The front (above) and back (below) of a Parr Wagon Co. product
brochure shown in its original size. Inside, the brochure touted
the strength of the Parr’s axle, claiming a Parr on 4-inch
Peerless axles had carried a load of 24,000 pounds. A specific
guarantee stated that any Parr wagon that couldn’t carry its
rated load would be repaired free of charge for one year.
Some interesting mail comes our way on a pretty regular basis,
including a recent letter along with an original copy of the
product brochure shown here. Reader Donn Marinovich sent the
brochure, telling us, ‘I know this may be slightly before the
time of the first gas engine, but I found several of these little
adverts for the Parr wagon in a pile of early Fuller & Johnson
engine brochures.’
Wagon manufacturing was big business at the turn-of-the-century,
given the obvious fact that wagons were a necessary accessory for
just about every farmer in the country. Simple and robust pieces of
equipment, wagons were easy to construct and were built by
literally hundreds of small – and large – manufacturers throughout
the U.S. The Parr Wagon Co. of Greensburg, Pa., was obviously one
such firm, but it’s unknown when the company started or how
long they survived, as references to the firm are non-existent.
This surviving product promotion suggests it was a thriving concern
at one time, and we’d be curious to know if any Parr wagon
products have survived into the 21st century.
Special thanks to Donn Marinovich, P.O. Box 4173,
Sonora, CA 95370, for sending in this fine reminder of
farming’s past.
