Antique Wooden Wheel Wagon/cart

[Popeye]

I had picked this old Wagon /cart up many years ago and have now decided to Clean it up /restore it a bit and make a useful coffee table out of it, without altering it at all, just adding a Clean removable top. I was originally told by the Antique dealer who I bought it from that it was a railroad Luggage Cart, don't know if that is true but I have seen simular carts used on Railroad Platforms for Mail Bags & Luggage in old pics & movies. There is No Markings on the cart anywhere at all so it's true origin is a Puzzle but as you can see it is certainly VERY OLD. I'll keep you posted as this project progresses.

Here is the video link and some pics of the wagon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhtXmbC200I

Any tips, opinions or help identifying this wagon would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, DanO'

[Hengy]

It looks like a luggage cart to me! In fact, there is one like it (but newer, I think) sitting outside at the local La Crosse Railroad Depot in town.

Nice looking cart for sure! Hope it fits well in your place!!

Mike in La Crosse, WI

[Boss Hog]

I have seen very little that came from a RR that did not have RR on it some where. I am thinking feed store or hardware

[daddydip]

Don't clean it up to much , it will lose value.

[Rudi]

Dan:

I have seen many of them over the years. We had a lot of em at our local CN/Ontario Northland station back home in Timmins. You would see a half dozen of them in train being pulled by something like this:


ED Rendell aka EZ's CN Cub Lo-Boy

The baggage carts were old, had wood and steel wheels and were heavy As Michael said, don't do too much to it, carefully clean up the dirt and such but don't touch the patina on the steel or the wood. You can research the finishes used - probably going to be a type of outdoor varnish .. maybe spar of mixed with linseed oil. But I would stay away from that if I could.

Very, very nice item

[Popeye]

I think it May of been pulled by something that Pre-Dates a Cub Low Boy by just a few years!!!
If it was in fact a R.R. Platform Cart, I'd guess it was used during the Steam Engine Days.
I assure you I am Going to be Very careful about cleaning it and am NOT going to do anything at all to the Finish of the Planking or the hardware. basically just get the loose surface rust off, dirt & grime. I know you can do more harm than Good With a aggressive Cleaning solution or finish. The surface of the planks are pretty rough but I'm not gonna touch them , instead I'm planning on making a Removable Top with a 1 inch lip, like a Box Cover out of nice Butcher Block wood and it will fit snugly over the existing planking. and match the rest of our L.R. Decor....Personally I Like the Top Just the way it is but I Gotta Keep "The Boss" Happy

[Gary Dotson]

We have a later version (with steel wheels) parked in our front yard flower bed. Neat item for sure! Ours came from a RR auction but also has no railroad markings.

[papermaker]

That is one cool looking piece! That was back when thing were made by craftsman! Awesome !!!

[Rudi]

Dan:

Yup, you are right. Those were probably built in the mid-late 1800's and possibly up to WW2. However, those were still in use in the late 70's back home. Why replace/fix something that ain't broke. I am not sure how old the wagons back home were, but they were old with a lot of miles on em.

Either way, you have a classic there and I sure hope you enjoy it. Post pics of the finished table