Ohio Museum Houses Rare Vehicle Collection
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Mark Radtke says that the 1908 Schacht high-wheeler he and his partner Ron Miller restored is one of many unique vehicles in their Salty Dog Museum. When Radtke acquired the vehicle, it was “basically a relic, with broken parts and an engine that didn’t run.” The condition didn’t deter them because, for the past 12 years, he and Miller have restored more than 60 other vehicles.
“I bought the Schacht from a guy I met at the Hershey, Penn., auto show a few years ago,” Radtke says. “He advertised it on eBay, and since the Schacht was made in Cincinnati, which is where we’re from, we absolutely had to own it. The little 10-hp. engine needed a camshaft, pistons, borings, you name it. We basically started from scratch and might’ve put close to $10,000 in time and materials into rebuilding it.” They also rebuilt the frame, operator station, carriage wheels, seat and the shiny brass radiator.
“It probably took us 9 months for the complete restore, and like all our vehicles, it’s in mint condition, and we can drive it at shows or in parades,” Radtke says.
“The Schachts were very popular for a few years because they were practical and efficient,” Radtke says. “They cost about $650 new, and now our completely restored model is worth about $25,000.” The Schacht company also built a touring car and a “three purpose car” that was a convertible, a family car or a delivery wagon. Schacht built about 9,000 vehicles over 10 years. One specially built Schacht was entered in the 1912 Indy 500, powered by a Wisconsin engine. It finished 5th. The following year, another one was entered and dropped out when the crankcase failed. The company merged several times with other companies and eventually built trucks and fire trucks until 1938.
The Schacht joins what Radtke and Miller call other rare and oddball vehicles in their Salty Dog Museum. Radtke says they own a 1902 Holsman High-Wheeler, possibly the only drivable one in the U.S. It has a 2-cyl. air-cooled engine.
Their 1911 Maxwell 2-cyl. water-cooled runabout is similar to a four-passenger model owned by Jack Benny. A 1911 Sears was located in a barn just 6 miles from the museum and is now completely restored. Other rare vehicles include a 1932 Ford Model B in original condition and a 1929 Model A Roadster. Their volunteer staff is currently restoring a 1932 Chrysler Roadster with a rumble seat.
“We generally restore all our vehicles ‘from the ground up.’ Ron Miller’s Machine Shop rebuilds engines, and we contract out the painting, plating, gold leaf lettering and pin striping. It’s a worthwhile enterprise because we’re preserving history one car at a time,” Radtke says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mark Radtke, Salty Dog Museum, 4985 Cincinnati Brookville Rd., Shandon, Ohio 45063 (www.saltydogmuseum.com).
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Ohio Museum Houses Rare Vehicle Collection TRACTORS Antiques Mark Radtke says that the 1908 Schacht high-wheeler he and his partner Ron Miller restored is one of many unique vehicles in their Salty Dog Museum When Radtke acquired the vehicle it was “basically a relic with broken parts and an engine that didn’t run ” The condition didn’t deter them because for the past 12 years he and Miller have restored more than 60 other vehicles “I bought the Schacht from a guy I met at the Hershey Penn auto show a few years ago ” Radtke says “He advertised it on eBay and since the Schacht was made in Cincinnati which is where we’re from we absolutely had to own it The little 10-hp engine needed a camshaft pistons borings you name it We basically started from scratch and might’ve put close to $10 000 in time and materials into rebuilding it ” They also rebuilt the frame operator station carriage wheels seat and the shiny brass radiator “It probably took us 9 months for the complete restore and like all our vehicles it’s in mint condition and we can drive it at shows or in parades ” Radtke says “The Schachts were very popular for a few years because they were practical and efficient ” Radtke says “They cost about $650 new and now our completely restored model is worth about $25 000 ” The Schacht company also built a touring car and a “three purpose car” that was a convertible a family car or a delivery wagon Schacht built about 9 000 vehicles over 10 years One specially built Schacht was entered in the 1912 Indy 500 powered by a Wisconsin engine It finished 5th The following year another one was entered and dropped out when the crankcase failed The company merged several times with other companies and eventually built trucks and fire trucks until 1938 The Schacht joins what Radtke and Miller call other rare and oddball vehicles in their Salty Dog Museum Radtke says they own a 1902 Holsman High-Wheeler possibly the only drivable one in the U S It has a 2-cyl air-cooled engine Their 1911 Maxwell 2-cyl water-cooled runabout is similar to a four-passenger model owned by Jack Benny A 1911 Sears was located in a barn just 6 miles from the museum and is now completely restored Other rare vehicles include a 1932 Ford Model B in original condition and a 1929 Model A Roadster Their volunteer staff is currently restoring a 1932 Chrysler Roadster with a rumble seat “We generally restore all our vehicles ‘from the ground up ’ Ron Miller’s Machine Shop rebuilds engines and we contract out the painting plating gold leaf lettering and pin striping It’s a worthwhile enterprise because we’re preserving history one car at a time ” Radtke says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mark Radtke Salty Dog Museum 4985 Cincinnati Brookville Rd Shandon Ohio 45063 www saltydogmuseum com
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