SALESMAN SAMPLE: Late 19th C. American (4) wheeled hand carved all wooden horse drawn hay wagon, in excellent condition with original gold stenciling to carriage, red stenciling to wheels; in authentic red paint. Metal wheel rims. Slight repair to one side rail.
Side rails pivot nicely by fine wooden axle underneath the carriage. Nicely carved seat atop front frame. Side wooden panels attached; rear panel rests between side panels under pressure.
Overall 27” long (carriage 14 1/2” long) x 10″ high x 8 1/2″ wide
This scaled down version of the real hay wagon was likely promoted by itinerant sales people who represented the manufacturer and traveled the countryside and rural American farm communities, seeking out farmers door to door, or they would take orders by leaving an example (salesman sample) on display in a merchant’s establishment, canvassing his clients.
Great item for Americana, folk art, or toy collector enthusiasts.
Note: While this COULD be a toy; my opinion is that it is a salesman sample. I think if it were a toy it would have come with a horse. I have been dealing and collecting toys etc. for quite some time and have never seen this piece, so if it was a toy, it would be fairly scarce with a commensurate value. Also, I purchased it from an extensive salesman’s sample collection from a knowledgeable collector.