Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-06-26
QUEST FOR OLDEST
S1UDEbAkER WAGON
Venerable vehiccsls located that
Have Been in Service Since l1tS.

I
Away back in 1865, forty eight
years ago, Dave Clark bought a
farm wagon. The Civil war was
over. Mems minds turned to
thoughts of peace and the coun-
try was trying to forget the
throes of the conflict by sturdily
endeavoring to conquer the ag.
ricultural possibilities of the
Northwest. Mr.. Clark purchased
his wagon from the Studbaker
agent at Gilenton, Wis, drove it
out to his farm and from that
day to this that faithful old wag-
on has been hauling Mr.. Clarks
grain and potatoes and truck to
market. Figuring that work
ing year contains 800 days, Mr..
Clark's wagon has been working
IA, 900 days, and. allowing ton
to the load it has hauled like
number Of tons for it's owner
over good roads and bad through
wither storms and summer heat.
This remarkable story of a
farm wagon was unearthed by
the House of Studebaker when
it was decided to offer prizes to
the owners of the Oldest Stude.
baker wagons. Studebaker pub
fishes an almanac, which has u
tremendous circulation among
the farmers of the United States
and q page was devoted to ex
planning that, as the house had
been building wagons for over
half Il century, it would be in
teresting to learn whether any
old wagons had survived the
wear and tear Of years and ser
vice, and to stimulate interest a
series of prizes was offered.
Now, it has been the boast of
the House OF Studebaker that a
Studebaker wagon was built to
last. Tested iron and steel, air
dried lumber, careful workman.
ship are built into every wagon
sold, and it was reasonably ex-
pected that farm wagon, prop
erly used, might last twenty
FIVE or thirty years.
The result Of the quest for the
oldest wagon surprised the ex-
perts of the Studebaker. A wag
on that had been in service for
twenty five years was mere
infant, so to speak. The wag.
ons that had been in service
thirty years were half-grown
children, to carry the compari-
son further, while there were
ample records to prove that
wagons of forty years OF age
were not uncommon.
Dave Clark, now of Bemis,
South Dakota, heads the list
with his forty eight year-old vet.
eran. G. Fl. Bowman. of Sandy
Lake, Pa, and Sam Hane, of
Carbon, Ind, both own wagons
bought in 1868 and succeeding
years, the percentage climbing
higher as the early seventies
were reached.
A remarkable fact was noted
as replies to the contest began to
pour in. Wagons bought forty
five years ago--as well as those
of more recent date-are still
working One farmer writes;
Il frequently draw 1920 pounds
of coal on at load" Another
farmer states that he uses his
Studebaker wagon for hauling
timber and frequently loads
1900 feet on his faithful Stude.
baker, which has been in actual
service for forty three years.
Reading through the hund-
reds Of letters sent to Studeba
ker by farmers throughout the
country reveals the fact that
without exception Studebaker
wagons are praised for the way
they stand up under work. Re
pairs are infrequent. One farm.
er writes: Il bought Stude
baker wagon in 1869 and it has
hauled thousands of bushels of
gain TO market. Never was a
lighter running wagon. 1t has
been Of no expense to us and
gives perfect satisfaction | am
still using the wagon and ex
pect TO use it for many years to
come.
Another farmer states that he
has been in several runaways,
in one of which a horse was
was killed, but the wagon came
out all right, although it smashed
into a stone pile. This farmer
writes; The wagon seems to
stand all itcan get.
4 farmer who ran his wagon
for thirty years says the wagon
seems 10 be all right. Hounds,
axels and gear are perfect, but
back in 1857 he had 10 have the
front tires set,
Stll another farmer relates
that he bought u Studebaker
wagon thirty two years ago. He
has had new boards nut i'm the