Buckboard Wagon for Kids

Buckboard Wagon for Kids FARM HOME Novelty Items 11-6-30 Whenever Doug Van Arnam goes to a farm show, crowds of people follow him around trying to get a close-up look at the buck-board wagons that carry his kids. At the recent Farm Science Review in Columbus, Ohio, Van Arnam stopped every so often to let people gather round to inspect the wagons which he builds in his Wadsworth, Ohio shop. He answers questions but he doesn't give a sales pitch because he says the wagons sell themselves. "We got kicked out of one show because we had so much interest in the wagons but hadn't bought a booth. We didn't think that was fair because we can't help it if people are interested. Now we're pretty low key about it," Van Arnam told FARM SHOW as he stood among a sight-seeing crowd of showgoers. Van Amam builds four different styles of "buckboard" wagons, all based on antique horse-drawn models. The replica buckboard is 42 in. long and 28 in. wide. Constructed with treated lumber, it has a buck-board seat mounted up above the bed of the wagon. Even the wheels and spokes were built with wood and then wrapped with a steel band. Steel roller bearings make the oversize wheels easy to pull. "I built the first one for my own kids but there was so much interest, we started building them for sale," says Van Amam. The buckboard wagon sells for $249. Van Arnam also builds a "livestock" hauling model with wood-slat sides ($269), a "vegetable" hauling wagon without the buckboard seat ($229), and a "delivery" wagon with totally enclosed sides and rear-opening sides ($459). For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Douglas R. Van Arnam, Stoney Ridge Country Creations, P.O. Box 213, Wadsworth, Ohio 44281 (ph 216 336-7317).

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