Photograph
"Wild Bill" Buyer & Seller of Things
![A man in a cowboy hat and fringe jacket posing on a covered wagon. The wagon has a sign that reads: "'Wild Bill' Buyer & Seller of Things, Albertville."
An attached news article reads: "ALBERTVILLE, WIS. - When the Centennial parade rolls down the main street at Colfax at 2 p.m. today, there will be, among the many units, one particularly appropriate to the occasion. That is a covered wagon from nearby Albertville.
The wagon is the handiwork of Bill Nelson of that village, and it was just completed this summer just in time to enter the Rodeo parade at Eau Claire and take first place in the 'most colorful' division and handsome trophy. Nelson said that he had to build the covered wagon 'from the bottom up,' the bottom, or chassis, being a very old light duty wagon with wooden wheels. The job wasn't easy. The builder first went to the Eau Claire library and did a little research so he would get things right. Getting things right wasn't easy either.
'I used green lumber so that it would warp and look authentic,' Nelson said. The coloring was an even greater problem. Nelson finally found that a shingle stain called bungalow brown was just the thing. One coat made the boards look old. A second coat made the boards look new and he had to scrape the first experimental swipes of that off again.
Nelson installed a feed box at the end of the wagon in the traditional manner. He said that this was used either to carry--"
[end of clipping]](http://images.wisconsinhistory.org/700099991348/9999020133-l.jpg "\"Wild Bill\" Buyer & Seller of Things")
| A man in a cowboy hat and fringe jacket posing on a covered wagon. The wagon has a sign that reads: "'Wild Bill' Buyer & Seller of Things, Albertville." An attached news article reads: "ALBERTVILLE, WIS. - When the Centennial parade rolls down the main street at Colfax at 2 p.m. today, there will be, among the many units, one particularly appropriate to the occasion. That is a covered wagon from nearby Albertville. The wagon is the handiwork of Bill Nelson of that village, and it was just completed this summer just in time to enter the Rodeo parade at Eau Claire and take first place in the 'most colorful' division and handsome trophy. Nelson said that he had to build the covered wagon 'from the bottom up,' the bottom, or chassis, being a very old light duty wagon with wooden wheels. The job wasn't easy. The builder first went to the Eau Claire library and did a little research so he would get things right. Getting things right wasn't easy either. 'I used green lumber so that it would warp and look authentic,' Nelson said. The coloring was an even greater problem. Nelson finally found that a shingle stain called bungalow brown was just the thing. One coat made the boards look old. A second coat made the boards look new and he had to scrape the first experimental swipes of that off again. Nelson installed a feed box at the end of the wagon in the traditional manner. He said that this was used either to carry--" [end of clipping] |
| Image ID: | 149757 |
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| Creation Date: | 08 29 1964 |
| Creator Name: | Pioneer Press Co. |
| City: | Colfax |
| County: | Dunn |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Collection Name: | Classified file, circa 1850s-1950s |
| Genre: | Photograph |
| Original Format Type: | photographic print, b&w |
| Original Format Number: | CF 9129 |
| Original Dimensions: | 10 x 8 inches |
| This image is issued by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Use of the image requires written permission from the staff of the Collections Division. It may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society. |
| Location: | Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, 4th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin |
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