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The Wagon
Project |
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We had this idea to build a Civil War
wagon. |
We started with this pile of running gear
parts. |
Threaded spindles have been around since
at least 1863. |
At this point, we don’t even know the
names of most of the parts. |
Sort of in order, but not quite. |
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The wheels looked pretty solid. |
Here they are stripped of paint. The orange paint is original. |
Repainted and assembled. |
Rear view. |
Side view. |
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Front view. |
Oak boards for the bed are cut to length
and width. |
Not attached yet but looking more like a
wagon. |
Linseed oil really brings out the grain
in Oak. |
Right side. |
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Left side. |
The wagon trailer. |
Side boards cut to length and angle while
tacked together. |
Side view. Definitely more like a wagon now. |
Taking all of the parts to the wagon shop
for completion. |
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Bill has worked his magic. |
Rear view. |
Side view. |
Inside the box. |
Front detail. |
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Kids love wagons! |
Bringing it home for final painting. |
Kids really love wagons. |
Kids really, really love wagons. |
Maybe kids love wagons because they make
good play houses. |
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First event, 2007 Iris Festival,
Greeneville, TN. |
Right side showing brake lever. |
State of |
Pretty nice “period bubble” for the
middle of town. |
Sometimes you just have to let your
tailgate down. |
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Can’t believe it’s done! |
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The running gear on our wagon was
produced by Nissen Wagon Company. This
company produced wagons from 1834 to 1948.
J.P. Nissen
worked for the Confederacy during the Civil War, making supply wagons and
gun carts for Lee and Johnson. In
1904, they were the largest wagon producer in the |
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The earliest ad for Nissen Wagons that I
found. |
An ad with full color. |
An ad for Nissen wagons ran by Wilkinson’s
Store. |
This ad dates from 1904 when Nissen Wagon
produced 50 wagons a day. |
An example of a Nissen wagon in
relatively good condition. |
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Revised 6-30-06 |
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