Almost every week, I’m approached by folks who are either looking for a specific antique wagon, have a question about a wagon or stage, are wondering where to find a missing original part, or they’re excited about a recent vehicle discovery. It’s intriguing to see how much of yesterday is still out there. Even so, the clock is ticking on our abilities to locate the best of what’s left. Ultimately, the thrill of the hunt is eclipsed only by the finding of fortune. That fortune can come in a lot of different forms. For me, it used to be in perfection. In other words, I searched high and low for the the pieces in the best original condition. I still do appreciate the pristine survivors but, increasingly, I’m more interested in the rarest of historical wheels; the ones with a great story to tell, no matter the condition. To that point, I thought I would highlight a few finds that folks have shared with me over the last year or so. They run the gamut of an old stage from the southwestern U.S. to any number of farm, freight, ranch, business, and military wagons scattered all over this country. If there’s one thing we can learn from each of these finds, it’s this... Don’t give up! There are still significant and highly desirable western vehicles out there and what you’re looking for may be just around the corner. Just remember... the time to acquire something is when you find it. As I’ve learned the hard way, it may not be available later!
A few months ago, Patrick Goodknight from Missouri shared some images of an 1886 Peter Schuttler Mountain wagon he literally uncovered in western Montana. Patrick is no stranger to wagons and has a nice collection of original and restored pieces. The 1886 Schuttler wagon gear is extremely rare and was in fragmented condition when found. So, how do we know what date to label this wagon gear? Well, Peter Schuttler is one of a few wagon brands that actually pressed a year into their axles. Doug Hansen and I have discussed this for years... was this a date of manufacture or perhaps a date when wood was stacked to be cured, a time when it was ready to be used, or some other reference? Based on the design features of wagons I’ve viewed over the decades, I believe the date will be very close – if not exact – to the year of manufacture.
These images show the raw state that Patrick Goodknight found this 1886 Schuttler survivor in. Nonetheless, it is remarkable that, after being abandoned for so many years, any of it has survived. A truly great find! (Above photos courtesy of Patrick Goodknight)
Whatever the case, almost any brand that can be legitimately documented to be from the 1800’s is a great find, so Patrick wasn’t about to walk away from such a scarce piece. This one includes an oil cup on the steel skeins as well as hand-forged hardware, a banded reach, heavy brake roller, and reinforced factory rub irons. The last time we spoke, he was in the middle of rebuilding the wooden parts. (note the photo below of the wheel hubs patterned after the old ones)
Congrats to Patrick on an amazing discovery from the heart of the Old West. It’s great to see these parts of America’s heritage being preserved. (Image Courtesy of Patrick Goodknight)
Similarly, I recently caught up with Homer Robertson of Texas. Homer is known for a lot of things. He’s been a huge part of leading the Fort Worth Texas Fire Department for over 44 years, he’s a World Champion chuck wagon competitor, is billed as a ‘Chuck wagon cook to the stars,’ and he’s very knowledgeable about wagons. On Instagram, Homer shares some other interesting things about himself. He says, “If you can’t be handsome, be handy.” He also points out that in his travels he’s been everywhere but the electric chair and seen everything but the wind. That’s a resume guaranteed to get attention!
Homer Robertson with his Newton chuck wagon
Homer's Newton brand wagon has helped him win multiple World Championships, Red Stegall gatherings, and other events. (Above chuck wagon images courtesy of Homer Robertson)
Anyway, it seems that Homer has been on the hunt for a wagon to develop into a showpiece chuck wagon. He believes he’s found it and I tend to agree. One of the toughest and most rugged farm/freight-style wagons made was a Mountain wagon. Most major builders in the 1800’s and early 1900’s had these vehicles in their product offerings. Outfitted with extra bracing, heavier ironwork, steel skeins, tire rivets, and stronger braking, these rigs were built for the long haul and engineered to withstand a beating – exactly the kind of conditions that many chuck wagons endured. Reinforcing that point, this past summer, I stopped by Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop in South Dakota and noticed a new arrival. It was a Mitchell Mountain wagon. The Mitchell brand has a great western story and these vehicles were used throughout the West. Plus, I’ve seen a lot of Mountain wagons, and the paint and overall condition of this one were amazing. At the time, I shared the surviving rarity of this wood-wheeled machine in one of my blogs and predicted it wouldn’t be available for long. I was right as Homer Robertson also recognized the iconic presence of this piece. He will soon have a head-turning and super rare chuck wagon for special outings in Texas! I can’t wait to see this one fully outfitted.
The images immediately above show the Mitchell Mountain wagon as I saw it back in July, 2024. It's an impressive set of wheels.
Another person I always enjoy catching up with is Glenn Moreland. Also from Texas, Glenn has a long history with wagons. He’s well known for his western music, chuck box designs, chuck wagon builds, wheelwrighting, and about anything else related to western vehicles. A while back, Glenn let me know he was looking at purchasing a stage that was believed to have been used in the desert southwest for a number of years. Specifically, this legend is said to have run in Arizona between Tucson and Tombstone. While Glenn’s still engaged in research, he shared a few photos with us and the old transport appears to be what was referred to as a stage hack. It’s a smaller, lighter vehicle with doors, rear rack, and front boot. He’s looking into any adaptations that may have taken place as these types of vehicles were occasionally involved in wrecks. Nonetheless, this is yet another great – and super rare – survivor that has found a good home in Texas. Look for more updates on this historic set of wheels down the road.
This old stage is in need of some TLC that Glenn Moreland will be providing as he brings it back to it's original state. (Stage images courtesy of Glenn Moreland)
While I thoroughly enjoy researching the past histories of my own collection, as I’ve shared before, it can safely be said that I’ve been ‘Waitin’ on a Wagon’ all of my life. See my February 14, 2024 blog entitled, “They’re All Love Stories.” To that point, over the years, I’ve been privileged to travel all over the U.S. while studying and tracking this history. Among the places I’ve been...
I’ve stood alone at that remote mountain spring, watching clean, clear water flow from the depths of the earth. So much history has taken place because of this place. It’s the westernmost headwaters of the Missouri River. The great Missouri is the largest river in North America and has been a vital highway into the American West for centuries.
Like others, I’ve also walked the same ground as Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea, crossed the same rivers as Carson, Bridger, Cody, Goodnight, Reeves, Hickok, Earp, and so many other western legends. I’ve surveyed bone piles of wagons near Donner Pass, felt the late June winds rush over the hills where Custer took his last breath, and stared down the path of America’s first quick-draw gun fight. I’ve felt small in the massive shadow of tall-sided freight wagons, rolled along still-desolate western stage coach trails, sought refuge from the sandblasted heat in Death Valley, and peered over the narrow edge of old wagon roads perched high in the Rockies.
I’ve also clutched the last surviving letters from legendary wagon maker, Joseph Murphy; held another wagon maker ledger connected to Hiram Young and Santa Fe freighter, F. X. Aubry; stumbled across a true 1870’s Studebaker barn find; wandered through the abandoned factory grounds of forgotten transportation tycoons; and found more historic needles in a haystack than I can count.
Still, there’s so much more to uncover and, as evidenced in this blog, a number of our readers are doing that regularly. Congrats to them and all historians ceaselessly searching for forgotten pieces of our past. It’s a never-ending chase filled with Trails Of Treasure.
Ps. 20:7
