Wagon questions

[Rich'sToys]

I've got an old flare box wagon that was my Dad's, and I was thinking about freshening it up a bit. The running gear is a New Idea with spoke wheels and rubber tires. I know at least part of it was orange. I'm wondering about the wheels. I know that New Idea also used green, but I've never seen any evidence of green on this wagon. It's been in our family for nearly 50 years, and was used when Dad got it. I'm thinking that the wheels may have been black, but was wondering if anyone could confirm that.

The box is an aluminum flare box made by L.C. Wood Co. The box is bare aluminum except for the lower half of the tailgate and a corresponding panel on the front. The front panel was orange, and I suspect the tailgate was also. There are some steel reinforcing bars on the side and on the upper half of the tailgate. They of course are just rust now, but I'm thinking they may have been a light green. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas about that.

I'm not worried about the correct police or anything, but I might as well try and get it right if possible. Otherwise, I'll just pick a color I like!!
 

[maxwell99]

i have an old new idea brand fertilizer spreader (gandy) type trailer spreader,

the wheels on it are still the original color and they are green.
 

[Leroy]

The New Idea orange is called bittersweet and you would find Oliver green is prety close in color but Rustoleum Forst Green is identical to the Oliver and very close to the new Idea green and is what I use. As for your wheels being black very plausable as I am sure if you look close to those spokes and rim you will see they are welded together from having been a steel wheel gear and was converted over to rubber and they did not want all the welding marks ans sub sequent rust so they just picked an easy to get netrual color for them. On the bed I would use the same colors as on the gear and that would be a dark green and not a light green.
 

[jon f mn]

Just a note, but it's very unlikely the box is aluminum. If you look it's probly galvanized steel. Don't think I've ever seen an aluminum box. If it is I would love to see pictures.
 

[Rich'sToys]

The box is definitely aluminum, except for the lower tailgate and the lower panel on the front. It does not take a magnet, and there is also the typical corrosion where the sides meet the bottom, which is steel. I've only seen one or two others like it over the years.

Leroy, you were right about the wheels being cut-offs. I had not looked that closely at them before and just assumed they were factory spoke rims. I'll probably go ahead and paint them green. I also like your suggestion to trim the box in that same color. The original trim was a very light green-there are still traces of it there-but I think it would look nicer to match it up to the running gear.

There is also a hand cranked hoist on it, which I know was red.

Looks like I've got my winter project!
 

[Rich'sToys]

I finally got some photos of this wagon. I will attempt to upload them.