May Update

We recently finished three unique vehicles for Sun Valley Resort. All three of these vehicles are indigenous to the western terrain. We felt fortunate to be chosen to restore these pieces of history. Information we found while undergoing restoration was original lettering under the paint on the Yellowstone coach and we found that Studebaker was the maker of the buckboard. Although the buckboard has a rough appearance we decided to keep it in original condition to be used as a work vehicle. They are currently en route to join the Sun Valley Collection in Idaho.

Below is the beginning of a restoration of an original M.P. Henderson & Son surrey for Melanie Brooker. We are very excited to have the chance of restoring such a rare piece. M.P. Henderson & Son was a famous wagon and coach builder from Stockton California. So far we are finished with the restoration of the undercarriage of this vehicle. We are very impressed with the attention to detail M. P. Henderson & Son put into the construction of this surrey. The finished product will have a rustic natural finish and contrasting black hardware.

Wagonhound's Mud Wagon stagecoach which was in our most recent blog is already nearing completion. The staining, striping, and lettering are already finished. Also Seth has upholstered the canvas top and has began working on the leather interior. We look forward to setting this coach's body on its running gear and seeing the finished product. Doug will be delivering this coach May 27th. Joining Doug will be Jim Patrick with his chuck wagon to feed Wagonhound Ranch's hungry cowboys as they drive 3000 yearlings to their summer pasture.

This original Concord buggy belongs to the Georgeson's from Nebraska. They stopped by the shop earlier this spring to discuss the decoration of their buggy. The idea they came up with was a monogram and roses on the oval body panel with a black fine line striping the undercarriage. The upholstery will be top grain black leather.

Cheyenne Frontier Days stagecoach is almost complete, we chose to accent the rich red body with chestnut colored boots. Wayne Troyer did a beautiful job on the mural of two bull buffaloes on prairie terrain. If you would like to see this stagecoach in person it will be in the upcoming 2010 Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade which will take place July 23rd-August 1st. This rodeo takes place in Cheyenne, WY. For more information visit their website at http://www.cfdrodeo.com/.

This buckboard was another project built for Gary Tritcher. This is our "Cow Boss" buckboard which is equipped with a toolbox under the seat and the rear seat is removable. This is a unique vehicle of American design which uses floor boards as it's suspension. This buckboard will keep it's natural finish to give it western flavor.


Tritcher's stagecoach was just coated with a beautiful paint job. It included striping, a mural, and wonderful scroll work on the bottom half of the body. Wayne Troyer recommended the full scroll so that it would give the essence of the stagecoach era. The mural is a lone bull buffalo which is a great symbol of the west to ornament the door. This stagecoach will be used in parades and wild west exhibits in the future.

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.

Feb. 19th Update

Bain Sheep wagon


Original Bain Sheep wagon Before

This is an original Bain Sheep wagon. This wagon is going through a restoration process. We kept the original running and stripped the body of all its irons. The wood is all new on the body and is getting a distressed finish. It will be equipped with a sheepherder stove and cabinetry. The owners of this sheep wagon will finish it off by decorating it with period correct antiques.


The Restoration So Far


Inside the Sheep wagon

Trichter Stagecoach



Gary Trichter commissioned us to replicate an Abbot Downing Western Concord Mail Coach. This design is made to seat nine passengers and is equipped with leather boots and side curtains. The coach will be used in wild west shows and entertaining. The stagecoach will be given an antique patina finish to look like a rugged historic original coach.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Stagecoach



Cheyenne Frontier Days wanted to have a stagecoach built to promote their Museum and Rodeo. The coach will be pulled by a team of six horses. The stagecoach has been stained and ironed and is ready in the striping booth to recieve it's antique lettering and a mural that will be painted by Wayne Troyer.

Bodoh's Slat Sided Phaeton Carriage



This Cobb style Slat Side Phaeton Carriage is a rare size to find. It is designed for a Cobb size horse. The body is made of a rich dark walnut wood. Restoration is under way and so far the body is being assembled and new wheels have been fabricated.

Wagonhound Ranch Mudwagon



We have done several restorations for Wagonhound Ranch but this project is the most historically significant. In the Lusk Wyoming museum we noticed a mud wagon that had been used on the Douglas Short Line which ran from Lusk to Douglas Wyoming (it is a spur route of the Deadwood Trail). The Douglas Short Line also ran through the Wagonhound Ranch. We are going to replicate all the components of the mud wagon from Lusk so Wagonhound Ranch will once again own a coach from the Douglas Short Line.

Sun Valley Buckboard



This is a unique Studebaker buckboard with a side-spring suspension and partial side boards. We have kept it’s original work character to exemplify it’s rugged life.

Sun Valley Winona Mountain Wagon



This wagon is an original vehicle whose undercarriage was untouched but the body had been repainted. While removing the red paint we discovered original lettering that read Yellowstone West #208. This was an original wagon that carried visitors through Yellowstone’s Park. We were very fortunate to have found this information. If we would have stripped the paint we would have lost this piece of history. We have just cleaned and sealed the undercarriage to keep its original appearance.



Maker's Tag from Sun Valley Mountain Wagon

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.