I Hate To Bring This Up But…

I keep getting scolded for talking about the pending doom we face. It’s coming and I’m scared. Really scared. It’s not going to be good. Don’t scroll down beyond this point unless you are on solid ground emotionally.



Winter. It’s going to snow and be cold. I used to love winter. I think the last couple have just taken their toll. We have had those old fashioned winters where it snows just about every day and doesn’t melt until spring. Getting through November and December are still a breeze but the rest of it can get a pretty long. I did take up skiing a few years ago so that helps. Rough part about that is I just sit here thinking about Colorado. Oh well, one way or the other I’ll get through it. The good news is it makes for great sleigh rides.



I thought I would just hit on a handful of nice vehicles that we have in stock right now. The first is an original Bobsleigh. Just remember winter is coming and this will make it a whole lot more fun. It has nice lines, solid condition and could make for a great project. It was built by C.F. Worthen & Co., Amesburry, MA and sells complete with a pole. A real bargain at $3,995.



If you follow American Carriage Builder you know that this vehicle was recently restored. It is a modern Pleasure Show Phaeton. It has not been put to since restoration. It looks spectacular and is priced at $8,495 with shafts. It is a large horse sized vehicle appropriate to around 16 hands.



Here we have a modern Road Cart built by us about seven or eight years ago. It was used for a season then the owner retired from driving. It is in excellent condition and would make a great pleasure or show cart. It is priced at $3,400 which is about half the going rate for a new one.



This two seat Albany could be a winter driver or restoration project. It is very solid and has outstanding lines. With winter right around the corner it’s a great opportunity to pick up an unusual sleigh. These two seat Albany’s a few and far between. It is priced at $6,995 and sells complete with pole and shafts.



This could make for a lovely show carriage. This light Shooting Break is in solid condition but in need of restoration if one would like to turn it out in the show ring. It is a horse sized vehicle with a makers tag from Chas Fritz, Southampton, NY. It sells with a pole and is priced at $9,495.

I’m just touching on a fraction of our current selection. Our showroom is filled with new, used and antique carriages of all types. If we don’t have it we can find it or build it. Our selection is as diverse as our clients and we look forward to working with you.

For some reason my post sounds like a sales pitch today. Usually I'm a little smoother than that. Must be the pending doom...

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

Mad Max Beyond Our Restoration Shop

Ouch! Really sorry about that post yesterday. Blog hackers are on a rampage taking over nice innocent little blogs like mine. Unless you have a blog you don’t know that things like that happen. A pimple? What kind of a warped twisted mind would come up with material like that? There ought to be a law.

So if you are wondering why this nice little cart is called Mad Max you need to go way back. Visit my post from July 9th to read the whole story.



So Mad max is all done. He turned out really nice and has been getting quite a bit of attention. For a little road cart this vehicle has some super interesting details. Overall it has great style. It has a real American feel about it. I can just see it racing along in a Currier and Ives print.



I know we have been using a lot of it lately but we are just about out of deep maroon paint. I think it looks great on this vehicle. It has enough interesting lines that the maroon in combination with the vermilion stripes chasing all over really looks sharp. You can click the photos to enlarge.



Ryanne did the upholstery in a black cotton duck with a medium luster black vinyl piping and button covers. That was a new combination for us and I really liked how it came together. We have used a tan cotton in that combo but not black. I think we will see more of this fabric on some of our vehicles. It’s just an interesting look.



When we started the project we didn’t even know it was a spindle seat. During the last paint job someone cut off all the spindles so they were gone. That happens from time to time. If there are a couple broken spindles it’s easier to cut them all off rather than fix the broken ones. To bring it back Bob hand turned all new spindles for this seat.



Sometimes vehicles don’t have a flattering posterior. This one looks great from the back. There was serious thought put into the design of this little cart from all perspectives. Really well done and that is why we choose to restore vehicles such as this.



As usual Dale did a great job of striping this carriage. It is striped traditionally with a fine line. Notice how the step pad is black? All parts like step pads and inner and outer hubs were traditionally painted black. Black is easy to touch up and normally used in areas subject to injury.

We pulled out a project that’s been on the back burner for a while. It’s a vintage Portland Door Cutter built by Wisconsin Carriage in Janesville. We started it a while back but it was over run by customer projects so it was tossed aside. The body is painted and Ryanne is starting on upholstery. Dale striped the runners yesterday. I’ll post some photos over the weekend.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

Whiskey Debut This Weekend

We started American Carriage Builder back in April of 2009. The very first blog in April was on the Whiskey that we were building for Vicki Nelson-Bodoh. We have taken that project along with several others from start to finish and we are happy that you have been along to watch.



This was one of the first images that I posted of the Whiskey when it was in the early stages of construction. The chassis and body were roughed out and the shape was pretty visible.



A few weeks later we were working on steps and ironwork. By this point we had come quite a ways further with the body and the vehicle was really taking shape.



Then into the early priming and paint stages.



Here it was yesterday. We pulled it out at about noon for some photos before it was loaded up and off the Prairie du Chien. I thought it turned out awesome. So did our clients and they are looking forward to seeing it put to a pony. Sometimes as you work through projects things just seem to click. The ideas go from my head to reality and everything works. That was the case with this project. The design was good and everything pretty much went as planned.



The paint went on well. Sometimes we scratch our heads and wonder how we get so lucky under pressure. Paint can go wrong. When it does you can loose days at a time. Not this time.



The striping looked stunning in broad style and it fit this carriage perfectly.



Outstanding profile. I don’t know what else to say about that topic.



So in the end it was a really nice project. The big test will be over the weekend to see how it performs. I expect it to perform well and something tells me it will be getting some attention. Thanks for watching this project as it went start to finish on American Carriage Builder. Watch the blog over the weekend for photo updates of the Whiskey in action.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

Funny You Should Say That

We talked about it yesterday during breakfast with the boys. We are hilarious. It was unanimous. The four of us are definitely the funniest group of guys that get together on a weekly basis for breakfast. In Fall River Wisconsin. At 7:00 in the morning. Well at least at the place we go to. Yes, I can definitely make that statement with complete confidence.



Last week was the Brewster Park Phaeton restoration wrap up. This weeks it’s the Whiskey and Mad Max on the home stretch. Dale and I gang tackled pin striping duties on the Brewtser. Dale normally does the striping but I pitched in on the wheels and the body.



I’m putting a vermillion stripe on a dark maroon wheel. It is a fine line stripe and I’m using a “000” sword striping brush. That’s about as fine as they get I think. Finest brush we have anyhow. It makes a nice line. Striping can be fun and it can be frustrating. I have tried a number of methods over the years. Started with a Beugler striping tool. A Beugler is a canister that you fill with paint and a little rolling wheel that dispenses a stripe as you roll it on a surface. Sounds simple enough in theory. I found a brush easier to use once I got over the numbing fear of trying it.



Had a really nice new arrival last week. A great looking European four passenger sleigh.



This sleigh is un-restored other than the seat cushions. The paint and striping is original and looks a little aged but a great patina.



It has nice lines and a definite European flair. It is very unique and it has already found a new home. Our client is leaving it in original condition which I think is a great option for this piece.

The Whiskey rolls out of the shop later today. We will be taking a number of photos so watch the blog tomorrow for the finished product. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

Time To Sober Up A Little Bit

I am trying to lay off the Whiskey for a few days. Been hitting it pretty hard the last few weeks so no Whiskey shots for at least two days. It is so good but I just need to fight the temptation to fall off the wagon. How about Friday. The weekend will be here. We will get a good Whiskey buzz going then. For all of you American Carriage Builder virgins you will need to scroll down a few posts to reference the Whiskey story.



A mini Columbus walking tour blog today seemed like a good idea seeing I didn’t seem to have anything else to talk about. The photo above is our clock tower on City Hall. It is the trademark for Columbus and rightly so. As you can see it could use a paint job. Wherever there is a historic project in need you will find Alice Schmidt. For a sweet little lady she seems to get involved in just about everything. In cooperation with the Columbus Historic Preservation Group and the City of Columbus they raised the majority of the funding for the painting of the clock tower. Hat’s off the all involved.



This is our historic City Hall building from my perspective just down the street. A fantastic building with offices on the first floor and the original auditorium still intact on the second. The auditorium will be it's own blog one of these days. The City and the local utility are working on burying all the unsightly power poles and lines which will be a huge improvement.



This is the former Anchor Bank building that was relocated to this site across the street from us eight years ago and never finished. You know, the old "free building" routine. It is now moving quickly and nearing completion of the renovations to turn it into office space for our City Economic Development Director and the Recreation Department. Big improvement in our view across the street. The parking lot to the left of this building is being repaved along with new lighting. Oh yes, power lines - gone and new trees in their place.



Farmers and Merchants Bank is really a blog in itself as well but here’s a very brief introduction to tie you over until then. This bank building was the last project commissioned by renowned Chicago Architect Louis Sullivan and was completed in 1920. Much more on this topic to come in the future.



This is a view of Dickason Boulevard going west from our showroom. In the forefront the Civil War Monument. The bronze was restored last year and you guessed it Alice Schmidt was very involved in that project as well. In the background is the Zeidler Funeral Home. This is one of many significant historic homes in our community.



Around the corner the Main Street organization is doing some tuck pointing on their building. This is the home to the James Street Gallery, the George Hasey Popcorn Wagon and the Columbus Main Street program. My buddy Judd Becker is up on the lift doing the tuck pointing. If you ever need any good masonry work done or some steers roped up let me know. I’ll put you in touch with Judd. He’s really good at both.



On the corner is Sharrow Drug. This drugstore has been in business on this corner by the Sharrow family for over 100 years. With out question a significant architectural contribution to our downtown but more importantly from a local business standpoint.



And finally another municipal project. The public parking lot on James Street is being repaved along with new lighting and plugs. Yes plugs. Little ol' Columbus is a leader in alternative energy development. Many of the public parking lots are now equipped with plugs for electric vehicles. These can be used by private citizens or for municipal vehicles several of which are electric in Columbus.

A new parking lot project last year beside City Hall was equipped with an electric car outlet. This project was completed over a year ago. A few weeks ago there was a big article in the Wisconsin State Journal. It was about the innovative, progressive, visionary City of Madison leading the way by being the first city in the State of Wisconsin to install an outlet in a city parking lot.

Yo - Madison. You were only about a year behind Columbus.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

One Haut Ride

So are you all getting ready for the big Labor Day Weekend? It has been just beautiful weather here lately and it sounds like it will be going right through the weekend. If you are looking for a great place to spend your three days off head to Wisconsin.



The Whiskey is just looking incredible. Everything is really coming together. I am very proud of the work our crew has put into it. Building or restoring carriages is a team effort and it takes some serious skills in each category to produce vehicles of this caliber. It will be getting a lot of attention when it makes its debut next weekend.



So our Whiskey client, Vicki Nelson-Bodoh dropped me an email yesterday saying she will pick it up NEXT Thursday. We were planning on having it done THIS Thursday so you know what that means. We get to screw off for a week. We have all this extra time so what’s the rush. I think she waited until yesterday to tell me that on purpose.

Now if the rest of the blog tends to be a lot of fluff and not much substance well that’s because it is. I have quite a few pictures and not much to say that hasn’t already been said.



So enjoy.



The pictures.



A really pretty shade of vermillion if I do say so myself. I'll have you know the previous sentence serves no practical purpose. This carriage will be one hot ride. Mark my words.



While we continue work on the Whiskey Ryanne is making the seat cushions for the Brewster Park Phaeton. Our client has arrived to pick up this vehicle on Tuesday. They are enjoying a little traveling in Wisconsin as we finish up their carriage. I am really looking forward to getting this vehicle out for some nice photos over the weekend.



The fabric is a maroon wool broadcloth. Ry has sewn the top panel for the front cushion and is pressing it before she prepares to install the buttons. Wool broadcloths are a traditional carriage fabric and a very appropriate choice for a vehicle of this type.



And here we have the rear cushion with the buttons partially installed. They are each being fastened to wood seat frames that I built up new last evening. By tomorrow they will really start taking shape. Then all that remains for upholstery is the rear seat back cushion.

It’s pushing five PM and I’m just posting the blog again today. About 12 hours behind when I like to post it. It has been another hectic day and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Have a great evening.

Best!
Todd

Mixed Bag Blog

Well it’s official today. Summer ends for me September first. I guess it’s still summer but the summer feeling ends today. Once I start writing the number nine in the month column it’s hard to get those warm and fuzzy feelings about summer. Unless I’m wearing a fleece pullover I guess.



Cheryl's llamas like this kind of weather. Chilly nights and nice sunny days are their favorites. This is the garden gate between our front yard and the pasture. They are always curious so this is a popular hang out. Especially when our little dog comes out to bark and show his authority. They just sneer and laugh.



We have the wheels repaired for Mad Max and they are ready for primer. Here Bob is doing some last minute preparation just before primer. We are shooting to have this vehicle ready for our display at the Villa Louis Carriage Classic coming up in a little less than two weeks.



The final sanding is also in the works on the Kimball Brougham. The body is now in final coat primer. Here Bob has the body tipped up on edge to catch the bottom. We will be putting some color on this body the week after next.



The Whisky body is now in the final coat of colors. The vermillion was sprayed yesterday so it needs to dry out one more day before we start sanding. It will be wet sanded then three or four more coats of clear to finish it up.



Dale has the Whiskey chassis and wheels moved over to the trim shop. He was sewing up shaft trim and preparing to start striping when I took this photo this morning. Our window on this vehicle is winding down.



In the mean time I’m working through a run of Sprint Cart frames. This is the first run of our new frame design. It has been a little slow going as I’ve been building and modifying our frame jigs as I go along. They are all tacked together ready to be welded. Once to this stage it takes about 45 minutes to do the actual welding. I’m hoping to have one or two of these available for our display at Villa as well.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd

Something About That Big Lake

We love Lake Michigan. I like all the great lakes but Lake Michigan is the closest so I guess that’s probably why it’s my favorite. The view of that big water is just stunning along with the seagulls and lighthouses and all that goes along with the deal. It’s tough to beat. Spring seems a little slow to come around over by the lake but otherwise I think I could live with the cooler temperatures the rest of the summer.



Sheboygan is our favorite lake town these days. It has a strong arts community, some great restaurants and of course the lake. A perfect Sunday for us is a drive to Sheboygan for a cup of coffee at the Weather Center Café. Then a long walk along the lake shore which for us is about five miles. Finally wrap things up with dinner and a tall Belhaven at the Duke of Devon on the riverfront. The Duke of Devon is a little English pub with great food and outstanding beers on tap. Worth the trip. Unfortunately we didn’t make any of that happen this weekend.



The work on the Whiskey is progressing nicely. We will be finishing up that project this week. On friday Dale base colored, trimmed the black and cleared the wheels. They are now ready for striping.



The body is being wet sanded for the vermillion (I am only saying that word once in this blog) panels and the final coats of clear. We use 600 grit paper and block sand wet which keeps the sandpaper from plugging.



Here is a shot of the wheels after they have been shot with four coats of clear.



The black trim on the hub and the rim is painted on prior to the clear. You can see in this shot of the hub it all has a nice deep and consistent shine.

I am in the middle of building a run of Sprint Carts. I’ll take a few shots of those for the blog tomorrow. We are also finishing up the Brewster Park Phaeton this week. We have some upholstery to finish up, striping and a few other odds and ends so stay tuned.

Have a great day.

Best!
Todd