Cool photo, Jay. What is that truck nearest the traffic cop? The radiator shell, front axle/spring assembly look like a T, the running boards like a TT, but the rest of it isn't T. Maybe some sort of form-a-truck?
The Fords and the Hudson are nice, but what caught my eye is the traffic signal. I remember those well. Considering the number of intersections in thousands of cities all across the country, there must have been at least a million of those signals. But you never see them today in old stuff for sale. Wonder where they all went.
Hey Henry - I don't know if it's a form-a-truck kind of kit but it is very neat. Dual solid tires, springs on either side of frame and perpendicular to the rear-axle housing. Looks like it is really beefy and made to carry a big load. I can't really see well enough to tell what kind of rear-end assembly it is - or if maybe there is a gearbox in front of it? Maybe somebody with some photo software can make out more.
Also funny is that the C cab in the back has a left fender but no right fender.
Great picture. No chain drive like most Form-a-trucks. Can't see the differential well but might even be a trans-axle. Looks like maybe some linkage there. Shifter or brakes.
'26 or '27 hood and maybe nickel headlight rims.
Rich
26-27 front fenders as well.
Steve - I'm sure those old traffic signals are basically a pretty big and heavy hunk of cast iron; think maybe WW11 scrap drives! (???)
I recall signals like those in San Francisco in 1953.
Yep, I remember them after the war too.
I supplied a True-Fire to a fellow with a similar truck conversion to that in the picture. It was deigned to turn a TT into two ton truck. His has the same eliptical spring set-up and a heavy bolted on rear chassis extension. In front of the usual TT rear axle was an accessory transmission. The extra length of the chassis was accommodated by fitting a short jack-shaft between the transmission and the displaced TT rear axle. This was supported by an extra cross member on the accessory frame.
I cannot remember the name of the manufacturer.
Just for interest,
Allan from down under.
Thanks Allan. Now that you mention it I think I've seen a photo of a set-up like you're describing. That just leaves one question - how do you suppose a pair of 26/27 front fenders turned up on a TT? It didn't come off the Ford line like that.
That truck also has a '26-'27 hood and the headlights appear to be the early '26 style that bolt to the fenders. My guess is that it is a '26 car chassis with the heavy truck conversion. I have seen period adds similar to this to convert the car chassis to trucks much like the Smith Form A Truck conversions, but much heavier. Dave
It looks a bit like the Jewett truck conversion that Stan Howe posted a thread about. Stan's Jewett was on a car frame. (It sold for $1800 at auction)
Great photo! Thanks Jay!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I can't believe that no one has commented on that rare albino turtle crossing the street
That's a WWI helmet that fell off a float in the Armistice Day Parade. (Harold Lloyd movie)