identifying a wagon manufacturer

[jsandy]

recently picked up a 1940s" flat bed wagon for retoration. trying to identify it for proper color etc. all i have to go on at this point is some original red paint. it has spoked wheels -- needle bearings.

 

[Leroy]

Needle bearings is supprising as they were not a common item at the time that wagon would have been made. More likely a straight roller bearing as that was the common bearing. With that said sounds like a McCormick as they did use the straight roller bearing and in the spoke wheels on earlier gears. A big difference the needle bearings are designed for a tight fit and high speed while the straight roller bearing is for a looser fit and slow speeds. You probably have a 5/16 or 3/8 inch roller in your bearings and they are hard to find but I know a shop that can make any size needed.

 

[60 acre hillside]

I think he meant roller rather than needle

 

[Joe W.]

Look on the top of the front spindle housings and see if there is an IH insignia on either or both. If so, it's an International Harvester. I had one with rubber tires,spoke wheels, and roller bearings, with a hint of red paint underneath the rust.

 

[Leroy]

I think he probably is young enough that he is not familuar with the old roller bearings.