Hello,
Have you ever restored/refurbished an old wooden "Radio Flyer" wagon or maybe totaken notice of how it is held together?
I'm trying to make an old wagon usable again. It was left out in the rain for quite some time. The bottom was totally shot, so I'm replacing that. It appears as though all the sections of the platform (bottom and side and front rails) are held together by tongue and groove and two thin threaded rods; one located at the front and one at the back.
Is that it? No glue? If the sections were glued, then the exposure to the elements broke down any glue that was there.

Thanks in advance.

 

I just fixed up my childhood wagon from the early 70's. My wagon has a stamped steel body and everything is riveted to it. The wheel hub covers have one screw that holds the cover in place then underneath the wheels are held on with a cotter pin.

 

I know nothing about this wagon but can tell you that often glue is not used on tongue and groove panels.
This allows them to move and helps prevent warping.

 

I Googled "wooden Radio Flyer Wagon" and found this:

Wooden Radio Flyer wagon

It looks like the two threaded rods you mentioned go through the front and rear pieces to hold it all together. You can see the end (with a nut?) recessed above the wheel just in front of the side bracket.

The sides and front/rear are probably dadoed (grooved) to support the bottom (although probably not the front and rear since it looks like the bottom piece protrudes at the front.. There may be a dadoe in the side pieces for the front and rear pieces to fit into also.

 

The metal running gears are fastened to the wood with machine screws and nuts.