[Brad in Wisconsin]

I had the great honor of helping a friend extract this truck. A true high point in all my years of sniffing around for old machines My bud has been running into dead ends. what you guys think? we have a good idea. Thought you should have a chance. Enjoy

[nickelroadster]

Under hood hardware looks a little like a stanley steamer from the teens or so. Is it a car modified into some kind of farm truck?

[Grandpa]

The front suspension looks too heavy duty to be based on a passenger car. Doble did offer a commercial chassis.
Grandpa

[keiser31]

I was thinking Doble.

[Brad in Wisconsin]

Hi fellas, Your looking at a truck that doesn't exist or so it seems. It is a Empire or Cruban, with a 3 cylinder engine direct connected to the rear axle. The truck isn't something someone put together as it has numerous castings that surely wouldn't be make for a one off. Before you go off, look at my pictures real close off the truck body. There is a faint emblem on one side and the back of the cab has what I see a Stea Co I'm thinking Empire Steam Car Co. here is a link to the site look for Cruban chassis. Steam Gazette Discussion Forum - Steam Cars :: 1 Steam Cars :: Cruban Steam Chassis Help me keep Mike interested in his truck!

[nickelroadster]

I am having a hard time visualizing the economics of using a steam truck for commercial purposes. Does anybody else out there have any info on any other steam trucks? Any pictures of any in use? Is there any clue as to what this one may have been used for? Did hey ever actually sell any Doble truck? I guess it would be just the ticket if you were looking for really fast delivery.

[hddennis]

Nickelroadster, I felt the same way until a few years ago I picked up an odd British magazine about the steam hobby over there and was amazed at the number of surviving trucks. Apparently they were successful, at least over there.

This link should wet your appetite to find out more: Dark Roasted Blend: Steam Buses & Trucks

Howard Dennis

[Layden B]

Over there they probably burned coal. Cheap domestic fuel would be the big motive.

[DeSoto Frank]

Fascinating photos at the Steam Gazette link...

The rear-view of the survivor chassis are interesting - the cab looks very wide for a traditional cab & chassis - the cab usually doesn't extend that far beyond the frame rails... I'm wondering if this vehicle was converted into a Cab & Chassis from a bus body ( "parlor car")...

Fascinating find - keep us posted !

De Soto Frank

[jan arnett (2)]

great link