Original “Garden Way Cart”

Posted on by John Daly

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 in Charlotte VT. Garden Way Research, originated the design in Charlotte VT. Here is the insignia embossed in the cart’s underside.

Embossed: “Garden Way Carts P.O. Box 20B Charlotte Vermont 05445”

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).

Cart with handle (pipes) removed
Cart handle on workbench with left side shown shorn off.

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?

Spare dowels collected through the years and stored upright in PVC pipe section cut

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!

Maple dowels (two leftmost) that fit into the handle tubes.

So I hammered in these wooden dowels as “cores” for the compromised and shorn tubes respectively:

Dowels inserted

I gathered some “right sized rust proof screws” to secure the handle..

New screws on the right

…. 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.

Dowel out a screw hole
Screw into the maple core

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….

Rusting pipe on the cart’s “legs” will fail next (5 years or so?)

Where Can One Get Parts?

I have not tried but…please note commenter DW’s reference to the Garden Way Research
company’s successor who bought the rights when Garden Way went out of business.

8 thoughts on “Original “Garden Way Cart””

  1. https://cartsvermont.com/shop/garden-carts/large-garden-cart/ I think this is the successor company that bought the rights when Garden Way went out of business. My family had the large cart Model 26 in the 70s One of the best things my Dad bought I think he paid about $100 for the guts and shipping We bought the plywood, cut it, and stained it then assembled the kit. My older brother inherited it and 10 years of sheer neglect in the first decade of the century (leaving it outside, not fixing the flat tire) did it in Cannot vouch for the quality of new carts but hope the new company maintained it

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  2. I purchased the large size original Gardenway cart 40 years ago. After hauling railroad ties, loads of various stone, countless loads of fire wood and lots of other yard “stuff and even a goat or two., it is still going strong. I would always recommend the large size cart because of the placement of the handles at the floor of the cart rather than at the top edge. This causes a much better fulcrum for lifting and heavy load balance. I have both sizes but the smaller one is much more troublesome to manage due to this handle configuration.

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    1. Hi Larry,
      I found that the CartsVermont.com site seems to offer all the hardware parts (including panels) for the large Garden Cart here: https://cartsvermont.com/product-category/replacement-parts/large-garden-cart/

      Others may know of other sites offering a full kit as a single purchase?

      I rebuilt our large Garden Way cart some years ago, replacing the base with more durable ABX plywood and coating the other wood parts. I used better stainless steel three prong nuts etc. for fastenings. I love the way it came out and can assure you it can be done.

      Best,
      John Daly

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  4. This is one great cart!! My father-in-law bought it for my wife and I more than 35 years ago.
    While a contractor was doing some work on our house just the other day, the cart was used for clean-up. He said he wanted to but it from me!! I said no – but did go searching since I too was able to read the embossed name.
    Unfortunately the Facebook account has not had any activity for 2 years and the various links for Cart Vermont comes back with a Suspicious Website Warning saying – “Your connection to this web page is not safe due to an expired security certificate.”

    Has anyone been able to get to the website and make a recent purchase?

    Stay Safe – Stay Well

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  5. I just purchased a Garden Way cart at an estate sale, paid $28 for it and am feeling ashamed! We love it and reading about it and comments about it makes it seem all the more dear. I have no idea how old this one is but am sure it will outlast the two of us ~ I’m 87 and my husband is 89 so it is a real body saver for us!

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