Furnishing a Working Auto Repair Garage circa 1920

[TerryB]

There has been a lengthy thread here about building and furnishing our garages for auto repairs.  This 1920s era photo is of the auto repair garage my wife's grandfather operated in PA in the town of Pine Dale in southern Schuylkill county.  Note his attention to detail in storage and layout of his support equipment.  The coal furnace is my personal favorite item.  I guess he was not too worried about the fumes in the garage catching fire.  The repair garage operated for many years on what would become PA Rt 61.

Terry

 

 

[Walt G]

Terry, thanks so much for sharing this with all of us, wonderful photograph. Period images

like this just pull you back to the era they were taken.

You can almost smell the gas and oil that was in the garage as well as the coal that was burned to heat the space.

GREAT STUFF!

[Bhigdog]

Do you have an exterior pix? I don't live very far away and I like to see if it still stands and what it looks like now...............Bob

[Frantz]

Possibly Joe Kramers 1012 Rt 61 Orwigsburg? Just south of Pine Dale proper, which 61 by passes. It looks to be of the right period and the bays are the right size! If this is the correct building then it looks like the photo is the right bay (windows) and an office has been added at some point. I just did a google street view drive by and it's the only standing building I saw that fits the period and description. Assuming Rt 61 hasn't been altered.

[TerryB]

My wife says the property should still be standing even though Rt 61 has been totally redone near it.  It was the John Ernst Gulf station at one time.  It's a white frame structure south of the Ernst Trucking buildings on 61.  It may now be between the north and south lanes of Rt 61 after the big changes made to the road.  

[TerryB]

Looking at a satellite view it seems it is between the the Rt 61 lanes with the front facing the old Rt 61 highway.  My late father in law was the local Snap-on guy, William "Bill" Ernst of Orwigsburg.

[Bhigdog]

Satellite view suggests it's the white frame building with a facade front. My view shows a white car parked in front.  If you concur the next time I'm in the area I'll check it out and if you want I'll take a pix.

Bill Ernst sounds familiar. I used to own some rental properties in O'Burg. Still a very nice little town. Lots of local pride..................Bob

Edited October 21, 2017 by Bhigdog (see edit history)

[mike6024]

Could it have been the Ernst Garage?

 

 in 1962 the John J. Ernst garage was closed and became the home of J. Marlin’s trucking business. Marlin devoted all of his time to expanding his trucking company business by both adding new customers and equipment. The “Old Garage” still stands on Route 61. 

 

J. MARLIN ERNST AND SON INC.

John Marlin Ernst was born in lieu of Marlin Ernst in the year 1924 to a family who lived in Deer Lake, PA. His ancestors originally came from Germany. Marlin worked at his father’s service station along with his brother William. Growing up tending to the gas pumps and working on vehicles Marlin believed that they were more ways to earn a living. As a senior in Auburn High School in Pennsylvania Marlin purchased two used 1936 Ford dump trucks and then hired two drivers’ to drive those trucks. That started the founding of J. Marlin Ernst Trucking in 1942. Why “J. Marlin” you might ask. His father’s name was John, so not to cause confusion, Marlin begin to use J. Marlin. That name still exists to be used to this day. Upon graduation Marlin was called to serve his county during wartime in the United States Army. While serving his duty, Marlin’s father and brother William continued to manage in lieu of Marlin’s father and uncle continued to manage the two Ford dump trucks for Marlin.

Upon returning from Army service Marlin knew that the trucking business was what he wanted to do and started to add to this fleet of trucks with International “K” and KB” series of tractors. When Marlin’s father passed away in 1962 at the age of 62, the John J. Ernst garage was closed and became the home of J. Marlin’s trucking business. Marlin devoted all of his time to expanding his trucking company business by both adding new customers and equipment. The “Old Garage” still stands on Route 61. In 1964, Marlin decided to build a new facility on a section of the Ernst homestead in Deer Lake, PA. This facility was a 60’ x 120’ repair garage, truck storage with office space. The new building was purchased and transported from Pittsburgh, PA. Marlin and his employees erected the building and began to run the trucking business from that location. In the late 1960’s both of Marlins sons, Keith and Terry, began learning the business just as their father did during his younger years. Both sons, while in high school, worked at various jobs along with obtaining their high school diploma and enjoying sport activities. Upon graduation from High School and College. Keith and Terry worked as mechanics, drove truck and worked in the office. With this on the job training both brothers moved into the management of J. Marlin Ernst & Sons.

In the 1981 J. Marlin Ernst was incorporated to its present name J. Marlin Ernst & Sons, Inc. In 1984 because of the increase in business, Marlin and his sons built an additional 60’ x 254’ truck storage and main office facility on the same property. On March 28, 1990, Marlin unexpectedly passed away and both his sons assumed the management of the company. In 2009 when the improvement of Route 61 became final, the office and garage that stood on the Ernst homestead property since 1964 had to be closed, demolished and rebuilt. At that time, Keith decided it was time to retire and turn over control of the companies operation to Terry. Terry’s son, Bret, working all phases in the company just as his grandfather Marlin, his Uncle Keith and his father Terry, has now become an important management member of the everyday operations.

Today there is a fleet of 20 Peterbuilt tractors and six Peterbuilt tri axles. All of these vehicles are serviced on site by company employed mechanics.

Edited October 21, 2017 by mike6024 (see edit history)

[TerryB]

That is it, as shown in the photo.  The narrative about Ernst garage becoming  Ernst Trucking is correct too.  J Marlin was my wife's uncle and Terry and Keith are her cousins.  Keith Ernst shows his antique trucks at Hershey each year.  He is a big fan of Ford AA trucks and IH, however his collection contains a wide variety of truck brands.

Terry

[Bhigdog]

2 hours ago, TerryB said:

That is it, as shown in the photo.  The narrative about Ernst garage becoming  Ernst Trucking is correct too.  J Marlin was my wife's uncle and Terry and Keith are her cousins.  Keith Ernst shows his antique trucks at Hershey each year.  He is a big fan of Ford AA trucks and IH, however his collection contains a wide variety of truck brands.

Terry

 

Yes, I've seen them. Very nice restorations. Seems to me he had a couple at Strausstown this year....................Bob

[Guest]

Wonderful picture and story.  Thanks for sharing.  I remember being in shops like this in the 40'2 and early 50's.  Nice that someone took a picture of one of them.  Neat that the building is still there. 

Interesting to compare the type of shop that many people frequented with the new shop described in a  79 page book that I have, in  German titled "SPEZIAL-WERKZEUGE UND WERKSTATT-EINRICHTUNGEN" that was printed by the Service Promotion Division of General-Motors G.M.B.H., Berlin Borsigwalde.  It has text, pictures and illustrations of the equipment that you would need to setup a GM shop in 1926.