My wife and I and several friends visited the Gruber Wagon Works museum on Sunday.Russ, who is one of their tour guides, spent 3.5 hours with us going thru the building. He conducted a wonderful tour and went into great detail about the Grubers and their trade.
A normal tour doesn't go that long but it was a slow day and he could spend the time with us.
Two members of our group had a great interest in the woodworking sections and of course I eagerly anticipated the blacksmith shop.
Once we got to the smithy, about an hour flew by till I was almost dragged out. :)
I've borrowed some text from two County of Berks websites to better explain how fascinating and important this museum is.
http://www.co.berks.pa.us/parks/cwp/view.asp?A=1229&Q=447534 http://www.countyofberks.com/parks/cwp/view.asp?a=1246&q=475681
The Gruber Wagon Works survives as one of the most complete examples of an integrated rural manufactory of its kind in the nation. Erected in 1882 by Franklin H. Gruber, the wagon works evolved from a single craftsman shop, having a variety of specialized hand tools, into a family-operated business which employed up to 20 men who utilized mass-production methods. Unlike a modern assembly process, wagon parts were transported back and forth between various rooms in order to complete a segment of the work.
Wagon wheels were constructed in the bench shop, and wooden parts of the wagon were made from patterns in the wood shop. Wheels were "tired" and wagons were "ironed" and assembled in the blacksmith shop. The distinctive striping and scrollwork were applied by hand in the paint shop.
During the winter of 1976-77, the Gruber Wagon Works was moved by the Army Corps of Engineers from its original location near Mt. Pleasant. In 1978, the Gruber Wagon Works was designated as a National Historical Landmark by the United States Government, commemorating its historic significance as an industry from a bygone era of American craftsman.
Here is more text from the second Berks County Page:
The Gruber Wagon Works was built in 1882 by Franklin H. Gruber. Gruber had begun making farm-use wagons in the 1870's; as demand increased, he built the Wagon Works. It remained a family-owned business until it closed in 1971. It was unusual for its time because all of its processes were under one roof.
Originally, the Wagon Works was on the Licking Creek, about 1000 feet from where it flows into the Tulpehocken Creek. The Licking Creek was used to supply power for the machines in the early days of the Wagon Works. Part of the creek was diverted to run through the basement, turning a small water wheel before flowing back into the creek.
With increases in business, the Wagon Works modernized. A steam engine was installed in 1896, replaced in 1906 by a gasoline-powered engine, which was used through the 1950's. The water diverted from the creek was still used, only now to cool off the engine.
An elevator was built in the building in 1905. It was designed by one of Franklin Gruber's sons, who, as a side job, did repairs on clocks and watches and was familiar with the workings of gears. With the installment of the elevator, two men could lift the wagons into the upper levels of the shop in a few minutes, a process which had previously taken five to six men half an hour. Fixed to the building near the elevator were two small wooden outlines of anvils, one facing in either direction. These told people passing by that there was a blacksmith's shop there. In an area that had some people speaking German and some speaking English, and many being illiterate, the use of this symbol eliminated potential language problems.
In 1912, E. I. Shower put in electric lighting. It was the first electric lighting in the rural Berks area, and Shower encouraged people to go to the Wagon Works to see how it worked. This was also beneficial for the Grubers, as they could show off their wares while the people were there.
At its peak period, between 1910 and 1920, up to 20 men worked there at a time. They worked for 11 hours a day, six days a week, and were paid 15 to 20 cents an hour. At this time, approximately 100 wagons were being produced each year.
One of the keys to the success of the Wagon Works was its use of patterns. Having a pattern for each part meant that less work had to be done in sizing the pieces and the wagon could be built faster and more efficiently. With more wagons being built, more orders could be taken, and more money flowed into the business. During slow times, they would build extra parts to have some ready for the future.
As a family business, the Grubers were very concerned about the safety of their workers. They put in special safeguards, such as barriers on saws and other machinery to keep workers from cutting their hands while using them. During its entire operation, there were no major accidents.
No glue was used in the wagons; instead, the parts were fitted tight enough that they stayed together by themselves.
The paint they used was linseed oil-based and had to be mixed every morning. The body of the wagon was always painted green, while the chassis was always painted red. Intricate scrollwork was done on the sides of the wagon by hand.
With the advent of the automobile, demand for horse-drawn wagons decreased. To keep in business, the Grubers began making wooden truck bodies and socket wrenches for cars. One auto dealer had a deal where he would give a complete set of wrenches, made at the Wagon Works, to everyone who bought a Model-T.
After 1956, until it finally closed in 1971, the Wagon Works was a wagon repair shop. The ultimate dominance of the automobile and modern farm equipment meant that the services of the Wagon Works were no longer needed.
When the Army Corps of Engineers, in charge of the Blue Marsh Project, went into the Wagon Works, they found over 19,000 tools, all left in place, as if the workers had simply gone home and would be back the next day.
The building was moved to the Heritage Center in early December 1976. It was cut into four major sections and taken along Route 183. Restoration on the building began immediately and was soon finished. The building and everything inside it, including the placement of tools and materials, was made to look as it did in 1915. In 1977, the Wagon works was designated as a National Historical Landmark.
If you appreciate American history and enjoy seeing what craftsmen did in times past, Gruber Wagon Works is a must see.
I recommend two books which are available from the Berks County Heritage Center Gift Shop:
The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place where Time Stood Still
and
Wagon-Making in the United States during the Late-19th through Mid-20th Centuries: A Study of the Gruber Wagon Works at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania
And two links for more info:
http://www.amazon.com/Gruber-Wagon-Works-Place-where/dp/0977072401/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224520815&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Wagon-Making-Late-19th-through-Mid-20th-Centuries/dp/0939923971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224520815&sr=1-1
But there is a sad note to this story.
The Wagon Works has fallen into disrepair and parts of it are in danger of being lost forever.
Here is part of an article from 4/30/06.
Apr. 30--Repair of deteriorating walls at the historic Gruber Wagon Works in Bern Township cannot begin until the federal and state governments approve the method, local officials have said. So Berks County Commissioner Thomas W. Gajewski Sr. said he has written letters to legislators, trying to speed the approval process before the deterioration worsens. Gajewski said he hopes legislators will use their influence with the National Parks Service and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to get a repair plan approved soon...
Two and a half years later the Wagon Works still waits for approval of money to hire a company that will determine what repairs need to be made.
Once that part is completed, more money will be needed for the actual repair.
There aren't that many more years left for this old building and the stories it can tell.
