, Weber& Damme, and Winona. Within each post, I'll share a few points about each. With that as an introduction, as Wil Anderson (John Wayne) said in The Cowboys, "We're burnin' daylight!" So, without further ado, let's get rollin...
First up is Jack Ramey from Oklahoma. Jack owns an incredibly well-preserved Newton chuck wagon.The Newton wagon brand (Batavia, IL) is well known among western vehicle connoisseurs and this one is a head-turner. The company traces its beginnings to the late 1830s and was a major player inside a literal world of competitors. I've written several pieces on the prominence and history of the brand. Suffice it to say that Levi Newton's dream still holds a strong reputation. Quality survivors don't come up for auction often but, when they do, they tend to attract attention.
Jack Ramey's rare survivor is well over a century in age. It retains a significant amount of original paint as well as the signature, decorative flourishes that are known to accompany nineteenth and the earliest twentieth century Newtons. When I asked Jack about the amazing condition of the paint, he related that when he first acquired the wagon, it was heavily covered in a hardened case of grease and oil. I've seen this before and, sometimes - as was the case with this wagon - very slow, deliberate, and extremely careful removal can reveal surprising things underneath. In this situation, the wagon had basically been encapsulated within a waterproof and UV-ray-proof coating. While frustrating and difficult to safely remove, decade after decade, the coating had served as crucial protection to the original finish.
The wagon also includes a steam-bent front hound, 52-inch rear wheels, and a great study in original hardware. Period-stamped metalwork as well as other construction distinctions on the wagon help point us to a timeframe of manufacture that will be just before to near the turn of the twentieth century; well before the time that Emerson-Brantingham purchased the company in 1912. Enjoy the images because, from one end to the other, this set of wheels has both the look and legacy to be a standout in any crowd.
While these steambent hounds likely date to the late 19th century, the same feature was available on 20th century Newtons.
The paint blistering noticeable in several of these shots is a common challenge that wagon makers shared. While it was considered a problem to overcome ages ago, it serves as just one of the ways that paint originality can be measured today. As a long-time collector, these character traits dating to a much earlier time are actually good to see.
All Newton chuck wagon images in this blog post are Courtesy of Jack Ramey.
Thanks for sharing the pics, Jack. Great wagon and easily one to be proud of!
Stay in the saddle. As I'd shared at the start, we have a lot more INCREDIBLE chuck wagon images to come!
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