WAGON RESTORATIONS
With his reputation of ingenuity and his attention to detail when restoring old vehicles, Tony was approached to restore an old Stagecoach by a local farming family. The stagecoach was in dire need of some TLC.
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Tony spent hours reading material, researching the internet, and visiting museums to see first-hand how antique vehicles were built. The difficulty with working on something so old is matching the craftsmanship for the particular time period.
​The finished Stagecoach gets plenty of opportunity to be seen these days. It's been used in numerous parades, promotional events, parties, and even weddings. If you're lucky enough to be around Woodbine, MD on Christmas Eve, you may even see Santa and his fellow carolers riding on the Stagecoach.
After seeing the finished Stagecoach at a local event, a volunteer from a Dairy Museum asked Tony if he would be interested in restoring another wagon. The museum was given a donation of an 1800s horse-drawn milk wagon that had been stored in a barn for many years. Very little on the wagon was reusable, so Tony and Virginia began researching the type of wood, nails, and mechanical parts that would have been used during this time period.
Tony disassembled the wagon, making a blueprint to help him put it back together as accurately as possible. As the restoration progressed, Tony fabricated many of the mechanical components that had rusted and rotted over the years of sitting. With the help of a local mill, Tony was able to obtain the wood needed. The restoration became a friend's and family effort as others joined in to lend their expertise.
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Today, the Milk Wagon is on display at the King Barn Dairy MOOseum in Boyds, Maryland.