A little "something or other" about trucks of all types using truck models I have made and collected, photos I have taken, pictures and drawings I have found from various places.
I have been building models for over 40 years and just got back to one of my favorite subjects - TRUCKS.
Drop a comment if you wish, or send an e-mail through my profile - I want to hear from you.
Every opportunity we get, my wife and I go out for LONG drives trying to get lost on the back roads of New York, and Pennsylvania. I usually watch for birds for her and she watches for trucks for me. It's a time we both enjoy - especially when I end up with ONE truck and she ends up with 15 or more different birds. THAT IS A GOOD DAY - for me!
It was on one of those trips that WE spotted this old Brockway on our way through Dushore, Pa.
Our next weekend trip had us headed to Buffalo to spend Easter with our son Garrett. Of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to head out Sunday morning for a drive near Lake Erie. I made even with my truck score and her bird score.
This was my result - a pristine Peterbuilt 359, with an interesting hood ornament.
Then there was yesterday. A day trip to Ithaca and Dryden. I already knew I had at least one truck on my list. Jan clobbered me with birds!
My find was actually spotted coming back from Cortland during a bus trip. I believe this is a late 70's Brockway 359.
If you look carefully at the interior shot, you will see that the keys are in the ignition. Lucky for Jan, IT DIDN'T start.
The next offering is from a local road trip in Elmira. I was thankful that this was close by as neither of us had brought our cameras. I went back the following day to capture this late 20's Chevrolet.
So, I will have to admit ---- Birds and trucks are a fine mix, and those road trips aren't bad either.
Not only is the evidence in, but the case of "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" vs. "IMAPACT" , and what seems to be the same vehicle, now identified as a 1944 WHITE 810T is over. The jury has deliberated on the evidence based on a series of stills from both movies.
The VERDICT: While said vehicle, one 1944 WHITE 810T did try to disguise itself in the movie "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" as a moving van for the company "GREAT WESTERN MOVING CO." and apparently also did the same in the movie "IMPACT" as a "BEKIN'S" moving van, the van appearing in both 1949 movies is one and the same.
What was most dificult about this identification was identifying the year and make of said vehicle as a 1944 White.
Presented to the case was some new evidence in way of a 1945 advertisement for a White Delivery Van:
You can note the similarity both to the Bekins and Great Western Vans below:
Since the advertisement shows a 45 van that uses a latter style grill, it is assumed that "our" two /one and the same van is a late model 44 WHITE 810T.
FURTHER UPDATE ---5 / 2 / 09 ---- EMAIL FROM DON MacKENZIE
Mr. Murphey.
I have some additional information for you in regards to identifying your "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" truck. I believe the truck is a White Model 805, Cab Over Engine Chassis, vintage 1936 to 1940 with a Gerstenslager Co. of Wooster Ohio moving van body. Let me explain why I believe this to be the case.
When White chassis were used by body builders to build trucks where the entire body including the driving compartment was provided by the body builder (such as moving vans of this type) the only external means of identification of the chassis builder was usually the radiator grille and possibly some trim pieces. Gerstenslager followed this procedure when they built the "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" moving van. The White 800 Series/Gerstenslager moving vans were built from 1936 to 1940 using the COE radiator grille and accompanying trim. In 1941 the 800 Series imodel dentification was changed to the WA Series. Most of the changes were to the power train and chassis but the radiator grille and accompanying trim was changed to distinguish the new WA's from the 800"s. The new grille and trim included a wider center strip, two circular ID badges and a pair of wings sprouting from the center strip. I have attached two photographs of White/Gerstenslager Moving Vans. The Allied Van Lines unit is an 800 Series Model 805 (1936 to 1940). The Dilner Storage unit is the WA Series Model WA-122 (1941 to 1948). As you will see the "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" truck is an 800.series. Also notice that the truck in the White advertisement on your BLOG shows the distinctive wings making it a WA Series.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have questions feel free to E-Mail me at any time.
Happy Trails.
Don MacKenzie.
Mighty fine pictures Don, my sincere thanks for the info too!! Thanks for shedding some light on this VERY INTERESTING TRUCK!!!
For more information on "GERSTENSLAGER CO." check out this web page -- great photos too!!
Okay, so this is what happens when you spend time over on Hank's Truck Forum discussing old trucks. It all started with a simple post from my friend Jerry Austin, a regular contributor to Hank's. He had posted about the "Great Western" moving van used towards the end of the 1949 RKO film "MIGHTY YOUNG". His initial question was, "what make is this vehicle?"
Well, it seems like the discussion had been going on for some time - his first post appeared in 2007. At first it was thought the truck might be a MORELAND. I was somewhat exasperated by the fact that no one had put up pictures of the actual truck in question, and an internet search produced no results. So, I rented and watched the movie, taking the following shots for our evidence.
I posted these on a video in You Tube, and immediately got a response that it was an International Harvester. Our mystery got deeper as I suggested this possibility back on Hank's Truck forum, and presented the pictures. My friend Jerry came to the rescue when he suggested that it looked like a WHITE frame had been used. I now had the basis for a new theory to put to the test.
Round 2 was about to begin. Find a White similar in appearance to this "unknown beast".
Hmmmm --- somethings look familiar, I have seen that grill before. Those headlights, the bumper, I think my friend Jerry was onto something. Our "GREAT WESTERN" movie van was a WHITE. But, how could this be? This was something special, perhaps as special as the following known WHITE, with a latter grill as in this picture of a horse hauler of the late 40's --- LUCKY HORSES!!!
We deduced that WHITE may have been doing more "specialized" work than their famous series of beer trucks. Could our "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG" moving van be a lost example. Was this really a WHITE?
THE PLOT THICKENS-------
Early on in the forum when we were thinking this was a MORELAND, someone suggested checking the movie files on IMCB.org for trucks in the movies. Of course, there were no MORELANDS to be found. But, had we overlooked some new evidence? No one had looked at WHITE as the culprit!! I went back to serch the scene ----
AH, you noticed too!!! This is not the "same" truck. It is a BEKINS van. Why this van isn't from "MIGHTY JOE YOUNG", it must be from another movie.
You're right of course. This BEKINS van is from the 1949 movie, "IMPACT". It too is obviously a White.
BUT - 1949, two movies, same type of RARE vehicle - SAME TRUCK OR NOT???
IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A CLIP OF THE BEKINS TRUCK - you got it --
Every morning before I leave for my bus run, Jan leaves me a banana. It always makes me think of one of my favorite trucking songs. If you ask Jan what it is, she would qucikly reply, "30,000 Pounds of Bananas".
Yep, she would be right. She likes Harry Chapin too! But the song has to be the full version, the one with the four different endings, the 10 minute long version - THE ONE HERE!!
I remember hearing this song for the first time in the late 1970's. I even remember hearing that it was based on an actual occurrence, but had never REALLY verified that FACT for myself.
Until now -----
It happened in 1965, when a truck loaded with 15 tons (do the math) of bananas was coming down the Rt. 307 hill into downtown Scranton Pa. At the bottom of the hill, it turns into Moosic St. The trucker lost control of the vehicle (seemed to be a Brockway) and crashed into a house on the corner of South Irving Ave. The incident was the basis for the Harry Chapin song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas." 42 years later, trucks over 10 ton are still required to use I-380 to get into Scranton, forbidden from going down Moosic St. The signs are still up.
Once in a while someone actually sends me an e-mail about the post here. If I'm really lucky, they send pictures. That is what Les Warner did, so I will post his e-mails here with some really fine pictures and an admission that I am jealous of his 31 Model A Ford. 1st email from Les
Hi George, I enjoy your site. I have a 31 Model A pickup,not a big truck, in fact very small. they really made them small in those days. I also have been interested in old trucks of all kinds. The oldest big truck that I drove was a 1955 Sterling. I only drove it about ten miles. The newest was a 1995 K W.,then I retired. Raised here in Oregon,I have been around a lot of log truck's,and lumber trucks. Before I was a teen,I rode in log trucks. My favorite was the 41 Chev. They were big trucks in the 40's. Sending a picture of my Model A Les Warner
Hi George,Thank's for the reply.You have talent beyond words. I admire some one that has things going for their selves, and I am sure that you enjoy every minuet of the day. Sending a picture of a chev truck that almost makes me want to cry. This truck is still parked at a farm in my area. I and a friend was about 13 at the time, when we made our way over to the corral on his dad's farm to see the new Chev truck that was just brought from the Dealer. I always thought it was an early 47 that was made a few months before the Advanced series started. Maybe you could tell me if this is so,but any way it was the pretty dark green with black fenders. The new smell was present,and this was a beauty. The sad thing about it was how the owners,and hired men abused it beyond words from the beginning. Kind of like who could put a dent on top of a dent. Sending picture. Les
3rd email from Les
Hi George,I can't open the web page that you just sent. Have you been around a Mack Jr pickup? I Have only seen pictures,in fact one is featured in this months Hemming's classic magazine. I think they are one of best looking that was ever made. They derived out of the Reo Speed wagon.Later than yours. Sending a picture of the K W that I drove. I had 4 new ones in the 27 years that I drove for a building material co. They were all K W's. Sending my web site. it has custom furniture in it because my web master attached it to his. My "country filling station" has no gas. I pump a look alike gas "red prestone"from the quarter barrel. Les http://www.customfurniture.net/les-shell/
Thanks Les for taking the time to write. Great pictures - got any more?
Yes, it's still there. Checked on it yesterday and took more pictures. "It" is that 31or32 REO Speedwagon found on a back road near my home. Like all the good finds, it sits pretty well protected in an old barn.
This old truck has a story to tell - to someone who is willing to put some life back into it. It's not a "fancy" truck, but underneath, she's a thing of beauty. All it's looking for is a good home and lots of care.
SHE IS FOR SALE! I think the price is fair. It's a solid truck, REO built em tough, and she has held up well.
If you are interested in a good restoration project - this might be it!
I think this old REO has still got a few more miles to go ---
Hey, was over on Hanks the other day and found a Truck picture from the "LIFE MAGZINE PHOTO ARCHIVES". It made me want to check it out, so I did. What a treasure! There were enough pictures to put together another "video".
This video covers the years between 1940 and 1960. See how many trucks you can identify, and did you know that BOEING installed a gas turbine engine in a Kenworth back in 1950? It was the first gas turbine truck to deliver freight, you'll recognize it a the end of this video. It never went into production, but Ford actually had some gas turbines on the road in the late 1960's.
Those of you that have been reading this blog for a while know that one of my favorite trucks is the GMC COE's of the 1950 era. This post is about a particular GMC cab over that was driven by Joseph McKenna, father of John McKenna. John sent me the picture in an e-mail. This is what he wrote:
Hi George,
I like your blog. My father, Joseph McKenna drove 30+ years for National Transit Corporation out of Detroit Michigan. Their home office was in Lima Ohio. This is a picture from the mid to late 50s I am guessing. They moved to Dearborn Mi when a new Post Office was built at this location, or next to it in the early 60s, 62 it says on a plaque outside the PO. I remember him saying the terminal was moving because they wanted to build a new PO there. I think they must have moved in 59 or 60. I went to work at that PO in March 1998. Now I work in OKC
A few times he drove by the house and picked me up with this truck, asking if I wanted to go for a ride. What!! are you kidding me?? Oh yeah lets go. I was born in 52, so I was still pretty young. They eventually bought new trucks and over the years, rode in these 50s and 60s GMC city trucks. I remember him driving 70s and later GMCs as well, and a Ford Louisville. If you ever get any more National pictures, I would appreciate it if you would send it to me. There is a picture of the 70s model at Hanks Truck Pictures. They don't give permission to put it on the web. Maybe you could ask him. The yellow GMC pictured was driven by my father at one time, I am sure it has been to the house. National was bought by Holland, then TNT, and so on.
I have the ERTL 54 GMC Coke truck,and Great Dane 30ft trailer. I am going to paint it in National Transit colors. Kind of school bus yellow and black, with red wheels. I'll send a pic when I do it. I will have to decipher the colors of the National emblems.
He wrote again this morning with another story about his dad -
George,
I want to tell you a story about my dad. You can print it if you want to, it's up to you. This was in the early 80s. I was a big guy, Pa was a big guy. Once I was going down a two lane road, with light traffic, and saw my father driving towards me in the opposite direction. We were right near a place in Romulus Michigan where a lot of truckers stop. He saw me and pulled over. I got out and asked if he wanted to get a cup of coffee with me at Southern Boy restaurant, he said ok. Well, he made a U- turn right there with a 40 ft trailer, and maybe tied up traffic for a minute or so. I drove about a block to the restaurant and went in. A fellow sitting at the counter says to me, "Did you see that crazy S.O.B. turn that big truck around right there in the road?" I answered, "yes, I saw him" Then he says, oh look, he' pulled in here. Hey, he's coming in!" I said "Oh yeah, Huh.' Then my dad walked in and said "Hi son", I said "Hi Pa". The fellow talking to me threw his money on the counter and ran out the door. We had a good laugh. If the poor guy would have stayed, we would have bought him coffee and had a good laugh with him.
That first picture is of John's dad in that GMC COE known as a "Cannonball". The next picture shows a National Transit GMC parked next to an International with the Holland Markings - it is from HANKS TRUCK PICTURES ---
The following picture was also found at HANKS TRUCK PICTURES - it shows the National
Transit Terminal --
This photo is from John, appears to have been taken in the early 1970's.
I hope John will add his comments to this post, but we both are hoping that some more pictures of these National Transit Trucks might show up.
THAT'S THE CHALLENGE -----------
You can drop me an e-mail through my profile or leave a comment - I am always looking for new truck pics.
Shame on me!!! I am after all a school bus driver. I first drove a bus at 19 in Oklahoma City, and now I have driven a school bus for my district for ten years, six of those years I have been a driver trainer, and for the last two years I have held a 19A Certified Examiners Certificate.
Shame on me!!! This blog has been going for two years, and I haven't posted any pictures of the best truck ever - a school bus. Now some bus drivers may not consider their bus a truck, but come on, we do carry cargo - the most precious cargo ever.
I have always wanted a bumper sticker for my bus, "WE HOLD THE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS".
So it's about time for some school bus pics. And since my district drives Bluebirds, the first bus after the title page is Bluebird #1.
One thing to all the School Bus Drivers that may read this - WE NEED MORE PICTURES OF THE OLD BUSES ON THE WEB!!!!
It was a little late, ordered for Christmas, it arrived shortly after Valentines day - the 46 GMC snowplow my wife ordered from Jeff's Collectibles for me. The timing of its' arrival could not have been better - SNOW!!!
This item and a similar 46 Chevy Snowplow are now available through Jeff's Collectibles along with a host of other great truck die cast models. However, if you all don't mind, I think I'll stick to my snow blower for the big jobs.
Thanks to my dear wife for putting up with my obsessions and to Jeff Mumby for providing me with this great truck.
At the bottom of this column is a little "gadget" called a stat counter. It counts the number of visitors to this site, and tracks new visitors each day.
This site has gone world wide, and I would like to get to know some of you. So PLEASE feel free to drop a comment and include a link back, or send an e-mail, include an e-mail address and I'll write back,
I am always looking for new pictures, truck models, and truck sites to add to this page, so PLEASE if you have something to share, contact me.
Hey, I want to hear from you!! EMAIL WELCOME----- just click on my profile photo and look for "E-mail" -----
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