The Wagon
The stock required for the box of the wagon is 1/4” thick, for the wheels 3/8”, for the tongue 1/2”, and for the axles 3/4”. The axles are 5-1/2” long; the rear one is 1” wide; the front one is 7/8” wide, as shown in the drawing. The holes for the screws in the ends of the axles are bored 3/8” from the lower side. The screws are heavy, 1-1/2” round-headed, with metal washers under the heads. The holes in the wheels are bored true, and so that they will just slip over the screws.
The tongue is connected with the front axle by a piece of tin, cut from a tin can after the pattern shown on the drawing.
The cross piece between the wagon box and the front axle, called the bolster, is 1-1/8” wide, 5” long and 3/4” thick. It tapers from 5” in length at the top to 2-1/2” at the bottom, where it rests on and turns on the tin that is nailed to the top side of the axle.
Always bore holes of the proper sizes before inserting screws.
The front axle is connected to the bolster by a 2” round-headed screw on which it turns. In making the wagon box, the sides are nailed to the bottom, the ends fastened in position, and the back nailed onto the edge of the seat.
The box is painted green outside and red inside. The two wings of the tin plate are bent down to fit tight onto the sides of the tongue, and nails are driven thru the tin into the tongue. The whole running gear is painted red. The box is nailed to the bolster and to the rear axle. The seat is nailed into position, the wheels fitted on, and the front axle screwed onto the bolster. This wagon is strong and should last a long time and afford much wholesome pleasure.