The Holly chieftain., 1913-07-18
QUEST FOR OLDEST
STUDERAKER WAGON.
Venerable Vehicles Located That
Have Been in Service
Since 1856.

Away BACK IN looC. forty Year, sso.
Dave CLARK bought farm wagon The Civil
Of peace and the country w.s trying to forget
ths throes Of the conflict by sturdily endesvorins
to conquer the agricultural possibilities OF the
Northwest. Mr.. CLARK purchased his wagon
from the Studebsker agent ct Gileneton. Wis.
drove it out to his farm sad from that day to
this that faithful old wagon has been hauling
Mr.. Clark grain and potstoes and truck to
market. Figuring that q working year contains
800 days. Mr.. Clark's wagon has been working
for IA. 400 days, and. allowing ton to the load.
it has hauled like number oi tons for its owner.
ever good ro.ds and bad. through winter storms
and summer heat.
This remarkable story Of farm wagon was
unearthsd by the House Of Studebaker when it
was decided to offer prizes to the owners Of
the oldest Studeb.ker wagons. Studebaker pub
lished an almanac. which has tremendous cir.
ulation among the farmers OF the United States.
and page wss devoted to explaining that. a.
the house had been building WAGONS for over
half century. it would be interesting to learn
whether any old wagons had survived the wear
and tear Of year, and service. and to stimulate
intsrist . series Of prizes YVES offered.
Now. it has been boast Of the House Of
Studebsker that Studebaker wagon was built
to last. Tested iron and Steel air dried lumber.
CAREFUL workmanship are built into every wagon
ssld. and it was reasonably expected that
farm wagon. properly used. might last twenty or
thirty years.
The result Of the quest for the Oldest wagon
surprised the experts Of Studebaker. A wagon
that had been in service twenty-five years was
. mere infant. 80 to speak. The wagons that
had been in service for thirty years were half
grown children. to carry the comparison further.
while there were ample records to prove that
wagons Of forty years Of age were not un-
comsson.
Dave CLARK. now Of Bemis South Dakota.
heads the list with hi. forty.eight.year .od
aeteran. G. H. Bowman. Of Sandy Lake. Pa.
md Sam Hane. Of Carbon. Ind. both own
wagons bought in 1885. and then follows long
list Of wagons bought in 1858 and succeeding
years the percentage climbing higher as the
early seventies and eighties were reached.
A remarkable isct was noted as replies to
the contest began to pour in. Wagons bought
forty fiveyears aso-as well as those Of more
recent dsts-are still working. One farmer
writes: Il frequently drawing 1900 bounds of
coal at load Another farmer states that he
uses his Studebaksr wagon for hauling timber
and frequently loads 1900 feet on his faithful
Studebaker. which has been in actual use forty
three years.
Reading through the hundreds Of letters sent
to Studebaker by farmers throughout the country
reveals the fact that without exception Stude-
baker wagons are praised for the way they stand
up under work. Repairs are infrequent. One
farmer writes: Il bought Studebaker wagon in
1859 and it has hauled thousands Of bushels Of
grain to market. Never was a lighter running
wagon. II has been Of no expense to US and
s.tssE Al
wagon and expect to use it for many years to
come.
Another farmer states he has been in several
runnaways. in one Of which horse was killed,
but the wagon came ost all right. although it
smashed into a stone pile. This farmer writes:
The wagon seems to stand oil it can get.
A farmer who ran his wagon for thirty years
says the wagon seems to be alright. Hounds.
axle and gear are perfect. but back in 1887 he
had to have the front tires set.
Still another farmer relates that he bought
Stubebaksr wagon thirty-two years ago. He
has had new boards put in the body and thinks
two new spokes have been fitted: also q new
nu, on = rear axle. But out side Of these re-
pairs the wagon is Just as he bought it. and. he
writes. the roads are pretty poor around here.
Aad 80 the stories Co. Every day letters
come to Studebaker telling remarkable stories
about the sturdiness and long lie Of wagons
sold three decades sgo. Just who will win the
prize il still matter Of conjecture. At the
present time Mr.. Clsrk's rty-eithtyear.old
sppeas to head the list. But there may be others
year or so older. Phe contest is an open one
and Studebaker is giving much time and attention
to hitting out the contestants and making sure
that the wagons entered are authenc.
ln any event. Studebaker can point with
pride to long list Of wagons that have demon
strated their sterling worth and their ability to
stand uP under any and all circumstances.
Let us get you up some sta