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Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:01 pm
by midget-farmer
I picked up a Hotchkiss gravity wagon at the auction a few weeks ago. Got it pretty cheap I think, but I don't know anything about it. It is in excellent condition, made of wood (flare side) with rubber tires & steel running gear under it. I can pull it around by hand. It rolls real nice. No paint, but the original lettering is still visible.

I need to take some pics. maybe tomorrow.

I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of hotchkiss wagons. I think they are out of Bradford IL. I need to take another look.

Anyway - if anyone knows anything about these, or what they are worth, let me know.

I planned to use it as a wagon to pull the kids. I cut some boards that fit across the flare section for seats & I can put a huge pile of kids in it.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:25 pm
by midget-farmer
pics

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Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:05 am
by Bigdog
I don't know anything about Hotchkiss but that is in excellent condition! You might try running a google search on the name Hotchkiss, Bradford Ill. and see what hits. If there is any information out there google will find it.
Thechnically, that is not a gravity bed. Around here it would be called a flare side or grain bed. There are probably different names in different areas as I have found with most farm equipment.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:03 am
by midget-farmer
Thanks BigDog. I have done the google thing & it didn't turn up anything. Well, to be honest I stopped looking after the first 6 or 7 pages. There were some 250k pages & I didn't want to look through them all.

Any idea what a wagon like this would be worth? $100, $500, $50,000? :wink:

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:14 pm
by VinceD
I did a little research and no patent was ever issued to a "Hotchkiss" for any type of farm implement or wagon.

Could be the wagons were sold by "Hotchkiss" and manufactured by someone else. Just a thought.

In either case, you ended up with a great looking wagon. Enjoy. :D :D :D

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:19 pm
by Bigdog
I have seen the metal versions of this sell for anywhere from $100 to $300. With a wood bed in that condition I would say you would be looking at $300 to $500 value.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:50 pm
by midget-farmer
Thanks Guys- $300 to $500 is cool. I wanted to use it for rides but it takes up an entire stall in my garage & we only 'ride' about 4 or 5 times a year.

Anyone interested in it? I'll sell it to a cubber for $400 even.

On the road it will be $500.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:48 am
by Eugene
Family had several of these style wagons. The flair side and straight side which were originally horse drawn wagons. The running gear was wood and the wheels steel.

What I'm pointing out is that the running gear may not be original to the wagon box. One way to tell is to look at the underside of the wagon bed for indications of the original running gear.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:28 pm
by VinceD
Midget-Farmer, I found this wagon today at a local junk shop/antique store/flea market/ in Southfork, MO.
Wagon 1.jpg

As you can see, this one has the wooden running gear Eugene talked about. The asking price for this one is (are you ready for this?) $800.00.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:55 pm
by midget-farmer
Yup - just like mine only I have a steel gear. The working lift gate at the back is what sold me at the auction. - It's for sale if anyone is interested. $400 for cubbers

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:49 am
by flhx61071
Hotchkiss was manufactured in Bradford Il, later became Bradford industries which manufactured Bradford gravity wagons and auger wagons. Don't believe they are in business any longer. We also had an early hotchkiss wagon, possibly even a manure spreader.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:14 pm
by Barnyard
Rudi wrote:midget farmer:

Because this has a lot of good information which we would like to keep - pics etc., I won't move this thread. However, I am sure you know the rules. If you wish to post this for sale to Cubbers or anyone, please post your intentions in the correct forum which would be the For Sale Other. Should anymore discussion on the sale of this item be posted here the topic will have to be locked. Thanks for understanding :)

Since this thread is over three years old I doubt he still has this for sale. :lol:

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:59 pm
by Eugene
Barnyard wrote:Since this thread is over three years old I doubt he still has this for sale. :lol:
3 years. I've been told I was a bit slow. I have an explanation on how to empty the flair sided wagon.

If the family only had one or two wagon loads to empty, shovel it out and into the elevator or bin. For corn picking we would set up an overhead framed mechanical hoist powered through a speed jack from a tractor pto. Drive the wagon front wheels into two metal pipes that formed a sling for the wagon front wheels. Lower the elevator hopper, open or remove the wagon end gate. Use the hoist to raise the wagon front wheels.

Angle of repose and several other conditions dictated if the grain would drain out of the wagon. Small grain would self empty from the wagon. Usually have to use a corn rake or rod/prod to pry lose ear corn.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:52 pm
by Rudi
Yup, I most assuredly posted that, however after being reminded that the post was 2 years old, I deleted my post as it did nothing to add to the topic.

Re: Antique Gravity Wagon?

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:18 am
by trob
I would like to see the hotchkiss wagon if you still have it. Are you in the peoria area?