Volume 28, Issue 1 Summer 2019

The Traveller Volume 28, Issue 1 Summer 2019 n o i t a i c o s s A s ’ t h g i r w l e e h W n a i d a n a C n r e t s e W Wheels and Wood Down Under The Western Canadian Wheelwright’s Association Serving the interests of Wheelwrights since 1992 www.wcwa.ca WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I T A I

C CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUR PUBLISHING INFORMATION O S S

A is published three times W.C.W.A EXECUTIVE The Traveller S ’

T annually, in February, June and October H G

I PRESIDENT: SASKATCHEWAN DIRECTOR: by and for the Western Canadian R

W Chris Jenson Jean Lavoie L Wheelwright’s Association, Diana Matsuda, E

E RR #1, Tees, Alberta T0C 2N0 Box 15, Wardlow, AB T0J 3M0

H Editor. Submission deadlines are January 15, W (403) 788-2474 (403) 566-2448; 793-1366 (c) May 15 and September 15. Please submit N A

I [email protected] [email protected]

D Traveller correspondence or articles to: A N

A VICE PRESIDENT:

C MANITOBA DIRECTOR:

The Traveller N John Lavoie Brian Reynolds R

E c/o Diana Matsuda T Box 15 Box 338 S E Wardlow, AB T0J 3M0 33 Farrell Drive, Parksville, BC V9P 2V4 W Rapid City, Manitoba R0K 1W0 (403) 566-2448; 793-1366 (c) (204) 826-2120 Tel: (250) 228-3971 [email protected] [email protected] Email: [email protected]

SECRETARY: ONTARIO DIRECTOR: Kris Burkholder Bill Doyle To book advertising in The Traveller, or for Box 2, Site 104, RR#3 (613) 396-5071 WCWA correspondence, contact: Sundre, Alberta T0M 1X0 (403) 638-9310 EAST COAST DIRECTOR: WCWA [email protected] Mike Hartigan c/o Deb Corbett TREASURER: 4167 Sandy Point Road 7282 Dunwaters Drive Deb Corbett Shelburne, Nova Scotia B0T 1W0 Kelowna, BC V1Z 3W4 7282 Dunwaters Drive (902) 875-2387 (250) 353-1259 Kelowna, BC V1Z 3W4 mikehartiganwoodworking@ Email: [email protected] (250) 353-1259 gmail.com [email protected] EUROPEAN DIRECTOR: DISCLAIMER NOTICE B.C. DIRECTOR: Franck Calloch Dwayne Danley rue du grao The Traveller makes every effort to ensure 1853 Pleasant Valley Road 56590 ile de groix the accuracy of the information contained Armstrong, BC V0E 1B2 France herein, BUT the Executive Officers of the (250) 546-9979 011 337 8606 5076 (c) WCWA and the General Membership [email protected] [email protected] of the Association, including the Editor,

U.S.A. DIRECTOR: specifically disclaim any responsibility or ALBERTA DIRECTOR: liability for damages or injuries as a result of Wayne Lenfesty Gary Stephenson any construction, design use or application Box 2, Site 104, RR #3 45 West High Street of information contained in Sundre, Alberta T0M 1X0 Ballston Spa, New York 12020 The Traveller. (403) 638-9310; 586-0229 (c) (518) 588-4397 The end use of any information from this [email protected] [email protected] newsletter is solely at the user’s own risk. N O I

Table of Contents: T A I C

Editor’s Comments...... 3 AGM 2019 Overview...... 21 O S S

President’s Report...... 4 A

Award Nominations...... 22 S ’ Treasurer’s Report...... 5 The Auto Red Bug...... 24 T H G R

Alberta Director’s Report...... 6 Western Stagecoach Mystery...... 25 I W L E

Saskatchewan Director’s Report...... 7 The Decorative Wheelwright...... 25 E H W

Manitoba Director’s Report...... 7 Auction To Benefit WCWA...... 27 N A I

U.S.A. Director’s Report...... 9 Upcoming Events...... 27 D A N

Cover: Wood and Wheels Down Under...... 10 Wheelwright Advisors/Advertising...... 28 A C

Demonstrators In Demand...... 12 WCWA Membership Form...... 29 R E T

The ‘R’ Files...... 14 S AGM Registration Form...... 30 E W 2 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T E

EDITOR’S COMMENTS R N

By Diana Matsuda, Editor A N A D I A

This is the first issue of The Traveller ever to be N

distributed through our website rather than in W H E E

print form. Hopefully our members will soon L W

become accustomed to accessing it from our R I G H

website, managed by our excellent Webmaster, T ’ S

Joyce Morrison. We are hoping that this will be A S

a user-friendly and cost effective way to deliver S O C I

our newsletter. Readers will also be able to print A T I

a copy on their own printer if they so desire. O N For members who still wish to receive the newsletter in their mailbox, this can be done at a minimal cost for printing and mailing. Those interested in this option may get in touch with our Treasurer, Deb Corbett at debcorbett57@ gmail.com A short time later, while walking along the You will find that this new Traveller format has boardwalk in Kuranda, there was a penny farthing the enhancement of full colour photographs parked next to a shop. Who’d have thought! throughout. In print form, black & white photos were used in the interior of the newsletter in order to minimize printing costs. On the web, there is no need to do this so photos will be more attractive and will also show more detail, as in when paint colours are being discussed.

It has been interesting to see how our WCWA Facebook page is beginning to gain momentum, as members start to see its value for sharing information, posting questions and benefitting from the expertise of others, advertising items for sale, or promoting upcoming events. Kudos to Wayne Lenfesty for initiating this page and for monitoring and shaping its development. In New Zealand, we visited a number of museums I’m sure our readers will thoroughly enjoy our where again, there was much evidence of the cover story by Peter J and Peter A McIntyre early settlement period in that country. In

W from Australia. Having just returned from Down Dunedin, the following fine example of a fire E S

T Under, I found Peter’s comments on the wood

E truck was on display … R

N and wood issues to be particularly interesting.

A As for the wheelwrighting descriptions in his N A

D article, I’m sure our members will be impressed I A N

by the skills and interests of this 84 year old W

H wheelwright! E E L W

R While in Australia, the WCWA was never far I G H

T from my mind as I kept coming across instances ’ S

where wooden-wheeled vehicles were featured. A S

S In the middle of a rain forest in Queensland, in O C I

A the town of Kuranda, I came across the following T I

O sturdy cart in use in a market.

N [Continued page 4] WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 3 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [Editor’s Comments continued from page 3] A

I PRESIDENT’S REPORT C O

S … along with a covered wagon that certainly By Chris Jenson, WCWA President S A

brought back memories of my years at the S ’ T Western Development Museum in Saskatchewan. Margaret and I spent a couple of days this week H G I

R at a community engagement event in Irricana W

L which brings students from local schools to E E

H Pioneer Acres over a 3-day period. W

N A I

D Along with Joe Havinga, we entertained the kids, A

N teachers and some parents at our wheelwright A C

N shop. During the 3 days, it is estimated that R E

T over 1200 people visited our shop where they S E

W were introduced to the art of wheelwrighting, as shown in the photo below. Not only do such events bring visitors to Pioneer Acres, they also It seems that we in the northern hemisphere help to increase awareness of our Association share much common history with our antipodean and our craft. cousins! In past years, John Lavoie was the active member This will be the last newsletter before the WCWA at this event; however, he was at home recovering Annual Meeting in August, so there is no time from surgery. We wish him well and hope he will to waste in getting in your registration form and be able to at least visit the wheelwright display at planning to make your way to Irricana. As this Draft Horse Town during the Calgary Stampede. th will be the 50 Anniversary of the Pioneer Acres For the past number of years, John and Jean Annual Show and Reunion, the organizers will have organized and run our display during the undoubtedly be “pulling out all the stops” to Stampede. We will require other members make it a very special event and one not to be to handle the event this year which runs from missed. Don’t forget your cameras! [Continued page 5] N O I T A I C O S S A

S ’ T H G R I W L E E H W

N A I D A N A C

N R E T S E W 4 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[President’s Report continued from page 4] have not paid their memberships to get on it and E R N

support your FAVORITE ASSOCIATION! July 5-14, 2019. Please check your availability C A N

and become involved. Wayne Lenfesty has A

**REMINDER** - you can now send in your D I

obtained a couple of banners that will be used to A membership fees via e-transfer – just send it to N

promote our Association. Now we need a good W my email [email protected] The WCWA H E

representation of our members to step up and E bank account has now been set up to receive L W

show the flag! R e-transfer – this should make payments a lot I G H

simpler, more convenient and plus you save on T For some inspiration, check out Draft Horse ’ S

cheque fees and postage. A

Town on the Calgary Stampede website and S S O

consider helping with our part of Draft Horse C

Please see below the Financials as of May 31, I A

Town. We are listed as one of the sponsors T I

2019. If you wish detail on any of the documents, O so our WCWA signage will be very evident, please send me an email with your questions. N which is great promotion for the Association. Our bank balance as of May 31, 2019 = $3,492.68.

I hope everyone is making plans to join their fellow WCWA Income Statement: wheelwrights from August 9-11 for our Annual 01/01/2019 to 05/31/2019 Meeting at Pioneer Acres in Irricana. Prior to the event, a shop clean-up and reorganization day REVENUE will be held, along with planning for a Founder’s Sales Revenue Display at the shop. Newsletter Advertising 110.00 Membership Fees 1,819.12 Last year, the decision was made to update our Donations 18.13 trophies and display them in a glass-fronted Print - Newsletter 64.50 cabinet that will be built for this purpose. We Net Sales 2,011.75 need to accumulate information and pictures of our founding members. TOTAL REVENUE 2,011.75 So members, please be prepared to assist in both EXPENSE our major events this summer. Get in touch at General & Administrative Expenses [email protected] and we’ll put you to Newsletter Expenses 1,270.47 work! Interest & Bank Charges 35.53 Office Supplies 106.60 Total General & Admin. Expenses 1,412.60 TREASURER’S REPORT By Deb Corbett, WCWA Treasurer TOTAL EXPENSE 1,412.60 Good day to you all. Spring is here, and I hope NET INCOME 599.15 everyone is excited about it as I am!! I would like to extend a “Warm Welcome” to our W

S newest members: T

E WCWA Balance Sheet: R

N • Martin Donald of Owen Sound, Ontario As at 05/31/2019 C A

N A •

D Andy Zeggelaar of Thorhild, Alberta I

A ASSET N

W • Terry Hietanen + Diane Floyd of Errington, BC Current Assets H

E CIBC Southcentre 3,492.68 E L W Memberships for 2019 – 48 paid Memberships, Total Cash 3,492.68 R I

G 5 paid Family Memberships. For 2020 – 3 paid

H Accounts Receivable 1,390.00 T

’ Memberships, and for 2021 – 2 paid Memberships.

S Total Receivable 1,390.00

S Total Current Assets 4,882.68 S Thanks to all who have paid their 2019 O C I

A membership fees. Memberships are down T I

O considerably, so hoping this will stir those who [Continued page 6] N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 5 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [Treasurer’s Report continued from page 5]

A and Danger Tree Faller. Yikes - it is happening I C

O already and it is only the end of May beginning

S Inventory Assets S

A of June…. Happy travels everyone. Promotional Items - inventory -160.91 S ’ T Total Inventory Assets -160.91 H G I

R W L

E Capital Assets E ALBERTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT H Office Furniture/Equipment 52.49 W

N By Wayne Lenfesty, Alberta Director

A Net - Furniture/Equipment 52.49 I D

A Total Capital Assets 52.49

N Spring has finally sprung here in Alberta. It has A C been late coming in the high country at Sundre. N Other Non-Current Assets R E

T Computer Software 887.22 The tree leaves just emerged the last week in S E May which is much later than average. And it is W Total Other Non-Current Assets 887.22 very dry for the first part of June, so a nice warm TOTAL ASSET 5,661.48 rain would be welcomed. This will be the first issue of The Traveller that LIABILITY will issued electronically, unless you request and Current Liabilities pay for a paper copy to be mailed. It will be a Accounts Payable -179.50 big saving to the WCWA budget and will assist Prepaid Sales/Deposits 80.00 in keeping the Association financially viable. We Total Current Liabilities -99.50 will be watching closely to see how this will affect

our membership. TOTAL LIABILITY -99.50 The WCWA Facebook page has not grown in EQUITY membership as much as I had hoped, but as of the Retained Earnings first part of June, we have 32 active members. I Retained Earnings - Previous Year 5,161.83 must work at getting the word out and hopefully Current Earnings 599.15 improve on that number. It is a great place to Total Retained Earnings 5,760.98 spread information quickly, allowing everyone to respond immediately. I had expected the cover TOTAL EQUITY 5,760.98 story in the Winter Traveller would have created more interest in our social media site, but I am LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 5,661.48 optimistic that it will grow in time. Please spread the word to everyone you think will be interested. Kris and I, along with both my daughters and On a personal note, Kim and I have made a bit their escorts, had the privilege of attending the more progress on the beer wagon for Angry Hen Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky the first Brewery in Kaslo, BC. Below is a picture, of my weekend in May. We will forever have fond work – painting the first coat on the chassis took memories of this experience. Of course we had

6 – 7 hours – but I think she looks pretty sweet money on the race winner, Maximum Security. N O I

so far. T He won the race, only to be disqualified after a 27 A I C

minute wait after the race. This is the only time O S S

in the history of the race that this has happened. A

S ’

It was a big letdown. T H G R I

While in the Bluegrass State, we toured the W L E

Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. They had an E H W

array of horse-drawn carriages and wagons that N A

they use for special occasions. All of them were I D A

in great shape and well cared for. See next page N A C for a few photos. N

Kim has been working on the body, but has been R E

[Continued page 7] T hauled off to fight fires, working as a Crew Boss S E W 6 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[Alberta Report continued from page 6] E

Hope to see a huge turnout at the AGM at R N

Pioneer Acres this August. It is Pioneer Acres’ C A N

50th anniversary and the salute this year is to A D I horses, so we have many special events paying A N

tribute to horses. W H E E L

If you do have a story or some news, especially W R I about Saskatchewan, you can submit it to our G H T ’

newsletter Editor yourself or send it to me and S

I’ll submit it for you. S S O C I A T I O MANITOBA DIRECTOR’S REPORT N By Brian Reynolds, Manitoba Director Summer has finally arrived after a long, cold winter. For the first time in the 24 years we have lived in Canada, I questioned the wisdom of the move. Having said that, now that the grass is growing and the flowers are out, I can see why. The wheel shop is busy, thankfully with normal buggy and wagon wheels, which makes an almost We are looking forward to the AGM at Irricana pleasant change from the very heavy wheels that again this year. It is a great place for us to meet have dominated work in the shop over the last and demonstrate the craft of the wheelwright. two years. Even a wagon wheel feels relatively Looking forward to seeing everyone there. light and straightforward to build. Happy Wheeling . Speaking of wagon wheels, I recently had to take some time to think on the work we do as wheelwrights. Until recently, I had never SASKATCHEWAN DIRECTOR’S REPORT accepted work to build decorative wheels. In my By Jean Lavoie, Saskatchewan Director opinion, there is only one way to build a wheel, and that is how it was originally designed, to do We really haven’t done much with wheels the work it was originally designed to do. As we this spring and summer, as we have had some all know, that takes time, materials and a lot of personal health issues. Hopefully we have a dedication. handle on this but it sure puts a damper on doing [Continued page 8] things.

W We have had a lot of interest in yard art type E S

T wheels lately. We have offered “new” old stock Buggy Builder’s Bulletin E R

N wheels (that is, never used but could be up to A Trade Journal Serving the Horse-Drawn Vehicle Industry C

A in the U.S.A & Canada

N 100 years old) at the bargain price of $250, and A

D still people think that’s too much! PROJECTS & HELPFUL HINTS ON SOLVING BUGGY-BUILDING PROBLEMS I A N

W 1-Year subscription: $25.00 (Canadians $30.00) U.S.

H We did manage to sell another chandelier to (U.S. funds only, drawn on U.S. banks; Canadian money orders also accepted) E E

L the man who bought one at the WCWA meeting Rates to other foreign countries will be quoted upon request. W

R last year. When we asked if he liked his first I G VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER ACCEPTED H

T chandelier, he said that someone had seen the ’ S

other and had convinced him to donate it to a A Buggy Builder’s Bulletin S

S local fundraiser. We also are working on a table, 5524 Barryville Rd. O C

I Nashville, MI 49073

A but so far it’s a “John special” as the top alone T

I Telephone: (517) 852-0671 O weighs 75 to 100 pounds! N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 7 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [Manitoba Report continued from page 7] built to fit the existing tire and hub rings, rather A I C

O than sizing the rings to fit the wheel. I know this

S Generally the cost to do this would deter most of S

A has been done before - I think Chris Jenson did

the customers who simply want a wheel to hang S ’ something similar a few years ago - but I had T on a wall or place in a flower border. I wondered H G

I never done it.

R why this idea is so attractive to many people. W L

E We have all seen a wide variety of horse-drawn

E The more I thought about it, the more I realized H vehicles rotting away as lawn ornaments when W

that there were positive aspects to building N

A they could be restored or put to good use. As a

I the wheels purely for decoration. This was not D

A wheelwright, I did not want to be a part of this

N only for decoration; this was to be a very strong A

C as I considered it to be a negative aspect of the

connection to a person’s past. Every time she N

R wheelwright trade. E looked out her garden window, there would be a T S

E reminder of her childhood, her grandfather and

W Recently I was contacted by a person who wanted two wagon wheels rebuilt simply as garden the obviously good times the memories evoked. ornaments. My first reaction was no; I did not From my perspective, I would get to rebuild two want to spend my time to rebuild the wheels, wheels to a very precise size to fit the original simply to have them deteriorate over time metalwork, with as much as possible of the due to exposure to weather. The lady was very original wheel retained. pleasant and in the conversation she mentioned Then there was the question of how to preserve that these wheels were from a wagon that her the wheels and give the usual 50 year warranty. grandfather had owned. He had recently passed As we all know, the greatest enemy of wooden away, the farm had been sold to a larger farm, wheels (or anything wooden) is moisture and so the old farm was being cleared, effectively penetration. We discussed this - after all it would erased completely. She had salvaged the wheels be a sizeable investment - but there are many from the wagon which was just the usual rotted quality products on the market today that will parts. Basically all that was left of any use was protect and preserve the wheels, so I don’t think the metal parts (sound familiar?). this will be a big issue. I explained that it would be the same amount So, all things considered, I accepted the job and of work and materials to rebuild the wheels, I now have a different perspective on decorative whether they were to work as functional wagon wheels. I have changed my own set of rules. wheels or to decorate her flower border. The Basically, if there is a genuine attachment to the cost would be similar which usually resulted in a wheels with some direct connection to the past, very expensive decoration. and the owner is prepared to pay the cost of the This would deter most folks, but then she rebuild, then I am happy to do it. explained that as a little girl she would often Now all I have to do is to figure out how to size ride up on the wagon seat with her grandfather, the wheel to accurately fit the tire when it comes sitting behind a team of Clydes, doing whatever to shrinking it on. The hub rings are not an issue needed doing around the farm, and how, as she as I can easily machine the hubs to size on the

got older, he let her handle the horses. To her, the N

lathe. Perhaps I should set up the lathe to turn O I

wheels brought back a flood of happy memories T the entire wheel so the felloes can be accurately A I

of times past. The wheels were all that remained, C sized. More to think about. O S

so as far as she was concerned, whatever it took S A

to rebuild the wheels was worth it. A few days ago, I was rebuilding a large Sarven ’ T H

hub wheel. The customer had brought in just one G R To make this more interesting from a I front wheel. It was from a wagon that carried W L

wheelwright’s perspective, she wanted to retain E passengers during the summer. The wheel was E H

all the original metal parts, presumably as these W well and truly rotted. It had been repaired many N A

would have been the actual parts that rumbled I

times using epoxy glue until there was more glue D

down the gravel roads and made the noise A than wheel. Completely unsafe, I would not have N A C

she could remember. As I thought about this, I

used it on a wheelbarrow, but up until that time, N R

realized that this could be turned into a useful E T

[Continued page 9] S

exercise in that the wheels would have to be E W 8 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[Manitoba Report continued from page 8] I continue to work on the high wheel bicycle E R N

project. I did build a wheel based on a standard the customer had been quite happy to load up C A

buggy wheel at 50” diameter, with the spokes N with people and take them on wagon rides. I A D

alternating each side to give me the shape I I asked about the other three wheels, which he A N

assured me were fine, but you have to wonder. wanted. It worked well but did not look right; the W H

standard spokes were too large in the diameter E E L The point of this is that the tenons on the new and looked disproportionate for this wheel. It W R I Sarven spokes were approximately 1/32” too G looked too “heavy” and was not the lightweight H T ’

wide for the mortices in the hub. Generally I wheel I wanted. It is now dismantled and I am S

would just touch them on a sander to reduce shaving the spokes by hand. S S O

the width, but this only required a very small C I A

It is another of those projects that is going to T

amount to be removed. I was thinking on how I O to do this accurately and happened to look at take way more time than originally thought, but I N my hoof trimming tools hanging on the wall near will get there. I had a customer in the shop when the bench. I thought I would try using the hoof I was working on this wheel so I had to explain rasp, which I did. It worked really well and I was what it was for. His next question was “could you able to remove just the right amount. The file build wooden wheels accurately enough to use got right into the shoulders of the tenon which on a motorcycle, just for fun use”? Now there’s a you can’t always do on a sander; in short it did a thought for the day. very good job, quickly and efficiently. I am sure many of you have done this in the past and I am definitely not the first to do it, but I thought it was worth mentioning. It was certainly quicker, U.S.A. DIRECTOR’S REPORT easier and more effective than using the sander. By Gary Stephenson, U.S.A. Director I’m writing this at our summer hideaway in Wyoming, not to say it is anywhere close to summer weather, with snow coating the ground this morning. With thoughts of winter, I’ve found it a good time to explore and research wheelwright tools and techniques. For example, I’ve been re- visiting a Type D rubber tire applying machine that was sold by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. around the turn of the century. Most of my research centers on patent documents and reseller catalogue descriptions to unravel the mysteries, applicability and “how-to” for a particular device or tool. However, in this case, I was lucky enough to locate an original Goodyear W E

S Tire & Rubber Manufacturer’s Catalogue from T E R

N 1906 at a museum library.

C A N

A In it I found not only the expected listings D I

A of rubber tire materials for carriage wheels N

W and bicycles, but also a wealth of application H E

E information and, most exciting for me, full L W

R instructions for using the tire applying machine. I G

H It appears that Goodyear did this because T ’ S the machine evidently was part of the sale to

A S

S wheel and carriage manufacturers and to other O C

I large users. The net effect for us is a wealth of A T I O

N [Continued page 10] WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 9 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [U.S.A. Report continued from page 9]

A continue his interest in wheels; however, he still I C

O information on rubber tiring, applicable to any enjoys keeping in touch with what is going on in S S

A the world of horse driving and wheelwrighting.

machine being used. A link to images from the S ’

T catalogue is located on the WCWA website. H G

I Dad has made or repaired wheels that have R

W Accordingly, I have reprinted the entire catalogue

L gone to all mainland states of Australia. He also E

E and will have a dozen copies available at the

H constructed a purpose-built bespoke competition W

AGM for cost. To me, sharing information and

N vehicle that was featured on the front cover of A

I techniques is a huge part of what the WCWA is D a Dutch driving magazine in 2001. He describes A

N about, and why I’m a part of it.

A his thought processes in developing this vehicle: C

R Another aspect of the WCWA is contacts. Each “Having an inventive mind all my life and having E T

S member has access to probably the greatest E driven 3 Phase Competition vehicles for many W body of wheelwright knowledge in the world. years, I realized that the shafts stopped a horse Networking, either by design or spontaneously, from turning, so I built a shaft-less competition is another huge part of the WCWA. A case in sulky with a turntable above the back saddle point … this last winter I got a call from a WCWA and traces which were endless, running around member in North Dakota introducing me to a two pulleys. The horse could turn at right angles relative doing blacksmithing just up the road through obstacles and it was a joy to drive. Some from me in New York. Without the WCWA, this overseas visitors were at an event and their never would have happened and I wouldn’t thoughts were ‘They drive strange vehicles down have ended up with a new friend and a bottle of under’.” Adirondack bourbon directly from his distillery! So – back to summer, the WCWA and the AGM. For all these reasons, we’re eagerly anticipating the meeting in August and would encourage anyone interested in wheelwrighting to make the trip. You won’t regret the journey and you’ll learn so much from the experience.

COVER STORY: WHEELS AND WOOD DOWN UNDER By Peter A and Peter J McIntyre, New South Wales, Australia With the renewal of a WCWA membership for 2019 came a very interesting story from an Australian wheelwright, Peter McIntyre and his N

son, also Peter. Peter J McIntyre (senior) turned O I T A

84 this year and is still very interested in keeping I C O

up with the craft of wheelwrighting, a long-time S S A

passion. S ’ T H

Son Peter A McIntyre has passed on the following: G R I W L

Next is a photograph of a horse-drawn hearse, E

Dad lives in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. E H

with Dad all dressed up and sitting in the driver’s W

He has passed on all of his wheelwright N

seat. He restored this vehicle in the early A equipment to a cousin of mine, John McIntyre I D

1990s over nearly a three year period. All the A who lives near Bathurst and who continues Dad’s N A C

legacy. Mum and Dad moved from their small woodwork was replaced, and new steel wheels N R

farm just outside Parkes into town about 18 and rubber tyres with disc brakes were installed. E T S months ago, and he has limited space in which to [Continued page 11] E W 10 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[Down Under continued from page 10] The sections of rim timber (fellows) to repair the E R N

dray wheels were cut from this tree. I first saw There was new chrome work and beautiful C A

the tree on a property I worked on 70 years ago. N

natural timber inside the carriage, with A D

It was then very dead, so to grow to this size and I handmade wooden pegs to secure all sizes of A N

coffins. Only the etched glass was original. die made it anybody’s guess as to how old it was. W H E E

I did not take it for granted that the wood would L It was a project from one of the last family- W R

be solid for milling, as in Australia there are large I owned funeral homes in Sydney. It has had one G H

populations of termites in the bush. To satisfy T other owner since the mortician passed away ’ S

myself that it would be solid enough to mill, I cut A

many years ago. S S

5 inch by 12 inch by 12 foot slabs so the finished O C I Dad bought it back and donated it with, many timber would be sufficient to cut six pieces long A T I other artifacts from his own personal collection, O

enough to make the fellows. N to a small museum in Eugowra New South Wales. I took a generator and a 24 inch by 3/8 inch drill into the bush to test the butt of the tree for white ants, as they eat out a tree from the ground up. It was a great feeling when the test holes came up solid, a rare tree. The next problem was to find a miller to do the job of sawing. Once you explain to them that it is dry Iron bark (a very hard wood), they are generally too busy to do the job as this type of wood is very hard on saw blades. Eventually after about eight months of searching for a miller, I delivered my log and it produced beautiful slabs of timber. Although Peter (senior) does not own a computer Rolling the new steel rim was a long job as these or smart phone, nor does he have an email wheels needed two new ones, 5 inches by ¾ address, he very kindly took the time to hand- inch. The roller in the photo below was found in write the following notes about some of his perfect order in an old wheelwright shop about wheelwrighting experiences: 40 years ago. It was able to take up to 6 inch wide steel and came from England at about the The photo below shows the log of Aussie turn of the century (early 1900s). Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) that I used to repair the wheels of a two-wheeled dray from approximately 1900. This was a tip dray, chiefly used for road making and able to carry a ton of gravel. W E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O [Continued page 12] N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 11 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [Down Under continued from page 11] A I C O

S This machine was made to curve inch-and-a-half S A

thick steel. Full credit goes to the makers who, S ’

T approximately 150 years ago, would have had no H G I

R modern machinery as we have today. The casting W

L and riveting of these machines has always been E E

H a wonder to me. W

N A I

D Rolling these rims was a long job. My son and A

N I had a day’s work on two rims. After counting A C

N for 1 foot of steel and multiplied by the length, R E

T it took 5000 turns of the handle going backward S E

W and forward to get the correct roll for each rim. The normal flat spot at the end of the steel, which in this roller was 15 inches, was taken out at the end of rolling as I allowed for the extra 30 inches in the circumference of the rim by opening up the roller and rolling past the actual size I needed.

into shape as it is contracting. When the smoke turns blue, you must water quickly to stop the wood burning.

Peter has many more stories to tell and has promised to send information on other projects for future editions of The Traveller.

DEMONSTRATORS IN DEMAND What better way to promote our craft and the WCWA than by doing wheelwright N O demonstrations at the many fairs and shows I T A I

held in small towns during the summer months? C O S

In order to have a presence at these shows, we S A

are asking willing members to let us know their S ’ T

Photo above shows Peter (senior) and son Peter location and availability, and we will post this H G R in the final stages of completing the wheel. information on our website. Then, when show I W L E

organizers are looking for activities of interest, E The rim was heated in a fire pit to approximately H W

they can readily find someone in their area,

500 degrees C to expand the steel. It was lifted N A

and wheelwrighting will become a part of their I D

onto the wooden wheel that had been soaked A

event. If you are willing to get involved, contact N with linseed oil just prior to placing the rim. The A C

Chris Jenson at [email protected] N

linseed oil gives off a white smoke when heated R E T

and gives you time to hammer the rim on and S E W 12 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T E R N

C A N

FOR SALE: STAGECOACH A D I A N

Full Size Concord (Replica) W H E E L

Model: 1862 Centre Harbor W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N

Built From: Totally original features, such as: Abbot-Downing Blueprints • Oak wooden hubs Built By: • Steel rims on wheels Dale Ettinger, Big Bend, • Mechanical hand brakes Wisconsin, U.S.A. • Authentic paint (non gloss) W E

S This stagecoach is well and solidly built. T E R N

It is as close as you will get to an original! C A N A D I A N

W Selling by Private Treaty (Cash) H E E

L Market value: $65,000 W R I G H

T Available for viewing: ’ S

21341 Twp. Rd. 534, Ardrossan, Alberta T8G 2B2 (Edmonton area) A S S O C

I Contact Glen McKee at 780-992-1099 (evenings) A T I O N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 13 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I T

A These carts are unusual for North American

I THE “R” FILES C

O conveyances. They appear rather primitive at

S By Jeremy Masterson, Head of Restoration S

A first glance and indeed, many were built by

S Remington Carriage Museum ’

T individuals from essentially whatever materials H G I For this article, the “R” in the title will stand for were at hand and with the simplest of tools. R W

L Replica instead of Restoration. This is due to the Others were constructed by shipping companies E E

H fact that the Restoration Shop of the Remington using more sophisticated means and better W

N Carriage Museum has received a contract to materials. A I D

A build two replica Red River Carts. This contract

N In either case, they were built entirely without A

C is between the Remington and the Lower Fort

metal – no iron tires to strengthen the wheels, N

R Garry National Historic Site run by Parks Canada.

E no iron boxing and axle spindles, and no screws, T S

E nails or bolts. They relied entirely on the wood

W The Red River Cart is an icon of Canadian westward expansion in the 1800s. Prior to the joinery and rawhide lashings to keep everything completion of the Trans-Canada Railway in together. I believe that this belies the “primitive” 1886, Red River carts and their Métis drovers label when you consider that they were intended were virtually the only supply links for Eastern to travel hundreds of miles between destinations products to reach the emergent towns of the with no repair facilities along the way. Prairies, and were essential to the fur trade in Having now built and worked on a number of Western Canada. They were named for the Red carts, I feel that the means and methods of their River Valley, and carts were produced by the construction are purposeful and allow repairs Métis people of this area on both sides of the and replacement parts to be made along the international border. The city of Winnipeg now trail by the drover with only a simple tool box. sits on what would have been considered the eastern terminus of the supply line to the west. [Continued page 15] N O I T A I C O S S A

S ’ T H G R I W L E E H W

N A I D A N A C

N R E

An archival picture provided by the Glenbow Museum. Usually the RR carts were pulled by an ox. T S E W 14 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[The “R” Files continued from page 14] E R N

If the more typical construction methods of the C A N

time had been used, the lack of a blacksmith or A D I

wheelwright along the way would have meant A N

disaster if a failure occurred. W H E E L

The replicas built by the Restoration Shop are W R I

along the lines of the more sophisticated builder. G H T

Historical information suggests that pit sawing of ’ S

hardwood lumber and various other refinements S S O

were available to the major builders of the day. C I A T I Our choices as to construction methods and O N materials are also constrained by the fact that we Six hub blanks supplied by the folks at Lower Fort can’t access the appropriate hardwoods simply Garry – once an elm tree growing in a park in by stepping out the back door of the shop to the Winnipeg. creek bed and felling a few trees. Elm was also available to the original builders in It was felt that hardwoods similar to what the Red River Valley. The boards for the bottom had been originally used were needed for the and sides of the box area are made from rough construction of the carts. Our sources therefore sawn spruce as are the spindles supporting the became commercial lumber suppliers in Calgary top frame. and Lethbridge. From them we purchased quantities of kiln-dried white oak (Garry Oak, The information to guide the construction was a sub-species of white oak, is native to the Red obtained from a number of sources. The folks River Valley). Air-dried would have been a better at Lower Fort Garry came through again and choice but was not available in the time frame supplied a set of engineering drawings that had allowed for completion of the contract. been made some years ago by measuring an original cart. These can be ordered from them for a small cost. We also found the booklet on Red River Carts authored by Fred Finley to be a valuable aid, as well as his chapters in “Wheelwrighting: A Modern Introduction, Volume II”. Other information came from a book titled “Wagons, Mules and Men: How the Frontier Moved West” by Nick Eggenhofer (pub. 1961 Hastings House). All of these sources were incorporated into the design of our carts. [Continued page 16] W E S T E

R The lift of white oak for the three carts. This N

C represents nearly $9,000 worth of lumber. A N A D

I We used elm for the hubs and this was supplied A N

by the folks at Lower Fort Garry in the form of W H

E blanks about 14” to 16” square and 24” long. E L

W These chunks had once been an elm tree growing R I

G proudly in a city park in Winnipeg. H T ’ S

A Rather than the wood being destroyed or sent to S S

O a landfill when the tree had to be taken down, C I

A these pieces were rescued and set aside for just T I O such a purpose. N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 15 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [The ‘R’ Files continued from page 15] A I C

O As well, the particular materials and tools S S A

available to us for their construction had to be S ’

T taken into consideration. H G I R

W We started with a stack of 12/4 (that’s “twelve L E

E quarter” in lumber yard terminology, meaning H W

3 inch thick rough lumber) White Oak. The N A I two shafts for each cart were cut from pieces D A

N approximately 6 inches wide and 12 feet long. A C

N The 24 felloe segments for the four wheels each R E

T needed a piece of 12/4 by about 8 or 9 inches S E

W wide by 32 inches long. The axles were also from the 12/4 material and about 5 inches wide by 84 inches long. All 48 spokes, the front and back frame, the frame around the top of the body and the tray supports were made from 8/4 (2”) quarter sawn White Oak.

The component parts for three carts – shafts in the background, felloe segments in the fore. All in all, there is about $4,000 in materials in each of these carts if you have to buy your wood from commercial suppliers as I do. If you can chop down a tree or two in your back yard, a significant savings will result. I used a ten inch portable circular saw to rough N O

out my pieces, as the weight of the 3 inch I T A

thick and up to 13 inch wide and 12 foot long I C O

oak was too heavy to sling around on our shop S S A equipment. Once sized roughly to dimension, I S ’ T

then used various portable and fixed machinery H G R

and hand tools to shape the pieces. Although I I W L

have an adze like Fred’s, I used our large band E E H

saw to cut the curved felloes. The large blocks for W

the hubs had to be carefully turned on our wood A I D

lathe. A couple of different methods were tried A N A

to reduce the square blanks to a manageable C

The square blanks have been turned down to 10” N size for turning down to the finished size of 10” R E T

diameter cylinders. S

diameter by 16” length. [Continued page 17] E W 16 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[The ‘R’ Files continued from page 16] modification, it was able to deal with the round E R N

hubs. It was also used to create the mortises in I had found the process of creating the tapered C A

the shafts for the tray support beams. N

hole in the hub for the axle to be challenging A D I

during previous encounters with these carts, so A N

I constructed a tapered ream out of aluminum W H E

and stock carbide cutters for this project. It E L W

worked reasonably well but will require some R I G

improvement if I need to use it again. H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N

A Remington Shop-made aluminum tapered ream being used to create the tapered hole in the 16” long hub on our wood lathe. Most of the joinery in these carts is of the mortise and tenon style and often uses wedging A Makita Chain Mortiser , modified to fit on instead of gluing to make the joints permanent. a bench-top drill press base with a dividing head The rectangular mortices in the hubs were cut jig holding the hub. with a Makita chain mortiser (model 7104L). The spoke tenons into the hub are secured This portable power tool is normally used in with what some call a fox tail wedge. This is the the log home building industry but with a little practice of putting a wedge in the end ofthe tenon that will be buried into the hub mortise. When the spoke is driven into its mortise, the wedge bottoms out first and pries open the end of the tenon in the bottom of the hole. Once set, the only way to remove the spoke is to break (or saw) it off and then drill out the broken end of the tenon. W [Continued page 18] E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 17 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [The ‘R’ Files continued from page 17] tenon in my application is secured in place by A I C

O driving dowels through the felloe and the tenon

S The felloe end of the spoke goes through the S

A inside. These dowels were set with a small

felloe and is wedged from the outside. I differed S ’ amount of draw in them, meaning the holes in T from Fred Finley’s style in that I used round H G

I the tenon and the holes in the felloe were made

R tenons here instead of square.

W with a degree of misalignment so that when the L E E dowels were driven in, they would draw the joint H W together as they forced the holes to line up. N A I D A N A C

N R E T S E W

A further modification to a spoke mortiser purchased last year from Brian Reynolds allowed us to tenon the ends of these big spokes. The felloe segments are joined with a blind or There is a blind or floating tenon in the joint floating tenon secured and drawn tight with between felloe segments to secure them and dowels inserted through each felloe end. provide alignment of the segments. The floating [Continued page 19] N O I T A I C O S S A

S ’ T H G R I W L E E H W

N A I D A N A C

N R E T S E W 18 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[The “R” Files continued from page 18] E R N

I continued to “cheat” using various power C A N

tools and machinery to create the joinery for A D I the wheels and bodies of the carts but in the A N

end, I resorted to draw knife, chisel and mallet, W H E

and hand saws to finish the work. I have always E L W

disliked the process of “distressing” a project R I G

(faking the appearance of age or hand tool H T ’ S

use) but as I had to start with commercially A S

available dimensional lumber and knowing that S O C

a certain level of “primitive” was expected, I did I A T I

so on these carts. Using a drawknife and curved O bottom plane, I cleaned up my too-perfect, N machined lumber to create the more primitive I have not been able to determine if the look expected. shaganappi was applied immediately to newly Original Red River carts often had rawhide constructed wheels as an integral part of the “shaganappi” applied to their wheels. This is a wheel or if it was something that was used as a wrapping done around the felloes using bison repair process, applied once the wheels became rawhide sewn on wet, then allowed to dry. The worn and loose in their joinery. shrinking of the dried material created a binding On a cart built here for the new Royal Alberta and protecting layer around the wheel. Museum, I applied bison rawhide to the new wheels and the overall look is very compelling. The two built for Parks Canada will not have shaganappi on them at their request. Overall, this was a very rewarding project. It is personally somewhat of an honour to be called upon to recreate these historic vehicles for a venue like the Lower Fort Garry site. I have found the process of working through the melding of modern processes and materials with the original design and intent of these carts to be enlightening. W E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

S A completed cart on display at the Royal Alberta S Shaganappi – bison rawhide being sewn on to a O

C Museum in Edmonton. I completed wheel while wet. It will shrink while A T I

O drying, becoming rock hard and tight. N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 19 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I T A I C O S

S CLEAROUT PRICES - UNBEATABLE!!! A

S ’

T 40-50% OFF H G I R

W Due to semi retirement from the wheelwright trade, I have a large inventory L E

E of parts to sell. These include: H W

A • Spokes, Sarven - 700, all sizes I D A N

A • Taper - 2600 all sizes (save up to $3.00 per spoke) C

N R

E • Felloes - 70 of all sizes T S E W • Many hubs CBSL, and also 3 sets of larger CB-2000 hubs, spindles, and bearings

• 38 and 52 felloes, the steel and rubber for these hitch wagon wheels

• Lots of miscellaneous parts that go with the trade, including bolts, spindles, axle clips, felloe plates, single trees, neck yokes, wooden buggy shafts and hardware, whip holders, wheel rollers and MORE

FOR SALE: $2,750 Completely rebuilt buggy, made of oak and hickory. Hard rubber wheels. N O I T A I C O S S A

S ’ T H G R I W L E E H W

Craig Gardiner Wheel and Buggy Shop N A I D

76 Four Mile Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2N 4B9 A N A C

Phone: 204-391-4533 E-mail: [email protected] N R E T S E W 20 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

The WCWA Annual General Meeting will be E AGM 2019 OVERVIEW R N

held at 4:30 pm on Saturday, August 10, after C A

Pioneer Acres will be abuzz with activity during which we will all go for a meal on the grounds, N A

th D

its 50 Annual Show & Reunion from August catered by a local community organization. We I A N

9-11, and WCWA wheelwrights will be part of

are expecting a lively meeting as there are many W H

the action! Check out the Pioneer Acres poster topics to discuss, including potential impacts of E E L on page 23, and start making plans to join your our new Facebook page and the delivery of our W R I fellow wheelwrights in Irricana. G

newsletter electronically. H T ’ S

We will build wheels throughout the weekend, There is still time to make nominations for the A S S

and each day there will be demonstrations of Charlie Fisher and Homer Schmidt Awards, O C I how to set a rim, as well as the application of so give some thought to the work of your A T I rubber with the tyre machine. Dwayne Danley O fellow wheelwrights and consider who should N will be conducting sessions on building spokes be recognized. Chris Jenson is accepting and construction of an ornamental wheel. Jean nominations until July 10. Lavoie is again organizing a painting afternoon for a nominal fee of $20. This will cover supplies We will be holding a silent auction again this year and a donation to Pioneer Acres for using their which will be available to the general public as facilities. The WCWA will also be a part ofthe well as members. Kris Burkholder and Wayne Pioneer Acres parade which is held each day. Lenfesty have once again taken on the task of setting up tables and organizing the auction, and We will be increasing directional signage, and we are looking for the support of members to fill flags will be flying so the public can find their way those tables with donations. Last year, a total to our shop. The facility will be set up so visitors of $561.30 was raised for the Association, so we can walk around and view the entire process hope to top that this year. which will be conducted by our members. [Continued page 22] W E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 21 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T [AGM Overview continued from page 21]

A many amongst our membership who would be I C

O deserving.

S As we did last year, the silent auction will have S A

a “Buy it now” price so the purchased item can S Last year’s winners of the Charlie Fisher Award ’ T be carried away on the spot. For example, the H were Bill Radway and Joe Havinga in recognition G I R starting bid on a wheel might be $150, but the of their dedication to the wheelwright shop in W L

E “Buy it now” price could be $250. Consequently,

E Irricana. Brian Reynolds was the recipient of H someone only attending on Friday could purchase W

the Homer Schmidt Award in recognition of his N

A the item and take it home, thus eliminating the

I educational submissions to The Traveller. D

A cost and inconvenience of having to deliver or N A

C mail items. Any items not purchased must be There is still time to consider the work and

R taken home by the contributor or they will be legacy of your fellow members and submit E T

S donated to Pioneer Acres. There will also be an your nomination by July 10 to Chris Jenson at E W informal “Tailgate Table” for members wishing to [email protected]. sell for themselves. Awards will be given out in August 2019 at the Auction items can be functional tools and AGM at Pioneer Acres in Irricana, Alberta. equipment that would be of interest to other wheelwrights, or decorative items such as Photo below shows the new cabinet that has furniture or yard ornaments that would appeal to been built to display the Charlie Fischer and a more general audience. Items don’t necessarily Homer Schmidt trophies during activities in the have to be wheel-related. The Board has agreed wheelwright shop in Irricana. to cover the costs of materials for larger projects such as a wheel or cart; however, these must be pre-approved by the Board. Please get in touch with Wayne Lenfesty if you have a larger project in mind so he can submit it to the Board for approval. Upon arrival, please come to the Wheelwright Shop at the northwest corner of the grounds to register. You will have to pay to enter the grounds and for your meals, but the WCWA registration fee is a mere $20 to help the Association cover its costs. Looking forward to great representation by WCWA members at our annual wheelwright gathering!

2019 AWARD NOMINATIONS N O I T A

Nominations for the WCWA’s two signature I C O

awards are now being accepted: S S A

S The is presented to a ’ Homer Schmidt Award T H

WCWA member for their support and promotion G R I W

of the Association. L E E H W

The Charlie Fisher Award is presented to a N A

member for their knowledge and workmanship, I D

See AGM Registration form on page 30. A used to promote the art of wheelwrighting. N A

Dry camping is available onsite at $20 C

These awards each represent excellence in for the whole weekend - what a deal! R E T

the craft of wheelwrighting, and there are S E W 22 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N W E S T E R N

C A N A D I A N

W H E E L W R I G H T ’ S

A S S O C I A T I O N

WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION 23 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION N O I

T The motor is a 12 volt Northeast Electric starter A

I THE AUTO RED BUG

C motor as used on a Dodge Brothers engine. The O

S By Arnie Weisbrot, Volunteer Engineer S batteries originally were two 6 volt automotive A

S Reynolds-Alberta Museum

’ batteries, but we simply use one modern 12 T H

G volt starting battery. The car had a range of I

R Reynolds-Alberta Museum is the proud owner of

W up to 50 kilometers (30 miles) at speeds up to L

E an unusual electric car, a 1928 Auto Red Bug. This

E 19 kilometers per hour (12 miles per hour). H little car has been in our possession since 1985, W

Two forward speeds were attained by drawing N

A and previously was owned by Stan Reynolds. In

I power from one or both batteries, by means of D

A 1980, Stan obtained the car from Saul Santos, a

N a clever two-stage power switch. The car has A

C collector in Massachusetts who had restored the no transmission, though it does have a fixed N

R car in 1970. It is very likely that the car had not E speed gear train drive, but with no reverse gear. T

S operated for at least 35 years when the Museum E Originally, the Auto Red Bug had pneumatic W decided to make it operational in 2017. Thanks clincher rim tires, size 20 X 2. to some assistance from Chris Jenson at Doc’s Buggy Shop, the car is now working fine and was When the Reynolds-Alberta Museum decided demonstrated in 2018 and 2019 at our annual to get this interesting little car back into History Road event. operating condition, the job seemed to be fairly straightorward. It looked like we just had to install a battery and replace the totally destroyed original tires. Little did we know that the work would take many months, mostly because of the tires. The vehicle was removed from storage and repaired as follows in order to make it operational. This was NOT a restoration:

1. Did general cleaning and dust removal. 2. Oiled leather mud flaps with leather preservative.

The Auto Red Bug is an electric car, not a toy. 3. Cleaned and treated seat upholstery. It was designed and sold as a street-legal car. 4. Prepared and installed a horn purely for In 1916, the American Motor Vehicle Co. of cosmetic purposes since the original horn is Lafayette, Indiana designed this ‘buckboard’, missing. The horn is not period correct, is not so called because of the fir slats that served as operational, and is a 6 volt horn in a 12 volt the frame and body. They produced it until 1917 automobile. and then sold the patent rights to the A.O. Smith Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who, in 1919, 5. Replaced several battery cables because the sold the rights to Briggs & Stratton who offered it old ones were brittle and unusable. Retained with either a gasoline or electric engine. old cables, possibly original equipment, in N O I

a plastic bag in the battery compartment. T A

In 1923, rights to the car were acquired by I Cleaned all electrical connections. C O

Automotive Standards Incorporated, New S S A Jersey who, after using up the supply of gasoline 6. Removed all wheels, cleaned out ancient S ’ T

engines, offered only electric until 1928. petrified lubricant, repacked bearings H G R with modern wheel bearing grease, and I W

The Auto Red Bug gained some popularity L E

reinstalled wheels. E

among wealthy industrialists who found them H W

ideal for traveling around large estates. They N

7. Opened the gear case on the right rear wheel A I

also helped identify a need for, and indeed D (necessary to remove wheel), cleaned out A N

gave rise to, the affordable car. Basically, the car A

ancient petrified lubricant, reassembled gear C

became a plaything of the rich and famous, and N case, re-filled with 600 weight gear lubricant. R E

was treated as the golf cart of the day. T S

[Continued page 25] E W 24 WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION WESTERN CANADIAN WHEELWRIGHT’S ASSOCIATION W E S T

[Auto Red Bug continued from page 24] E

WESTERN STAGECOACH MYSTERY R N

8. Replaced rear wheel bearings and gear C A

bearings on both sides with modern sealed Joyce and Bruce Morrison have come across an N A D

amazing story of Western stagecoach history I

bearings. A N

that they thought would be of interest to WCWA W H

9. Lubricated all pivot points on steering and members. Check out the following links. E E L