As part of the Shriner's parade vehicles we have an old Stage Coach
that is built on a vechile frame. I believe that this was built in
California and we obtained it here in Las Vegas. I am looking for
the place that built this motorized vehicle to see if they can
refurbish it sometime in the future. Unfortunately the wood is quite
a mess from being left out in the desert air for all these years. |
Request for Question Clarification by
kutsavi-ga
on
21 Nov 2002 12:21 PST
Hi there mastermmmm,
Just to verify, you believe that the fabrication of the stage coach
onto the vehicle body took place in California, correct? What is the
reason for your suspicion, eg. any markings, information, etc. that
might help?
Another thing to consider is that vehicles like this are often
"projects" done by incredibly talented individuals in their garages or
work shops; you know, mechanical engineers, welders and the like. (I
know the VFW post in Yuma, AZ has an incredible "steam engine"
attached to the body of some vehicle or other, that they haul out for
parades to give kiddie rides on that was made by one of their members,
literally in his back yard.) Are there any markings on yours or clues
that might lead you to guess that it was the work of a manufacturer
and not one of these projects? I'm guessing if it were a project
vehicle, finding the craftsman might be out of the realms of
possibility unless someone recognized the work.
Also, you don't mean a stage coach like the horse-drawn Concord Coach
used by the Butterfield-Overland Mail Service back in the 1850's;
yours was manufactured...essentially like a bus, am I correct?
Something about the terms "stage coach" and "motorized vehicle" is
confusing me, for my brain is small ;-) Maybe a picture might be of
value; any chance of posting one to an internet site?
Also, was the original use of the vehicle for transportation? In
other words, did they take an old frame from a vehicle and make a
stage/bus out of it for practical purposes, or was the original intent
to use it in parades?
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Clarification of Question by
mastermmmm-ga
on
30 Nov 2002 22:30 PST
My guess was that this was manufactured in Southern California,
however, I could be wrong. The latest information I have is that it
maybe have been purchased somehow by a member of our local Shriners
who owned a Car Dealership. I have been told that this vehicle is
built on an 'International' bed.
As to the 'type' of stagecoach I am referring to, I am indeed talking
about something that looks very much like the old horse drawn
stagecoaches of the old west. This one of course has no horses in
front of it. Where the Driver and the Shotgunner would sit is where
the steering wheel and a passenger may sit. There is room inside for
about 8 people just like in the old horse drawn stagecoaches.
I also felt that it might have been built in California because I
recently (within the past 6 months) saw something on satelite tv about
a small company (I thought somewhere located around Yermo or Baker
California) that was into making these type of custom vehicles.
As to what the original intent was for this vehicle, I can not see how
it could have been built to be anything but a parade vehicle. They
did take another vehicle's frame and engine and apparently removed all
of the body, and built it up from there. Please note, that I am not
mechanically inclined, so if I am using the wrong words, forgive me.
Basically it looks to me exactly like an old stagecoach now.
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Request for Question Clarification by
kutsavi-ga
on
01 Dec 2002 09:11 PST
Thanks for the information, mastermmmm. I'll start looking around for
vehicle fabricators. Is there any way you could put a picture of the
vehicle up on the internet?
Kutsavi
|
Request for Question Clarification by
kutsavi-ga
on
02 Dec 2002 10:50 PST
Hey there mastermmmm,
Would a contact that restores classic vehicles and has worked on many
parade and novelty vehicles in the past, and who is located in the
Southern California area, be sufficient as an answer for you? He
would need to bring the vehicle to his shop just east of San Diego to
do the work, but he said that after he was through with it you could
drive it home. He can do all the body., apaint and mechanical work in
his shop, and deals with an older gentleman for the woodworking on his
resotorations.
If this would be acceptable as an answer for you, please let me know
and I will post his contact and business information for you.
Kutsavi
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