Original "Garden Way Cart"
We are lucky enough to own a junior size version of the original "Garden Way Cart" from the 1970's.
The manufacturer, Garden Way Research, originated the design in Charlotte VT. Here is the insignia embossed in the cart's underside.
While I was lifting today's oversize barrel load of compost siftings...
...I bent the galvanized steel handle right at the rust crease split on the right hand side.
And when I removed the handle to fix it I found that the left hand side had sheered off in place probably years ago (former owner).
I searched for Garden Way replacement parts. It was futile. Too many years had passed. Too unique of a small size -- axle width about 22" -- for the part to be carried.
What to do? What about that collection of various wood and metal dowels I organized next to my workbench?
It turns out some strong maple dowels recovered from a plant stand rack from the 1980's fit inside the compromised handle pipes rather perfectly!
So I hammered in these wooden dowels as "cores" for the compromised and shorn tubes respectively:
I gathered some "right sized rust proof screws" to secure the handle..
.... And then proceeded to insert the handles (sliding both sides along into the top tubes of the cart; doweled out a screw hole in the new maple "core" of the galvanized steel pipe handle....and screwed in the "new" screws.
Then the cart was ready to go once again as good as new.
Proud to be still using this cart close to 50 years after it was made!
But the next break might need an actual part....
