6613 State Route 158, Millstadt, Illinois 62260-1741
I received, as a Christmas gift in 1927, a Climax toy farm
wagon.
The photo shows me holding my youngest brother, while seated on
the wagon, while the middle aged brother was at the wagon tongue.
Picture was taken in rural Clayton, Missouri, the summer of 1928.
This wagon served us well. One of the main functions was to haul
empty wooden orange, lettuce crates and apple boxes from an A &
P market about three-fourths of a mile from home. I’d stack
them on the wagon, tie them down with a rope, at the back of the
store, then head home up a long hill. When home they would be
dismantled, and the boards were used to make various things. A hand
coping saw was used for curved cuts and a small hand saw for
straight cuts. An old block plane and a lot of sandpaper was used
to smooth the boards and edges. A glue pot like a double boiler,
with water in the bottom and heated on the kitchen range, melted
the horse-hoof glue that had quite an odor. Nails removed, when
disassembling the boxes, were saved to use in assembling the new
products. Small cans of paint were purchased that I believe held
pint and sold for 25 cents.
As the wagon aged and was used heavily, the box was taken off
the running gear. I shortened the running gear, took off the
tongue, put ropes on for steering and built a flat bed trailer for
the shortened running gear. The trailer part was made of an old
coaster wagon. This experience allowed me to learn the art of
backing a trailer, which I still do today with ease.
We moved to Illinois in 1932 and, lo and behold, the wagon was
not moved! Probably due to it being excess baggage. I never forgot
the wagon and often wished I had it. After years went by, I decided
I’d like to reproduce one. Then, working as an electrician
about 1969, I was able to find a picture of my wagon in a 1922
Montgomery Ward Catalog. The man who had the catalog tore the
picture out and gave it to me.
A copy of the catalog picture is shown here. From this I found
the size of the front wheels to be 14′ with a metal rim ‘
wide. By calculations and from my memory, I came up with a 20′
rear wheel. The bed size was either 18′ x 36′ or 18′ x
40’. My memory told me it had to be the 40′ length. The 40
spokes were turned on my 10′ South Bend metal lathe, as well as
the brass hubs (two to each wheel). I have been taking a sand
casting class since I retired in 1981 at age 62, so this worked out
well to cast the parts I needed. This class is sponsored by our
local area college. The hub end of the spokes were tapered with a
jig on my radial arm saw. The fellies were cut with a power sabre
saw. See photo at top of spokes and fellies of a rear wheel
assembled.
This photo below shows complete front wheel with two piece brass
hub, held together with rivets, one through each spoke as well as
the steel rim. The rim is countersunk five places for 10-32 flat
head machine screws, one at each joint of the fellies, with a nut
on the inner side of the wheel.
All wooden parts for the running gear were reproduced by making
patterns from my memory. Oak lumber was used for the running gear,
while ash was. used for the spokes and fellies.
Stencils were cut out of cardboard for the yellow trim, and
penciled to the painted parts, after which trim was painted yellow
by hand with a small brush.
The seat is removable, so the wagon can be used for hauling. The
box can be taken off for hauling logs or lumber. For this the
wheelbase can be extended 8′.
The photo on this page shows the completed wagon, which I have
shown in parades and at engine shows, together with my steam
engines mounted on a trailer with a boiler, and a whistle. The
engines are built from scratch, using old master cylinders, wheel
cylinders and, of course, brass castings including flywheels. (See
GEM June/July, 1993.)
I enjoy building things, as well as keeping alive the traditions
of the past.
