Transportation. It's more than a means to an end. It's a connection between points, a lifeline for living, and a bond between generations. From old tractors, cars, and trucks to trains, planes, and even wagons and stagecoaches, people have always had an affinity for that which rolls. From a windows-down, memory-laced ride along a less-traveled backroad to a campfire surrounded by music, friends, cast iron cooking, and a historic wagon, these mobile machines bring us together, exploring our curiosities, and linking us to deeper destinations. In essence, it's why so many visitors will read our weekly blogs and articles. Like a great book, an old set of wheels can start amazing conversations, add to unforgettable decor, enrich our relationships, and even take us to another time.
Over the years, I've written hundreds upon hundreds of blogs and articles. Many of those writings have been focused on large vehicles. Giants in the Land, was penned back in 2009 for Wild West magazine. It and another story, Idaho Freight Wagons, referenced the colossal carryalls used in the late 1800s and now showcased in parades in Ketchum, Idaho. Other blogs and stories we've posted on these monstrosities include an account about A Giant Wagon in Alaska, as well as Chasing Big Wheels, a story focused on the double-sized Moline wagon. Likewise, titles like, Logging Wheels, Twenty Mule Team Borax Wagons, Santa Fe Freighters, Out of the Woods, More on the Giant Moline, and others all continue to be well-trafficked reads.
This cropped image shows a portion of a monster-sized freight wagon built by M.P. Henderson in Stockton, California. Image Courtesy Wheels That Won The West® Archives.
A common thread between each of these stories is the 'size surprise.' We're so disconnected from the early days of vehicle manufacture; it can seem surreal to stand in the shadows of these oversized workhorses. Yet, no matter the impressive nature, for private collectors, those behemoths can be hard to house. Likewise, they're not typically in an affordable price range for would-be enthusiasts to seriously consider - even if one could be found for sale. On top of those challenges, these monsters can be very difficult to transport.
With that said, there is a group of wood-wheeled wagons that are highly-collectible and relatively easy to haul and display. More diminutive in scope, they're referred to as child's wagons, goat wagons, or even toy farm wagons. In spite of the prominent farm-style designs, these forerunners of today's tiny battery-powered drivers were also built as buckboards, ladder and police wagons, and other configurations. While the best of these pieces can bring strong prices, compared to costs of their full-sized, collector-grade counterparts, they tend to be more affordable - and equally rewarding.
While many of these playthings possessed names with no real connection to the Old West, others were branded with the badges of well-known frontier wagon makers. Among the survivors a person might come across are those with labels like Badger, Birdsell, Broadway, Chicago, Climax, Dreadnaught, Harvard Jr., Hickory, John Deere, Old Hickory, Peerless, Peter Schuttler, Studebaker Junior, Tennessee, The Miniature, Weber, Weber & Damme, Winona, Yale, and others. By and large, these wooden miniatures typically included a removeable body, sideboards, end gates, tongue, wheels, and seat. They can also be found with accessories such as sled runners, shafts to replace a tongue, and a wheel wrench - just like the larger farm wagon versions.
Those emblazoned with names connected to well-known brands from the 1800s and early 1900s have the potential to command higher prices. Of course, condition, originality, and completeness can also have a say in resale values. While there may be some size variations among the different brands, typical measurements would fall in the range of a 40-inch overall length. Widths would be in the neighborhood of 26 inches and the heights, including the seat, can hover around 2 feet. Many of these tiny travelers will be at or over a century in age, making their own history a perfect platform to tell the tales of the larger Old West brands. Whether displayed on the header to a staircase, centered on a coffee table, hearth, alcove, or some other trafficked trail, these conversation starters have become a popular collectible for many folks. No longer simply a toy to entertain and occupy the time of young dreamers, these wheels can bring the backgrounds of America's western wheels to life.
Are you fortunate enough to own one of these survivors? What brand is it? What's its story? What drew you to it? We'd love to hear from you and learn more about your special part of the past. Feel free to drop us a line at info@wheelsthatwonthewest.com
From bringing delight to a child in the early twentieth century to reinforcing the desirability of a well-known wagon company, these promotional vehicles were built for one principal purpose...to bring us together - and That's The Big & Small Of It.
There's little doubt that these cowboys were on the trail of desperados that needed capture. Living life away from endless amounts of digital entertainment can do wonders for the mind, body, spirit, and soul. Image Courtesy Wheels That Won The West® Archives.
Ps. 20:7
