1939 RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY BAGGAGE CART

Details

Many years ago, Railway Express Agency was the way to ship express parcels. Its heritage traces back to the railroad industry's earliest years, although the modern REA was not formed until the late 1920s. In time, it expanded rapidly, with thousands of small offices located in every corner of America, while its headquarters was based in New York City. People came to depend on REA for their shipping needs. With its trademark red-diamond sign, green delivery trucks, baggage carts and railroad

equipment, REA was a common sight across communities large and small. It was the UPS or FedEx of its day. Alas, things crumbled after World War II, which coincided with a rapid decline in rail travel. Ultimately, REA failed in the 1970s and was liquidated. Today, the Railway Express Agency is only a memory, although it will long be remembered as one of America's great institutions. This beautiful and rare baggage cart was found in original condition, as photos document. It was painstakingly restored exactly the way it was originally, with a couple very minor exceptions. All of the metal was prepped and PPG Concept Automotive paints were used for the finish. All of the wheel bearings were in excellent condition. One of the bearings had been replaced, but the other three were original. The bearing numbers date to 1939 and were introduced by Hyatt specifically for railroad journal boxes. All of the wood was replaced with kiln-dried oak for the beautiful grain patterns and the wood was cut to the exact original specifications. The tires were replaced with the original style Firestone tires that matched the originals exactly. This baggage cart measures 10'5' long, 45' wide and 6.1' tall. This is a true piece of American history. From the MS Classic Cars Collection. **SOLD ON BILL OF SALE ONLY** **SOLD AS A PAIR WITH LOT 66**