End of Year Update

Studebaker “Sprinkler” wagons were used to water down the dust on the roads. The sizes of Studebaker sprinklers ranged from 175 gallons to 1000 gallons. This particular wagon has a 650 gallon tank. Sprinkler wagons were fitted with a 5th wheel running gear that balanced the tank and allowed 90 degree turns. Doug Hansen tested out this wagon and you can watch the video on YouTube.

The Booby-Hut is a unique sleigh design that is a carriage body put upon sleigh runners. The body is suspended with leather braces similar to a stagecoach suspension. There are very few originals of this vehicle left in existence. It is a privilege to be able to restore one in such great condition. At the back of the body you can see what is called the “sword-case”, accessible from the inside of the body. These sword-cases were used to carry arms in the old highway robbery times. This vehicle’s design is very light, strong and elastic. We are anxious to see this unique sleigh in its original colors, it was painted black body with emerald green lower pales, yellow striping and an emerald green gear, this complimented the green plush interior trimming. Check this blog for further updates of this project.

This is a restored Army Escort Wagon. All original hardware was reused but all wood components had to be replaced. This wagon supplied provisions for the troops, anything from food to ammunition to shelter. The unique characteristics are winged flair boards a double tiered jockey box / tool box / foot board, an ax carrier within the wagon, and a shovel carrier under driver seat. Also these wagons had rough lock chains, a tail gate with a chain retainer to offer rear platform. The wheels are heavy duty being 54" high and 3" wide. This wagon is going to be an interactive outdoor display at the Mormon Battalion Museum in San Diego, CA.

You may remember this coach from the last blog post, where it was under construction. The antique patina finish our craftsmen applied to this stagecoach gives it a rich historic look. This coach was recently on display in at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It’s new home is in Glendora, CA where it will be on private display.


The concord buggy was invented in Concord N.H. in about 1813 by Lewis Downing. In 1828 Downing was joined in business by Joseph Stephens Abbot. Their heavy Abbot-Downing coaches became famous, being used by companies such as Wells Fargo. The Concord buggy was an inexpensive, stylish and multipurpose substitute for the pricey and burdensome English carriages of the time. Lightly constructed of strong and flexible timbers such as hickory, the buggy was well suited to rough roads. It was fitted with a top and a dashboard to protect the driver and passenger from dust and mud. This vehicle became typical in the West, and this particular wagon hand crafted by Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop resides at Wagon Hound Ranch in Wyoming.

August Update

Phaeton is the early 19th-century term for a sporty carriage drawn by either a single horse or a pair, typically with four extravagantly large wheels, very lightly sprung, with a minimal body, and speed. It typically had no sidepieces in front of the seats. The rather self-consciously classicizing name refers to the ride of mythical Phaëton, son of Helios, who set the earth on fire while attempting to drive the chariot of the sun.



















On Labor Day Weekend the Cities of Ketchum and Sun Valley host the historic Wagon Days Celebration. The holiday weekend is packed with a variety of activities, many of which celebrate the valley's mining history. Below is one of the freight wagons this celebration is centered around. The wagon on the left is from the 20 hitch mule train in Ketchum Idaho. These wagons were originally used for mining and you can watch a video of the jerk line in action here http://www.youtube.com/hansenwheel.

This is a mountain wagon, similar to the stagecoach but with a simpler design, these are popular for tours with their open sides for passengers to look out of. This wagon will be on display at the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.

Hitch wagons, sometimes called express wagons or show wagons, were widely used for light trucking. Companies took great pride in the hitch wagons bearing their business name and in the magnificent team of horses that pulled them. That tradition is still true with many of our customers still providing us with custom logos to have painted on their wagons. This hitch wagon is not entirely finished but it is getting there with just a few chrome pieces left. This is an extravagant hitch wagon and you will soon see it in upcoming shows.

Pictured here is a replication Concord Stagecoach. There is still the same craftsmanship in our coaches as the originals. Each person in our shop has specialized jobs to get our stagecoaches to our customers. The process starts with the coach builder constructing all the wooden components of the coach except for the wheels which are fabricated by the wheelwright. All metal components are hand forged by the blacksmith. Then our upholsterer sews all the seats and curtains. Last the body is stained and all murals, gold leafing and striping are done by a professional painter.

Just Finished!

Ft. Laramie Wagon

Here's the final result of Brian's work. This 1840’s prairie schooner with lynch pin clouted axles and ribbed panel construction was hand-crafted from the ground-up using original designs and processes. All the wood in the construction was shaped with a spoke shave to replicate the tool marks on the finished product that would have been present with original methods used in the construction of such a vehicle. All irons were hand-forged and parts were studied from archeology digs. Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop used this information to accurately replicate the wagon into a piece that would have been used during this time period at the Fort. Read More.

3 Pounder Infantry Cannons

These cannons were used by the British in the Revolutionary War.
Also known as grasshopper cannons, this type of cannon was light weight and could follow the infantry closely, on the battlefield. On the back of these cannons are authentically ironed ammunition boxes.

Two Seated Buckboard

This buckboard was built for a customer in Germany. It was equipped with removable seats, a hydralic braking system, doublebend, and drop heel shafts for a single horse to pull.

Earth Day

Here is the finished product of the hitch wagon Wayne was striping in the previous blog. This wagon is going home to North Carolina. Not only is it going to make a great show wagon it will also be a huge advertising piece.

The ultimate pantry wagon. This is a beautifully restored original Peter Schuttler chuck wagon. In the chuck box there is even a sound system and in the box is a mini fridge and mood lights. Also this wagon is decked out with striping and lettering.

Here is the stagecoach gear Kirby was restoring in the last post. It's about finished, all that's left is it's striping.

The decorative wagon is finished and ready to be shipped. This is going to be in a museum showcasing typical wagon supplies.

Here is the wagon Brian has been building. It has come a long way since the last post. Next the wheels are going to be stained red. A canvas will be fitted on top and then it will look like a wagon off the Oregon trail.

For more information on any of these types of vehicles follow the link below.

http://www.hansenwheel.com/products/hansen/index.html

Feel free to comment.

First Post

Welcome to Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop's Blog. We receive many emails asking about what's going on in the shop, so we decided to create a blog to keep everyone updated. We are always busy so check back often to see what's new!

Currently we have various projects going on...





Jerome is restoring this Drop-Front Phaeton. These buggy's were built in the late 1800's, and were popular among doctors. When finished it will have a falling top that encloses for privacy and protection from the elements. In this picture Jerome is applying a coat of dark blue paint.









This is the beautiful restoration of a Peter Schuttler chuck wagon. The body is the traditional hunter green color and the running gear which is not pictured is a bright orange with blue striping. It may sound like an odd combination but wagon makers always used bright colored gears because they hid dirt better than darker colors. In this picture Leonard is applying a protective coat over this wagon's new paint job.





This wagon is not going to be for horses it is going to be for an exhibit. This is a custom decorator wagon, many stores, restaurants, museums etc. request wagons like this to display. This particular wagon will be used to showcase supplies typically carried in covered wagons.












In this picture Tim our wheelwright is assembling a 3 Pounder Infantry Cannon. This cannon was used by the British in the Revolutionary War. As with all field artillery of the era, the spokes of the wheels extended outward at an angle from the hubs, forming a saucer shaped wheel, to give a slightly softer ride and give better strength in cornering. Since a vertical saucer shaped wheel would otherwise encounter greater stress, the wheels were slanted so that the lower spokes were vertical.




This is the start of a custom Prairie Schooner covered wagon. A descendant of the Conestoga, this wagon was used by the pioneers to transport their possessions westward. Named for its white canvas top, which at a distance made it resemble a sailing ship, the prairie schooner had a flat body and lower sides than the Conestoga wagon.










Kirby is restoring an original stagecoach running gear. This is an Abbot and Downing running gear #509 and is stamped by JG Chesley.












Wayne is applying striping to this custom hitch wagon. Traditionally hitch wagons were used commercially to carry merchandise and supplies, but currently they are more commonly used in shows and for advertising.










For more information on any of these types of vehicles follow the link below.

http://www.hansenwheel.com/products/hansen/index.html

Feel free to comment.