A Morgan Truck Earning its Keep in Hillsborough, New Hampshire: This is one of two photos of a Morgan Truck we have up in a feature series of vehicles
that were at work and play in Hillsborough, NH before WW-II. See all of them @ http://theoldmotor.com/?s=Hillsborough%2C+New+Hampshire
Now that sure looks like an un-safe load!! Even with those little ropes holding it, a good wind would probably snap 'em!
Look closer, I think there are six ropes, but no matter, the load still looks unstable!
Look at the slop in that chain.
In my early days in Ashland, Oregon, my uncle Ralph had a 1934 Ford logging truck that had been converted to chain drive, so as not to lose a wheel when an axle broke. We could recognize its noise on the hiway a quarter mile away.
I don't think I've heard a chain drive vehicle since.
The load does look unstable. On the other hand, I bet 20 MPH was a stretch for that rig.
All of the boxes on the truck are probably empty as they are believed to have been made by a box mill in town and may have been being delivered. This is the after photo. We have another photo of the same truck picking-up the lumber from which to make them at the railroad siding along w/a photo of a Morgan coal truck @ http://theoldmotor.com/?s=Hillsborough%2C+New+Hampshire
"On the other hand, I bet 20 MPH was a stretch for that rig."
I would bet that truck wouldn't go that fast. Many years ago, A very good friend bought a 1921 (?) Mack truck that was about 300 miles from home. He, and a few other friends, drove down, did a little work on it, and drove it home. If I recall correctly, it took most of three days. For years, he would tell people that the top speed for the truck was "16 miles per hour. Not 17, 16."
Great photo! Thanks David!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
aerodynamics, who needs aerodynamics. Probably didn't go fast enough to worry about it.
"I would bet that truck wouldn't go that fast."
You are correct about that Wayne, most early trucks did not come with a speedometer, instead they were equipped with a calendar.
Great photo and comments,I like old trucks :-)
Another shipment of "Vintage Ford Magazine" being rushed to the post office for mailing!
My reference was primarily regarding cross-winds. Not wind from the thing poking along at 20 MPH.
About 35 years ago a friend had a used book store a couple doors to the left of where Boynton's Market used to be. Also in Hillsborough there was an old duffer who had a collection of antique trucks and tractors a couple of blocks off the main road you see in the pictures. It was a free outdoor museum of old rusting relics you could crawl around and in. You had to sign a guest book eliminating any liability. There was major tonnage in that field. Last time we were there was late 80's. Probably long gone to the scrappers.
Gary, I don't believe any of those trucks were scrapped, they were sold in an auction after he died some time ago.
Cool that they didn't get scrapped. He had a lot of really neat old stuff there. Thanks David.