Wagon Collector Pulls 102 Wagons In Parade

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #02

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When Dwain Schultz, 78, fixed the red wagon he played with as a child, he had no idea that it would lead to rows and rows of red wagons.
    "My dad bought it used, so it's at least 80 years old," Schultz says of his Radio Flyer wagon. When he showed it to his Clarks, Neb., friends and neighbors they started bringing him wagons rescued from junk piles and pastures.
    "It kind of mushroomed from there," Schultz says. "I have 160 wagons now and 30 yet to redo."
    He tears each of them completely apart, sands and repaints them. He replaces old rusty bolts with new ones and buys sheet metal from a local manufacturing company to weld new bottoms in wagons that have rusted through. He buys used wheels at auctions and flea markets. One of his best deals was 21 wagons and four pallets of wheels for $30. For tires, Schultz wraps black plastic water hose around the wheel rim and secures it by twisting wire inside the hose.
    Schultz's collection includes Radio Flyers, Greyhound, Arrow, Mercury, John Deere and other model wagons. Schultz paints or adds decals when he knows the wagon model. Many names deteriorated a long time ago, and he has no idea what they were. While most are red there are also yellow and wooden models.
    Schultz doesn't know how old his wagons are, but Antonia Pasin first built coaster wagons in Chicago in 1917, after he came to the U.S. from Venice when he was 16. He called his first wooden box wagons Liberty Coaster after the Statue of Liberty. Later he made them out of steel and changed the name to Radio Flyer in appreciation of the newly invented radio, by a fellow Italian.
    Radio Flyer and other companies still make coaster wagons, and Schultz notes they seem to be popular when he takes them to parades.
    "I can pull five rows with 102 wagons with a four-wheeler," he says. "I connect the tongue to the back axle of the wagon in front of it and they stay in place, even when I turn a corner."
    He says he doesn't have any real advice for people interested in collecting. They just need patience, and perhaps a penchant for lost causes.
    "Sometimes you shake your head and wonder if it's worth it," Schultz says with a smile.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dwain Schultz, 201 Pearl St., Clarks, Neb. 68628 (ph 308 548-2238).

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Wagon Collector Pulls 102 Wagons In Parade FARM HOME Miscellaneous When Dwain Schultz 78 fixed the red wagon he played with as a child he had no idea that it would lead to rows and rows of red wagons My dad bought it used so it s at least 80 years old Schultz says of his Radio Flyer wagon When he showed it to his Clarks Neb friends and neighbors they started bringing him wagons rescued from junk piles and pastures It kind of mushroomed from there Schultz says I have 160 wagons now and 30 yet to redo He tears each of them completely apart sands and repaints them He replaces old rusty bolts with new ones and buys sheet metal from a local manufacturing company to weld new bottoms in wagons that have rusted through He buys used wheels at auctions and flea markets One of his best deals was 21 wagons and four pallets of wheels for $30 For tires Schultz wraps black plastic water hose around the wheel rim and secures it by twisting wire inside the hose Schultz s collection includes Radio Flyers Greyhound Arrow Mercury John Deere and other model wagons Schultz paints or adds decals when he knows the wagon model Many names deteriorated a long time ago and he has no idea what they were While most are red there are also yellow and wooden models Schultz doesn t know how old his wagons are but Antonia Pasin first built coaster wagons in Chicago in 1917 after he came to the U S from Venice when he was 16 He called his first wooden box wagons Liberty Coaster after the Statue of Liberty Later he made them out of steel and changed the name to Radio Flyer in appreciation of the newly invented radio by a fellow Italian Radio Flyer and other companies still make coaster wagons and Schultz notes they seem to be popular when he takes them to parades I can pull five rows with 102 wagons with a four-wheeler he says I connect the tongue to the back axle of the wagon in front of it and they stay in place even when I turn a corner He says he doesn t have any real advice for people interested in collecting They just need patience and perhaps a penchant for lost causes Sometimes you shake your head and wonder if it s worth it Schultz says with a smile Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dwain Schultz 201 Pearl St Clarks Neb 68628 ph 308 548-2238

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