GMC Trucks 1912-60's Ads and Art

Signs Of The Time -- Two Vintage Truck Signs -- No More

Once again I owe a debt of gratitude to my friend Jerry, for in part he is responsible for finding one of the signs that will be a subject of this post.

Once upon a time in NYC there was a truly magnificent sign that adorned two sides of a building located on 125th street and Broadway. The sign was one of those hand painted billboards and advertised the Chelsea Warehouse Moving and Storage Company. It is my guess that this bilboard went up in the 50's, but sadly it was painted over in the late 80's. It was a landmark that could be seen from the elevated line that ran near by, that is how Jerry found the original picture on the NYC transit board. Below a picture I found on FLIKR of that sign -- sadly now gone ----

And here, cropped from a picture taken from the el that Jerry found --

Well of course this find started something between Jerry and me, and during a phone conversation I remembered another NYC sign that I had seen back in 2000 when taking our daughter Morgan to school at NYU. This sign like the aforementioned was also erected in the 1950's by the YALE TRANSPORT CORP. of NYC and was located on 12th ave. and 40th street. When first erected the cab of this mock truck was done as a WHITE tractor -- note the mock driver seen through the drivers window.

The next series of pictures show the same sign as it appeared in the 80's with a modified tractor that appears to me as a Peterbilt. The sign still uses the YALE logo, but is now red, white, and blue --

After years of neglect, the sign was purchased in the early 2000's and restored by United Rental ( this was how I saw it). It was painted in United Rental colors and remained that way until it was torn down along with the buildings in 2010 -- I am hoping that United Rental had the foresight to save the sign after putting all that effort into its' restoration.

Here is a picture I took showing the only view in BING maps of the building and truck prior to demolition --

I would love to hear your memories of these two signs -- drop a comment or send an email!!!

1940's Autocar Truck Ad Art -- William Campbell

Yes, I know that you will probably find some of the pictures seen in this slideshow on my various pages here. However, I thought it time to combine the art of William Campbell into a slideshow to highlight the AUTOCAR of the 1940's --- one tough looking truck!!!

WHEN NAVAJO SAVED THE NAVAJO -- PART 2

Since the last post on the subject of the NAVAJO BROTHERHOOD RELIEF CARAVAN, I have started a thread over on HANK'S TRUCK FORUM. I have since found a few other articles and posted some other pictures on that FORUM. I have also contacted a library in Albuquerque, N.M. and the ATHS to see if they have any further info and pictures.

ALL THIS DOES NOT MEAN that if you the reader have any information regarding this I don't still want it!! PLEASE feel free to respond via comment or email.

This is a moment in trucking history that needs to be remembered and understood ---

A LOST MOMENT IN TRUCKING HISTORY -- NAVAJO Freight Lines role in the "NAVAJO BROTHERHOOD CARAVAN"

I was recently doing some research for one of the forums I belong to and came across a series of pictures from the LIFE MAGAZINE photo archive that were labeled "NAVAJO BROTHERHOOD CARAVAN" and showed trucks from the NAVAJO truck lines delivering food and goods to the Navajo Indians of New Mexico.


The pictures were taken in 1947 and sparked my interest since I had spent part of a summer back in 66 in Ganado, Arizona in a Navajo Mission.


An internet inquiry into this event, which was also called "The Mile of Trucks" produced only two "hits".  The first was actually a mention of this incident coming from a UFO magazine ---

Food for Navajos

The event was in December of 
1947 and was called the “Navajo Brotherhood Caravan”
(or the “mile of trucks”) and 
ran supplies from Albuquerque to Gallup, 
NM. (roughly 90 miles south of Shiprock) 
where the Indians took possession of 
the supplies.  The Navajos were having a 
tough time of it and people throughout 
the state were helping out. 


The second "hit" came from an article that appeared in TIME MAGAZINE ----


INDIANS: Reprieve
Monday, Dec. 22, 1947

"Shocked at the discovery that the Navajo Indians face starvation and even death this winter (TIME, Nov. 3), the nation suddenly began sending them relief. The American Red Cross appropriated $100,000 for "immediate stopgap aid," rushed disaster relief workers to the barren Navajo country. A Navajo Trail Relief Caravan Association gathered up food and clothing in California, started seven truckloads on the way to the reservation. Utah citizens helped too. Congress, conscience-stricken after neglectful years, voted a $2,000,000 relief fund for the Navajo and Hopi tribes."




I think this is an important piece, and unfortunately a forgotten piece of trucking history. It must have produced  a great deal of pride for the NAVAJO truck line as it gave back to its' namesake, the NAVAJO nation.


What I can't believe, is the lack of further information about this event -- so that is where you, the reader, come in. If you have any stories about this or know more of the story, PLEASE share it by comment or email me!!!


In the meantime -- enjoy the pictures, courtesy of the LIFE archive --


NAVAJO RELIEF CARAVAN LEAVING PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA

THE MILE OF TRUCKS

COMING INTO TOWN

UNLOADING THE GOODS

Want Trucks???

Although I have had a FLIKR page for some time now, it was not till recently that it went PRO. I use FLIKR to store the truck pictures I take and those I find on the net. There are also many groups that I belong to, and those are linked to my FLIKR site. I also have organized my pictures in sets, so if you are a truck modeler looking for ideas check out my FLIKR page ---- get the picture??

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14024074@N05/

INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM PROJECT

As I said in a previous post, I just recently obtained another memory from the past -- two kits from Round 2.
The first kit was the AMT Fruehauf 40' beaded trailer, which was done as a trailer for INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM, a once big trucking concern that went out of business in 1984.

The second kit was also a Round 2 release -- the AMT Kenworth K 123. This kit actually contains the decals to finish the trailer and do the truck. You will notice in the attached video the erroneous addition of the newer logo to the truck cab -- that done because the truck is totally fictitious, IMFS apparently did not use Kenworths in their fleets.

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A Great Time for AMT/Round 2 -- Kenworth K-123 COE and Fruehauf Trailer

FINALLY!!!!

After waiting since last November, the AMT Kenworth is available along with another long awaited kit, the AMT Fruehauf Beaded Trailer. Both these kits were ordered from TOWER HOBBIES on line ---

The Kenny comes with decals to make the fallen flag carrier, INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM. The Fruehauf comes with the old AMT decals along with new Round 2 decals and a car parts company.

I chose to do the IMFS truck and trailer -- truck will be overall orange with a silver trailer. The trailer is finished, will post pictures latter. Currently working on the truck, frame is complete and primed along with the cab shell.

This is a beautiful remake of the old AMT kit with few fit problems -- BUT YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION to the old instructions!!!

The "box" photo, is actually the display box included with the model -- you got to put that together too, have some super glue for that.

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT --- NOTE LINK!!!!

Every once in a while I get the feeling that no one is looking at my blog, and then about that time I get one of those great e-mails from someone who has taken the time to not only comment, but also attach a very special gift.

I can not thank Curtis enough for this -- It will become my new and permanent header picture, IT IS THAT COOL---

Here is Curtis' e-mail ----

Hi George,

Terrific website you have. I do 3D artwork as a hobby, and the latest is a Mack B-61 - one of my favourites !

I was able to get some ideas from your website. Thanks so much.

So, I decided to do one with your name on the door, and send it off to you !

Hope you like it ! Let me know if I got any spelling wrong !

All the best in the new year

Curtis


IF YOU LIKE CURTIS' ART --- VISIT HIS SITE ---

ART OF CURTIS HEARD

1930 MACK AFM PROTOTYPE COE

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Recently, I received a copy of John B. Montville's "BULLDOG" copyright 1979. Absolutely a must have for the BULLDOG AC lover. My dilemma is that I have become obsessed with 2 photo's found on page 118 of this book and posted here. These two picture show a rather modernistic looking COE, chain - driven truck obviously built using a BULLDOG chassis. Presumably,this truck was built in the MACK LONG ISLAND CITY PLANT and designated the "AFM" pehaps after the initials of MACKS chief designer at the time, A.F. Maury. Note that the cab design is like that of a huge BULLDOG hood, and the radiator cover resembles that of a MACK AC.

My problem is this. I have contacted the MACK MUSEUM in ALLENTOWN, and they have  no pictures of this truck other than those from the book  - although they do have a file. I am wondering if more pictures exist, and how Montville acquired these. What happened to this vehicle?

I am also attaching a list of contributors to Montville's book in hopes that someone in this forum might recognize a name -- yes I remember that the book was written back in the 70's, and that some of these guys were "OLD TIMERS" back then.

Simply put -- more info please if it is out there!!! THIS IS A FANTASTIC AND INNOVATIVE TRUCK!!!!


LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS --

E.A. Hanauer --- former MACK engineer

Jack Winchester --- former fleet supervisor and early associate of A.F. Masuary

Henry Miller --- Mack executive engineer, retired

reply to my email -----