March 26th Update

Jerome is back to working on Wagonhound's Mud Wagon. Stain finish has been applied to the bottom of the body. He will spend the afternoon sandblasting the irons. Next he will paint all the ironwork.



Seth is starting the leatherwork on Cheyenne Frontier Days front and rear boots. A lot of upholstery goes into a stagecoach the seats, boots and most importantly the thorough-braces. Thorough-braces are straps of leather cured to the strength of steel and strung in pairs to support the body of a stagecoach and enable it to swing back and forth. This cradle-like motion absorbs the shocks of the road. Thorough braces are carefully fashioned and elaborate in arrangement, and it usually requires the hides of more than a dozen cattle to provide enough leather for a single coach.



The original upholstery pattern is finished on Sun Valley's original mountain wagon. All that are left is the finishing touches and it will be ready to hitch.



Here is Joe's finished wagon turned restaurant booth. As you can see the sides were extended outward to accommodate comfortable seating. This wagon will be a unique dining experience for anyone.



Brian's Prairie Schooner's panels have been installed along with the tool and jockey boxes. Today he is going to start on the spray paint job.

Spring is Here and the Shop is FULL of Vehicles!

Sun Valley's mountain wagon top and curtains are finished. Now Seth is in the process of copying the original upholstery pattern. It will have a stitched back roll pattern, in leather.



This Prairie Schooner is going to be on display at Scott's Bluff National Monument in Gering, Nebraska. The whole construction process will be the same as it was in 1840's with all chamfers spoke shaven , and hand-forged hardware. Jerome is working on the wood axle which will be clouted with iron. This technique is a primitive but period correct method. In this photo the mortise and tenon box frame is ready for Brian to install the panels.



Seth has tufted the seats to match the original pattern of this Studebaker buckboard. This rustic piece is ready for display at Sun Valley Resort.



Jerome finished installing the boots and Joel has hand-forged the hardware on Cheyenne Frontier Days' coach; it is now waiting in line at the upholstery shop.



Gary Tritcher's coach body construction is complete and it is now ready for the painting process.



Brian just finished the Dean Sheep Wagon. This original Wyoming wagon has been restored with all the trimmings of an 1880’s sheep camp.



Bodoh's phaeton is on its running gear and ready for upholstery.



This original John Deere wagon is going to be used in a western restaurant in Canada. The wagon will be an actual booth for customers to be served meals in.



Our wheelwright Tim likes to take a break from the wheel shop. Here is a look at a replica British Revolutionary War cannon he just completed, just needs an ammo box and it is ready to fire.