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- 1914 Fruehauf Truck Trailer - In 1914 Detroit blacksmith August Fruehauf devised a simple single axle trailer for lumber dealer Frederic Sibley. Hooked to a modified Ford Model T, it carried Sibley's boat on vacation trips. Sibley then had Fruehauf modify the trailer for hauling lumber. This "semi-trailer," as Fruehauf called it, is the ancestor of trailers carrying freight all over American roads today.
- 1914
- Collections - Artifact
1914 Fruehauf Truck Trailer
In 1914 Detroit blacksmith August Fruehauf devised a simple single axle trailer for lumber dealer Frederic Sibley. Hooked to a modified Ford Model T, it carried Sibley's boat on vacation trips. Sibley then had Fruehauf modify the trailer for hauling lumber. This "semi-trailer," as Fruehauf called it, is the ancestor of trailers carrying freight all over American roads today.
- 1952 Federal 45M Truck Tractor, Used by Cole's Express - When this truck was new, about 120,000 tractor-trailers traveled the roads. By 2000, there were over two million. New interstate highways helped long-haul trucks dominate the freight business. Americans developed a romantic image of truckers as modern cowboys roaming concrete trails, speaking their own language on CB radios. Drivers became heroes of movies and music. But real truck driving is demanding, sometimes dangerous, and often boring work.
- 1952
- Collections - Artifact
1952 Federal 45M Truck Tractor, Used by Cole's Express
When this truck was new, about 120,000 tractor-trailers traveled the roads. By 2000, there were over two million. New interstate highways helped long-haul trucks dominate the freight business. Americans developed a romantic image of truckers as modern cowboys roaming concrete trails, speaking their own language on CB radios. Drivers became heroes of movies and music. But real truck driving is demanding, sometimes dangerous, and often boring work.
- Transport Truck Company Motometer, circa 1921 - Automobiles often came without temperature gauges before the early 1930s, so enterprising manufacturers sold aftermarket motometers. Mounted on a car's radiator, these devices measured and displayed coolant water vapor temperature, notifying drivers if their automobiles were in danger of overheating. Moto-Meter Co. Inc. dominated the American market, producing the popular Boyce motometer and others featuring an automotive manufacturer's name or logo.
- circa 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Transport Truck Company Motometer, circa 1921
Automobiles often came without temperature gauges before the early 1930s, so enterprising manufacturers sold aftermarket motometers. Mounted on a car's radiator, these devices measured and displayed coolant water vapor temperature, notifying drivers if their automobiles were in danger of overheating. Moto-Meter Co. Inc. dominated the American market, producing the popular Boyce motometer and others featuring an automotive manufacturer's name or logo.
- 1912 International Harvester Model AW Truck - International Harvester had its roots in building reapers in the 1840s. The firm made its first light-duty trucks in 1907, and they proved popular with the company's farmer customers. The trucks' high wheels and rugged construction were well matched to rough rural roads. International Harvester ended pickup production in 1975 to focus on commercial-grade trucks and school buses.
- 1912
- Collections - Artifact
1912 International Harvester Model AW Truck
International Harvester had its roots in building reapers in the 1840s. The firm made its first light-duty trucks in 1907, and they proved popular with the company's farmer customers. The trucks' high wheels and rugged construction were well matched to rough rural roads. International Harvester ended pickup production in 1975 to focus on commercial-grade trucks and school buses.
- 1918 Nash Quad Truck - "Tough" hardly begins to describe the Quad trucks built by Jeffery Company, and then Nash Motors Company, from 1913-1928. All four wheels were powered, all four wheels were used in steering, and special differentials allowed all four wheels to move independently as traction conditions required. French, British, and American armies made wide use of the Quads in World War I.
- 1918
- Collections - Artifact
1918 Nash Quad Truck
"Tough" hardly begins to describe the Quad trucks built by Jeffery Company, and then Nash Motors Company, from 1913-1928. All four wheels were powered, all four wheels were used in steering, and special differentials allowed all four wheels to move independently as traction conditions required. French, British, and American armies made wide use of the Quads in World War I.
- Fruehauf Trailer Company Sales Brochure, "Fruehauf Facts," 1917 - Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- 1917
- Collections - Artifact
Fruehauf Trailer Company Sales Brochure, "Fruehauf Facts," 1917
Founded in Detroit in 1918, the Fruehauf Trailer Company built and sold fifth-wheel semi-trailers that became the prototype for the big freight-hauling trailers seen on American highways today. At its peak, Fruehauf had 16 plants and more than 80 distributors, and it manufactured trailers for civilian and military uses. The company ceased independent operations in 1997.
- 1939 Dodge Airflow Tank Truck - This streamlined tank truck connected local Texaco service stations to a larger national distribution network. Each of America's competing oil companies had a branded fleet of trucks that took gasoline from refineries to its retail service stations. Even independently operated stations had to buy gasoline from a big oil company's refinery. This truck's capacity is 1175 gallons.
- 1938
- Collections - Artifact
1939 Dodge Airflow Tank Truck
This streamlined tank truck connected local Texaco service stations to a larger national distribution network. Each of America's competing oil companies had a branded fleet of trucks that took gasoline from refineries to its retail service stations. Even independently operated stations had to buy gasoline from a big oil company's refinery. This truck's capacity is 1175 gallons.
- 1916 Packard Twin Six Camp Truck, Used by Henry B. Joy - When the U.S. Army placed an order for 27 Packard transport trucks in 1916, company president Henry B. Joy traveled to Mexico to see the vehicles in action. General John J. Pershing employed the Packards in his pursuit of Pancho Villa. Joy used this truck on his Mexican trip. Later, Joy's family took it on camping trips in the United States.
- 1916
- Collections - Artifact
1916 Packard Twin Six Camp Truck, Used by Henry B. Joy
When the U.S. Army placed an order for 27 Packard transport trucks in 1916, company president Henry B. Joy traveled to Mexico to see the vehicles in action. General John J. Pershing employed the Packards in his pursuit of Pancho Villa. Joy used this truck on his Mexican trip. Later, Joy's family took it on camping trips in the United States.
- 1921 White Camping Truck Used by Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone - The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. While the three men delighted in the outdoors, their accommodations weren't particularly rustic. This 1921 White truck traveled with them. It carried elaborate tents and camping equipment that provided many of the comforts of a good hotel.
- 1921
- Collections - Artifact
1921 White Camping Truck Used by Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone
The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. While the three men delighted in the outdoors, their accommodations weren't particularly rustic. This 1921 White truck traveled with them. It carried elaborate tents and camping equipment that provided many of the comforts of a good hotel.
- Semi-Tractors Theme Wallpaper, 1980-1990 -
- 1980-1990
- Collections - Artifact
Semi-Tractors Theme Wallpaper, 1980-1990