Wagon Wheels

Object/Artifact

New Museum Los Gatos

Name/Title

Wagon Wheels

Entry/Object ID

2011.2.1-2

Description

Two wooden and metal wagon wheels, consisting of a metal hub and hub band in the center, with 16 wooden spokes coming out of the hub. The felloes are made of wood, and are encased in a metal flat tire. There are metal bolts and two metal covers securing the flat tire to the felloes.

Collection

History Collection

Cataloged By

registrar@numulosgatos.org

Made/Created

Manufacturer

John Erickson

Date made

circa 1878 - circa 1900

Time Period

19th Century

Place

City

Los Gatos

Region

Central California

Continent

North America

Notes

Erickson set up his business in 1878, and documentation states that the wheel was made in the 19th century.

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Wheel, Wagon

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Wheel, Vehicle

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Component, Vehicle

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Land Transportation Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Land Transportation T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 07: Distribution & Transportation Objects

Dimensions

Width

9-1/2 in

Diameter

38-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

For 2011.2.1

Width

9-1/2 in

Diameter

44-1/2 in

Dimension Notes

For 2011.2.2

Material

Wood, Metal

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Gift of Brian Pine

Owner/Agent

Brian Pine

Acquisition Method

Gift

Acquisition Date

Jul 20, 2011

Exhibitions

The Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories - Phase 1

The Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories - Phase 2

The Los Gatos History Project: Uncovering Untold Stories - Phase 3

Interpretative Labels

Label

These wagon wheels were some of the last wheels made by blacksmith and wheelwright John Erickson. Erickson was born in Sweden in 1844 and moved to Los Gatos in 1878. He opened his blacksmith shop at 280 East Main Street, across the street from where the high school now stands. His shop, formally named The Practical Wheelwright and Carriage Maker, Blacksmithing and Horseshoeing Ploughshares Ground was one of the earliest Los Gatos blacksmith shops. Erickson was married to Wendla Nordstrom and had six children; Charles, K.H., Andrew Lawrence, Josephine, Hilma and Hulda. Andrew Erickson was the proprietor of the Erickson Automotive garage in Los Gatos.