HWWS Spring Newsletter - May/June 2008
Spring has finally arrived in the Dakotas. With one of the coldest springs on record - it was still snowing in May - we are happy to finally see green grass.
With spring comes a renewed interest in driving, and the spring rush is in full swing. We are frantically trying to meet everyone's wheel needs, and are finally getting our heads above water. We are ready to help you with any of your wagon supplies and accessories - we have a good number of items on hand, and ready to ship. Let us know if you need any supplies to get your vehicle ready for wagon trains and parades
Overstock Wagon Sale
Doug has started to line up his wagons from his spring buying spree and he may have gone a little overboard. We have over 50 antique, original, and restored vehicles on hand from sleighs to sheep wagons to farm wagons. Doug is ready to deal on these wagons, so check out our inventory at in-stock vehicles and then give Doug a call.
Shop News
We have recently shipped out some really unique and interesting pieces, the last to leave was a very historic 1840 vintage Reproduction of a 9-passenger Concord Stagecoach; we were commissioned by the historic village of Old Sturbridge of Sturbridge Massachusetts to construct this beautiful coach. We worked closely with the director of transportation in researching the attributes of the very early Concords and found it to be an interesting study. Good luck to Old Sturbridge in this summer's activities.
"We have been universally impressed by the quality of workmanship and attention to detail of the stagecoach you built for us. You have all been just so accommodating and pleasant to work with. I knew we had chosen the right company to build the coach when I saw how enthusiastic Doug was about getting every little detail as authentic as possible for an early eastern Concord coach, and building us precisely what we wanted. We had 256 riders for its premiere today, and all were very impressed by its beauty and comfort. It really gave our visitors a full body experience of life in the past! Thanks again,-Tom Kelleher @ Old Sturbridge Village.
Another great vehicle we recently had the privilege of restoring was one of the Anheuser-Busch historic Studebaker wagons, formerly owned by Wilson & Co., Meat Packers, Chicago, IL. It was an honor to work on such an authentic piece. This original wagon has a payload of 12,000 lbs and in its day was a real work horse. Today it is proudly displayed at the stables in St. Louis, Missouri. We give our thanks to the Budweiser Clydesdales operations for their patronage, and their commitment to keeping the legacy of the horse-drawn era alive.
One of our favorite shop projects has been the restoration of an F.C. Austin Sprinkler Wagon for Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site in Colorado Springs, CO. Andy Morris, site manager, showcases this unique vehicle in actual use on the streets of the Historic Site.
-Photo courtesy of Cynthia Holling-Morris “We feel tremendous pride in owning a one-of-a-kind F.C. Austin Sprinkler Wagon that has been restored to its original condition of more than a century ago. It is without question, that there is no wagon maker other than Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop that could have done the work to the exacting standards that we demanded on this historic piece. Your expertise, patience, and willingness to do the job right have set you above the rest. We will not hesitate to recommend you to other museum professionals who may be in need of your first rate services." -Andy Morris, Manager, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site.
In early April we completed a Replica of a Studebaker 1909 Army ambulance and I had the opportunity to travel to California and assist Charlie Lortz with the set-up of his newly crafted wagon. We replicated it from an original ambulance that we had here in the shop. This military style wagon is great for trail rides, with rear entry, bench seats, a roll-up top and a custom-built, under the seat, ice chest. Charlie was kind enough to let me hitch his mules and take it out for a spin, and it proved to be a great ride and presented a very historic appearance.
Charlie Lortz driving Kate & Queen to his new army 1909 Army Ambulance, Bobby Lynn riding shotgun.
This spring Holly, Leah, Emily, and I had the opportunity to deliver a very elaborate surrey to the Wagon Hound Ranch of Douglas, Wyoming. This surrey represented the finest of elements from the bygone days of the horse and carriage. It was historically created on an original running gear and outfitted with many special features such as staggered spoke wheels, brass arm rails, leather seats, brass top joint hinges, and finished with fancy striping and gold leaf.
A special thanks to the people at Wagon Hound for their hospitality and patronage.
More Vehicles in Progress
• East Granby historic concord stagecoach
• Mud wagon for Old Town San Diego
• Butler extra fancy chuck wagon
• Wells Fargo Stagecoach
• Hack passenger wagon- will be on display at West Yellowstone; I have a couple of my own vehicles in the shop that I have had in my collection forever and hope to have out on the Deadwood Trail this summer. One is an original stagecoach from the ghost town of Redig, South Dakota, and the other is and antique tall side Studebaker Freight wagon.
Online Store
My daughter Leah is back from college for the summer, and is hard at work doing a much needed update to our web site. Check out the specials she has added to the front page of the store. You will find some discounted items; for Jon is cleaning out the warehouse and has found some old inventory we need to move to make room for some of the wagons I have been buying.
I recently added about 15 wagons to our inventory. One of the most unique is a Conestoga wagon with lynch pin axles, this early style of construction was replaced with the cast skein in the mid 1800s so this is quite a find. We have updated our wagon inventory store to show 4 different shots of the wagon to give you more information about the vehicles.
NEWLY Formed Organization
Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association
"Sharing The Legacy Of A Transportation Empire"
Heavily woven with incredible risks and impossible odds, it's one of the greatest stories yet to be told, covering some of the greatest accomplishments ever made. While much of America's famed western history has been widely heralded, surprisingly, the very substance of what has allowed other stories to come to light has been overlooked. Profiling some of the most fiercely competitive segments of America's early transportation industry, the recently formed Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association is helping bring to light the rich, fascinating story, along with providing a network of enthusiasts interested in restoring and collecting the vehicles themselves and telling the stories behind them.
The Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association and I would like to personally invite you to attend our very first meet in West Yellowstone June 11-14th 2008. This event will coincide with the centennial celebration of West Yellowstone. We will have several coaches on display as well as several talks about stagecoaches and freight wagons.
If you would like to get involved in the history, restoration, or study of these important icons of early American transportation then please click here to join the Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association.
Stagecoach & Freight Wagons Association's first annual meeting.
Press Release
Recognizing the substantial role of early stagecoaches and freight wagons in the history of America and other nations, a group of noted western vehicle collectors, curators, historians and writers have taken steps to establish the Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association. This non-profit organization is being created to help detail the triumphs, struggles, and day-to-day operation of these legendary vehicles within the extremely competitive commercial empires they supported.
According to the Association founders, stagecoaches and freight wagons are the most recognized icons of frontier wheeled history. From the overwhelming logistical challenges to natural obstacles faced in some of the wildest terrain, these rugged vehicles were almost solely responsible for establishing and maintaining critical lines of provisions, communication and commerce. Without these specialized designs, it would have been virtually impossible for American civilization to have successfully moved west. Profiling such a dramatic background and rich legacy, the Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association is dedicated to the study of specific vehicles and trails while also providing crucial and previously unavailable resource information.
The new organization is planning its first annual meeting in the picturesque setting of West Yellowstone, Montana on June 11th through the 14th. It will be held at the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn and Convention Center. The event will coincide with the West Yellowstone Centennial Celebration and the annual Buffalo Roam festivities. Highlights of this first meeting are expected to include a number of historic stagecoaches on display, special presentations and speakers, a chuck wagon cookout, and annual banquet. This new organization will also begin a membership drive at the meet and finalize corporate housekeeping duties. Memberships - including individual, corporate, and founder's categories - are expected to be available starting in mid-May with additional news and activities announced throughout the year. Individuals and groups interested in attending, exhibiting or sponsoring this inaugural Stagecoach and Freight Wagon function should contact Ralph Justen at the Yellowstone Historic Center, 406-646-7461, for more details.
This unprecedented event - including the gathering of vintage stagecoaches - is a rare opportunity to bring together those with interest in Stagecoaches and Freight Wagons in an educational but very entertaining format. In addition to the other special events in town West Yellowstone also has many other attractions and entertainment opportunities. Fabulous Yellowstone National Park is 3 blocks from the convention hotel. Join us for a festive founding event of the organization and help firmly establish our organization as a valuable national resource of the Stagecoach and Freight Wagon community.
For more information on the West Yellowstone area please visit www.westyellowstonechamber.com. For information on Yellowstone National Park visit www.nps.gov/yell/.
30th Anniversary!
We are in the process of producing a new catalog to commemorate our 30th Anniversary in the wagon-building business. In the meantime, Catalog #21 is still our current catalog, but we have had to increase prices 10%- except for books and plans prices. It's hard to believe the years have gone by this fast, but we have really enjoyed our work and appreciate all our valued customers. It has been our privilege to serve you and work with you on your horse-drawn vehicle projects. We look forward to another season and another year, doing what we love and are passionate about, building superior quality vehicles with historically accurate craftsmanship, while preserving the spirit of the Old-West!!
A special thanks to all our customers for your patronage. We are proud to share with you in the community of horse-drawn vehicle enthusiasts.
Also, feel free to use the forward button at the bottom of the email if you have some friends that you think would be interested in receiving information on our company or our products!
Thanks again!
Doug Hansen & The Crew at Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop
