I've got an opportunity to procure a few ( 4 or 5) 75 - 100 year old praire schooner type box wagons. They're in dang good shape.
They've got a little rust on the metal fittings and a little wear and tear, but overall, they're very heavy and built solid. The dimensions are approximately 3' X 10' X 3' Boxes w/ heavy running gear and 2" - 3" wide / 3' X 4' diameter wooden wheels. I reckon they need to be cleaned up, sanded down and painted, but they are functional as is and won't requre too much work to be ready for the show.
Theses wagons have been in the barn for more'n 50 years folks. They may not be 1860's era antiques, but they are closer to authentic civil war era wagons than I've ever seen.
I reckon I can buy 'em for the money. Refurbish 'em and Sell 'em to ya'll for a profit. What say Ya'll? Is there any interest in this sorta thing?
Pointers to definitive resources would be greatly aprreciated.
Do not mess with them at all! A refurbished antique has lost its authenticity. Let your buyer mess with them. Cleaned up and painted may appeal to a few, but "as is" will be your market.
I would love to have one of those, but then I would have to sleep in it for a long, long time. Winter's coming.
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Do not mess with them at all! A refurbished antique has lost its authenticity. Let your buyer mess with them. Cleaned up and painted may appeal to a few, but "as is" will be your market.
Momma said the same thing Ole. But that cuts me outta the mix. Where's my value add? How do I make a profit? I guess I could mark 'em up, sell 'em and transport 'em, but shoot, I was thinkin about making enough offa three or four of 'em to afford to buy one and a team of blonde Belgians for myownself.
You don't need value added. You found 'em. You buy at wholesale and sell steep. By the way, blonde Belgians are not authentic. A yoke of oxen and an old yeller dog are more in keeping with the time. Although any excuse to buy a couple of them magnificent beasts will suffice. Plannig to head for Californiay?
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
You don't need value added. You found 'em. You buy at wholesale and sell steep. By the way, blonde Belgians are not authentic. A yoke of oxen and an old yeller dog are more in keeping with the time. Although any excuse to buy a couple of them magnificent beasts will suffice. Plannig to head for Californiay?
No, Kansas. I'm planning a raid and I need wagons to haul back all the loot them dang Jayhawkers stole from US good old MIZZOU boys.
I 'spect the Kansans will be watching for you. You might get back, if you get back, but you will have lost your wagons.
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
If you are planning to sell them to someone who cares about authenticity and antiques, less work is better.
Now if you wanted to spruce one up to trade for the team, someone into showing heavy horse might take you up on that - if they are heavy enough, for driving around the farm, and if they are pretty enough, for parades and shows.
To me it is like finding a 1914 in someones old barn - I can get "that dirty ol' thing" for $15.00. A bit of saddle soap, maybe some leather balm, and it goes off to ebay or somewhere for $50 or more, depending on the condition (did you say rideable with minimal work - OK, may $250).
If my budget would somehow allow it - safe, functional, and looking as authenitic as possible would put it behind my team. Which my the way is my Irish Draft breeding stallion and whatever large stout mare will work with him. Most of my mares are TB, but there are a few of uncertian pedigree that were incredible hunters/jumpers/dressaage horses in their day. Plus one polish arab "pony". If I could keep her proportions and increase her height she would be a great match for him - well kinda, she's grey and he is black.
Any interst - I have got some nice young stock - maybe a trade?
If you do anything to them, inspect for insects, then store in climate control environment. Perhaps a Civil War museum may want them? Conner Prairie Museum would love one and can use one as a pattern.
You could even donate them or sell them to a reenactment orginazation and use them as hospital wagons or water wagons. They would look really authentic!!!
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