Dave Mellor NJ Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 This pic was posted on HAMB by Brimen of Norway. Somebody offered a reasonable explanation but I'll hold off and see if anybody can come up with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coley Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I spose ya might call it an early cab-over setup... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 There doesn't appear to be any engine on the truck, nor does the steering appear to be hooked-up. I suspect that the whole rigged was pulled by yet another tractor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Has me stumped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Photoshop also works in black and white... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I think that it was designed by a committee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Photoshop also works in black and white...I can tell you for sure that is not Photoshopped. I looked in close and the signs of "Tom-foolery" are not there. I would say that they may have been trying to give older equipment a new longer useful life or a re-design for future concepts. By moving the cab it allowed them to get one more full sized car on board. The steering shaft is protruding from the cab, but not connected. I see where they disconnected wiring and such on the firewall so this may just be a work in process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Odd to see a Dodge truck like that carrying a Buick, Olds, Pontiac and a Dodge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Looks to me like someone tried to design a truck to carry the maximum number of cars, for new car delivery to dealers, without contravening the length restrictions then in effect in some states. I know in the midwest and east many states restricted the length of a truck and trailer to 45 feet total.The truck is a Dodge which had a flathead 6 sitting low in the front. It would easily go under the bumper of a car in stock position.The vehicle in the photo appears to be a first effort, mockup or prototype. The steering is not connected, in fact the brakes, lights etc are probably not connected either. But they remounted the cab higher and rolled it out in the parking lot where they could test fit some cars, try out the driving position, measure height etc.They probably dropped the idea before even one truck was completed and on the road. Although, who knows, they might have had one running around for testing.The experiment most likely was by a trailer manufacturer or possibly a transport company. I base this on the fact that it is a Dodge truck but is carrying Buick, Olds, Dodge and Chevrolet cars. If it was an experiment by an auto maker I would expect to see all vehicles by that one maker.One thing that seems odd. All the cars (visible) have whitewall tires. Coincidence? I can't think of any other explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Echo. echo, coming from somewhere.....Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 (edited) I think Rusty has it right. My grandfather hauled new Chryslers and Plymouths from the factory to dealers on the east coast from the mid-thirties until they ceased car production in 1942. He was paid by the car, so he was always trying to come up with new ways to haul more cars and still stay within length limits. At one time he had a truck and trailer combination (similar to the one in the picture, but without the raised cab)that hauled four cars flat. It was long.Dwight Edited August 23, 2012 by Dwight Romberger (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29pickhupp Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Who or what is peeking out just below the bumper of the first car on the lower level?John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 RaceRon's opinion[TABLE=class: tborder, width: 100%, align: center]<tbody>[TR][TD=class: alt2, width: 175]raceron1120<script></script> Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2008Location: Howell MichiganPosts: 2,774 [/TD][TD=class: alt1]<!-- icon and title -->Re: Vintage shots from days gone by! <!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Quote:[TABLE=width: 100%]<tbody>[TR][TD=class: alt2]Originally Posted by Brimen HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS ONE !!!!!!!! [/TD][/TR]</tbody>[/TABLE]I'm going to venture a guess by saying this might be how everything was prepped and shipped to Europe from North America/US. A separate tow vehicle might've been used to move the 'trailers' seen in the picture and upon reaching final destination the cars are unloaded, and the the hauler reassembled. Just a guess though. . . <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________Success comes in 'cans', failure in 'cants'[/TD][/TR]</tbody>[/TABLE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I've read RaceRons theory three or four times and cannot make sense of it. Does he think the cars were driven to Europe over some, imaginary, bridge?I actually knew a guy in HS that was going to drive to Hawaii with his girl friend after graduation. He thought there was a bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidAU Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 If it was a trailer as per RaceRons theory, why would it have a cab, front fenders, grill etc. when there is no need for them. Even if it is prototype of something that someone was thinking about it's a hell of a big step down from the cab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodfiddler Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 What's up with the rear truck wheels/tires? Singles behind the double? Or is it doubles in front of the singles? Hmmm?Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 He is going to need one cray pitman arm to hook up that steering box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 These weird-looking trucks were built by an outfit called Whitehead & Kales. An outfit called Commercial Carriers used 12 of them to transport Chrysler-built automobiles. There is a photo of a more complete truck on Hanks Truck Pictures on page 2 of the John Jurkowski Collection. They were built to haul an additional vehicle and still stay under the length restrictions that were than in effect for the trucking industry. You can also google Whitehead & Kales and pick on "What Am I." In February of 2009 our truck club got several replies to the same question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 These weird-looking trucks were built by an outfit called Whitehead & Kales. An outfit called Commercial Carriers used 12 of them to transport Chrysler-built automobiles. There is a photo of a more complete truck on Hanks Truck Pictures on page 2 of the John Jurkowski Collection. They were built to haul an additional vehicle and still stay under the length restrictions that were than in effect for the trucking industry. You can also google Whitehead & Kales and pick on "What Am I." In February of 2009 our truck club got several replies to the same question. How about just giving us the link??? I spent some time trying to Google it and never found it. I found page 2, but no place onther is any trucks with the cab raised. It's so much easier to just cut/paste the link rather than typing out inconcise descriptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Romberger Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 (edited) Way to go John!If you look closely there are 3 steps recessed into the side of the cab.I think the extra set of single wheels is to support the weight at the tongue of the trailer. Otherwise, the rear springs of the truck would be overloadedI just threw the last one of my grandfather's car covers away last year. If any cars got damaged he had to pay for the repairs, so he covered them carefully. Edited August 25, 2012 by Dwight Romberger (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 It took me about 10 minutes to find it after wading through the website. However, it was a pleasant diversion and I will go back and look at more trucks, later this evening. As a boy, I would sometimes go truckin' with a family friend. I was fascinated by all of the rigs. KWs, Petes, White Freightliners, Autocars, Jimmys, Diamond Ts an occasional Sterling. Cool stuff for a kid. I got my CDL, much later on, but never used it.I'd love to see the shift linkage on that contraption. I'm sure there is a hamster in a wheel, a spoon dropping a golf ball onto an alarm clock and so on............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2dameron Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 This should get you to the site; then click on page 2. [h=3][/h][h=3]John Jurkowski Truck Collection - Hank's Truck Pictures[/h]<cite>www.hankstruckpictures.com/john_jurkowski_trucks.htm</cite>Cached - SimilarYou +1'd this publicly. UndoJohn Jurkowski took these pictures of different trucks in Perry N.Y. in the 50's and let Steve Slocum scan them for the web site. Most of the pictures were taken in ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prs519 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Hmm...move master cylinder, no problem. Clutch linkage and steering column maybe just the usual cab-over type of set-up, except lengthened, possibly?But what a throw that gear shifter would have! The rest would be mostly just adding electrical wire, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prs519 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Am given, upon reflection, to believe that there was initially one larger truck, which pulled this whole mess to drop point one. There upon, cars were offloaded, andthe second truck assembled for some sort of a shuttle delivery, whereupon both trucks were used to go to separate destinations! It is certainly set up in a way toindicate that putting the cab together somewhere en route is part of the scheme. May have been set up so that one man could lower that cab and finish the assembly.Not sure my brainstorms carry any moisture but this is a cool mind bender of a post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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