ca. 1700's
This piece is not so much a model of wagon, but rather a modification of a wagon for a particular use. The haberdasher, a name that showed up in America during the 1700’s, was a tailor of men’s clothing who, once or twice a year, would travel to the rural farms and ranches to sell his products. To help keep all the clothing affordable the haberdasher would bring only one large size and then tailor it on the spot for his customer.
The haberdasher would also bring things such as ribbons, needles, cloth and thread for women to purchase. Men’s clothing cost from about 50 cents to $3.00 for shirts depending on the material used. Pants could range from $1.75 to $4.00 and sometimes the haberdasher would sell suspenders and the like to complete the outfit.
This wagon originally came without any particular name painted on. Mr. Sterquell acquired it from Martin’s Auction Company in Intercourse, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1984. He decided to leave the top as it was when purchased, but completely restored the rest of the wagon. The company name painted on the side of the wagon, Samuel Green, was copied from an old catalog used in the initial research.