Period photo

[lance leblanc]

I love when I stumble across a period picture that I have never seen before. I will study them for hours sometimes.
This one turned up in my (belated) 2013 ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Calendar. FYI - Septemer
Curious as to the purpose of the trailer attactched, perhaps for hauling pipe.

 

[Special Coupe Frank]

Looks like the trailer was built from a Model T rear-axle, and perhaps was used for hauling sign poles for Humble Oil gas stations ?

 

[juke joint johnny]

Great Photo Lance thanks for posting

John Cochran

 

[luckyal]

Great photo Lance. One of the better ones !
Al

 

[Russ/40]

Is the front axle white, or is it plated?

 

[Special Coupe Frank]

Is the front axle white, or is it plated?

Most likely painted...

Also interesting to note that neither the fenders, aprons, or wheels are black.

 

[lance leblanc]

I was able to rescan the picture on a bed scanner with better results so here it is.

 

[1930artdeco]

Maybe it is for hauling gas pumps?

Mike

 

[gweilbaker]

MIL seat.

 

[700rpm]

Reminds me of a photo I took of my truck in Astoria, OR, a couple years ago.

 

[Doug in Maryland]

It's interesting to note that the pickup looks like it might be an early '30. The headlights and gas cap appear to be the 1930 style.

 

[Midwest Tin]

Ray,
Great photo! Could be a period photo except for the late model Ford pickup in the glass reflection. I love the idea of retaking period photos. Jim

 

[Joe K]

It's interesting to note that the pickup looks like it might be an early '30. The headlights and gas cap appear to be the 1930 style.

Not to mention the front bumper which seems to be in the 30-31 style.

Curious though. Repainted truck probably mid to late 30s and yet a Model T behind it?

Joe K

 

[700rpm]

Ray,
Great photo! Could be a period photo except for the late model Ford pickup in the glass reflection. I love the idea of retaking period photos. Jim

Good catch Jim. You get a star. That's the secret joke in the picture. I should Photoshop that out, though, to make the picture more authentic looking.

 

[700rpm]

I love these old period pix. (This one is real).

 

[James Rogers]

I don't see what the trailer is for. There is no support for anything on either end, just the axle and the hitch tube. To haul anything you would have to put a cross bar or some kind of platform on one side of the axle.

 

[Joe K]

Maybe one end of the sign or post or pipe goes in the back of the truck (the tailgate IS down I believe) and the other end is on the T-trailer?

Not exactly kosher by today's transport standard, but back then the measure of transport was "does it get it there," and not necessarily how safe or risk free it is.

Joe K

 

[lance leblanc]

MY first thought was it was not used for hauling items behind the truck but used on a drilling site to move pipe by hand, slightly different design but really I dont know.

 

[Forker]

Unless there is more to it that is not shown in this pic, it seems to be designed to function similar to log hauling trailers do today in some use situations. Poles laying in the bed and stretched to the trailer base where they are strapped down.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Unless there is more to it that is not shown in this pic, it seems to be designed to function similar to log hauling trailers do today in some use situations. Poles laying in the bed and stretched to the trailer base where they are strapped down.

That was my thought also. I was thinking it was used to haul power poles because that's the years when a lot of rural areas were getting electricity for the first time.

I have seen a similar trailer with a hook used to haul cars, but the tongue was usually a bit shorter.