Western Wheeled
Scraper Company factory salesman's model of an air dump car, ca. 1916 - Museum
Piece! This is a vintage, working, scale salesman model from the Western
Wheeled Scraper Company (WWSC). It was used by the company to sell
to railroads interested in purchasing the real car. Obviously, it would
have been impossible to transport a full-size car around the company in hopes
of making sales. So, this model served as a substitute.
The model is marked
with two builders plaques. The first is from the Atlas Model Company of
Chicago, and states that it was constructed on behalf of the WWSC. The
second plaque states that the WWSC rebuilt the model. A patent search (www.google.com/patents)
reveals that the original design for this model was likely created in 1916
(patent number 1,259,760, granted in 1918). At some later date,
the design was updated and, apparently, so was the model.
The model is nickel
plated. The trucks are fully sprung. The hand brake works.
And the model's mechanism originally operated off of air, just like the
prototype car. Some of this piping appears to be loose, so I suspect it
doesn't work in this manner anymore. However, it can be operated
manually.
The model is mostly
complete, with the only obvious missing part being one half of one of the
truss rods. This should be easy to replicate. There are some other
parts on the underside that may be missing, but may also have been removed
when the model was modified by the factory. This is not visible from the
top side. There is also a velvet-lined riveted box in the middle of the
hopper. I am not certain what purpose this box serves.
The model is 3 3/4"
gauge (scale unknown) and is believed to be unique. It is 30" long x
7.75" wide x 7" tall. Price is $3,200
Reduced to $2,800
and comes with a wood display board (made recently).
