Retired School Principal Shares Love Of Wagons With Book
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A retired Sacramento school principal has become a bit of an expert on something that first sparked his interest when he was two years old. Now it's led to a book all about wagons, and he's coasting into a new career as an expert.
Gordon Westover's garage has turned into a makeshift parts department. From wheels to wood strips, all of it is devoted to his love for a childhood toy dating back to the first wagon he ever got as a toddler.
"I was two," said Westover. That's me and that's my dad about 1940," he said, referring to a photo.
He still wishes he had that old wagon.
His interest in wagons, combined with extra time on his hands in retirement, has turned Westover into an expert on the subject.
So the last five years have been spent writing "Coasting on Wheels", an encyclopedia, and history book, really all about vintage toy wagons. These childhood toys are seeing some pretty modern prices.
"That's my oldest one…1884," said Westover.
He thinks the wagon could sell now for $700.
Wagons weren't just toys, but also tools. Some were made by newspaper companies just to make delivery easier.
These days, Westover makes them for fun, doing his woodworking and crafts in his shop right off the garage. He is still turning out a wagon now and then, using wood flooring and iron parts from Amish wagon makers. He puts it all together.
"Oh, a few weeks, I'd say from scratch and everything, maybe three to four weeks," he said.
And a familiar sight in the neighborhood is Westover road testing his four-wheeled creations. The book is not only an expert reference guide, but a walk back through time for anyone who enjoys reminiscing about a simpler time.
"This book is guaranteed to put a smile on your face because of the remembering that they had a wagon like that when they were children," he said.
If you want to tackle a wagon yourself, Westover's book offers patterns and instructions for the do-it-yourselfer.
If you'd rather just display his handiwork, click here to get a copy of his book.
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