Archival Anecdotes: Traveling through Time

This week's featured artifact is a photograph of Edgar and Joyce Mattson driving in the New Rockford Parade on July 4, 1957.

Edgar and Joyce, the original owners of the 1903 Orient Buckboard, made the claim that their car was the first gasoline-powered vehicle in Eddy County.

Even in 1957, it must have been mind boggling to think that these were the cars of yesteryear. The scene was enough to convince Carl J. Aaland to capture it on film.

The photograph was later donated by Edgar and Joyce's daughter, Merry K. Turner.

The Orient Buckboard motor-buggy was made in 1902 by the Waltham Manufacturing Company. It seated two passengers and cost just $375.

In 1903, Waltham Manufacturing recorded 613 Orient Buckboards in production. The cost increased from $375 to $425, but it was still considered the most affordable car in America.  

In the rear of the car, a single-cylinder engine produced up to four-horsepower, and could travel at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The car was extremely lightweight, weighing in at 500 pounds. There was very little in the way of bodywork, making it impractical for long trips. Those who ventured out for an adventure were smart to bring along patches for the rubber tube tires.  

In the years following, the Orient Buckboard models received improvements to their suspension, steering and drive chains, and even gained an optional eight-horsepower, two-cylinder engine. This vehicle remained in production until 1907. 

The Mattsons' vehicle now resides in the Brantford Depot at the Eddy County Museum, and is worth a look with your own eyes.

Eddy County Museum is open Sundays from 1-4 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day.