Originally owned by the Litchfield Stage Company of Southbridge, MA, it was bought for the Museum
from George Monreau of Conchituate, MA, in 1946 having been used before that to
haul logs out of the New Hampshire woods. Cost in 1946: $ 1,700.
We think this car has carried 50,000 passengers, many for very short rides, which may easily be the most
carried in an authentic antique car anywhere. It was driven home from
Massachusetts immediately after its purchase, and during the next year it
underwent an “early restoration” with a new paint job (color changing from
black, back to the original red), smaller and heavier wheels and tires, an
engine change, and some burner work. Seat cushions were recovered with imitation
leather and a new top was made. It was a very reliable car and seemed to run for
30 years with minimal maintenance, although the boiler was changed in 1966 to a
28” diameter steel tubed boiler, which was removed in the mid-1980’s for a
retubed original shell with copper tubes. In the late 1970’s the car was
repainted and restriped again, and a new top and leather seat covering were
applied. At this time, much better looking wheels were put on the “Wagon”,
they being 27” rim size for 37 x 5 tires, just slightly larger than the
original size of 36 x 5. An extra galvanized water tank had been added under the
second seat in 1948 and this was replaced with a copper one about 1988. The main
water tank was completely cleaned and rebuilt in the early 1990’s. In 1997,
the rear axle shaft broke on the left side, and a new axle was made and adjusted
by Herb Kephart that summer. Needing work after all those years, the engine was
also rebuilt and Mr. Kephart and re-installed. In 1998 a new copper tube boiler,
the last one built by Carl S. Amsley, was installed in the car and the burner
was completely cleaned and gone over. The right rear wheel was shimmed between
the felloe and the band to make the spokes tight (about 1998). Although driven on
two Glidden Tours and entered in many local meets, the total mileage since
acquisition maybe less than 10,000.
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