Smithsonian Model A

Smurkey

Smurkey

Senior Member
Found this on a tour of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington DC. Thought some of you might be interested.
 

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Good looking truck. There's a really nice Model A postal truck in the Owl's Head Museum in Maine.
Rog
 
Did they have more than one box? I'm thinking I've seen a number of different styles through the four years.
 
There's a mail truck in my club that gets driven to every state tour & many local tours. It wins best of show at every meet & it's no trailer queen.
 
Peter J, There were two sizes of postal trucks durring model a years, a 100 cubic foot body (A) and a 200 cubic foot body (AA). The one at the postal museum is an A 100 cf.

To add to Jonhs post, the postal truck at the new museum should be the one restored by Aldie Johnson, (the force behind the postal A's) he donated it to MAFFI shortly before his passing.
 
Great Truck !
I find it interesting that Smithsonian has what appears to be a ZIP CODE on the side of the truck since I think Zip Codes did not appear until the early 1960s when I would think this vehicle had been retired.
 
Bruce Adams said:
Great Truck !
I find it interesting that Smithsonian has what appears to be a ZIP CODE on the side of the truck since I think Zip Codes did not appear until the early 1960s when I would think this vehicle had been retired.
Click to expand...

I think that is the vehicle number, I believe it is also written under the windshield above the cowl.
-Tim
 
As Tim states the 5 digit number which was the post office departments serial number of the truck, is supposed to be on the doors, under the windshield and on the 'canvas' top above the rear doors. All mail trucks were stamped with a one, two, or three digit number at the body manufacturer, and there was lots of confusion about this until the final procurement of late 31 trucks supplied in '31. This is why a few earlier restored trucks only have a three digit number painted on.
 
Interesting detail on the smitsonians mail truck, it has a non original railroad lock on the back doors latch bar, NOT the P.O.D. (Post office dept.) lock it should have.
 
I was there in 2004 and took a lot of pictures, where they are is a good question. I remember looking at the wood work and its looks all original but restored. And with an oil leak on the floor!
 
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