Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Studebaker- December 29

Yesterday we rode the bike path along the ocean shore here in Long Beach. It was a gorgeous southern California day, and there were quite a few other people/families out either on the walking path, swimming in the ocean or building sand castles. So as there is not too much to report on events here, I want to return to something interesting which I found in historic old town San Diego. In an old barn there, which had displays of many forms of transportation from the past, I saw an old Studebaker wagon, which I have pictured here.




In 1858, after making wheelbarrows for the gold miners,  Johnny Studebaker left California and joined his brothers in Indiana.  The Studebaker Wagon Company was then mass producing farm wagons, and also supplied wagons for the Union Army during the Civil War years. They were the largest producer of wagons in America at that time. In the 20th century they moved on to producing gasoline powered vehicles. I was impressed with the history of that company;  progressing from manufacturing wheelbarrows to cars!  There is now a museum for the Studebaker Company, located in South Bend Indiana.  You can get more information on the museum if you go to www.studebakermuseum.org.

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