need help Identifying a truck for an important project

[gasman]

I need some help identifying this truck, and finding out if there is anything close in scale (Plastic or Resin). this picture is from the late 50's early 60's in downtown Pittsburgh, in the Strip District to be exact. The truck you see is adding ice to the box cars which cooled food. This was my Grandfather's business. and this was one of there trucks. My moms been asking me for years to build a replica of one. but she just found a good picture of it. I know this project will require ALOT of scratchbuilding but its a very important project to me. Here's the best picture of the truck I have

This is the whole picture. This is Smallman street in the strip district in Pittsburgh. most of the buildings you see in this picture are still there. The Strip District was big wth wholesalers back then and it still is today, except they aren't using trains that much anymore (all the tracks in this picture are long gone), My Grandfather passed in the mid 70's, long before I was born so I never met him. but this is a keepsake I want to build for my mom so she has something to remember him by.

also if anyone has any good reference pictures of similer trucks that would be much appreciated.

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

It looks like it might be a 47 international or diamond T

[JAFFA]

yeah, gramp's probably right, heres a -50 International Harvester, theyre pretty similar in appearace.

[sdrodder]

yeah i would go with that too because they had some odd kind off wheel. Nice wheel but an oddy.

[lordairgtar]

I think the old truck in the pics is a White judging from the shape of the rear window. The Diamond T, REO, and IH had more rectangular windows.

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/truc...38white_718.jpg

The link below seems to have the door shape of your truck.

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/truc...6white_wa20.jpg

White was the company that made the special LaBatt's Brewery trucks

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pix/truc...atts_white2.jpg

Edited August 7, 2008 by lordairgtar

[Jairus]

Fenders are not the same either. The International fender in the later pic has a crease down the middle and a higher peak. The B&W pic shows a more subtle curve to the peak. I suspect that it is a GMC... but I am usually wrong.

As for finding a suitable resin or plastic cab.... why worry about the make? I can remember most businesses and service industries using all sorts of makes and models so as long as you get the right era... the rest is just scratch-building.

[lordairgtar]

Fenders are not the same either. The International fender in the later pic has a crease down the middle and a higher peak. The B&W pic shows a more subtle curve to the peak. I suspect that it is a GMC... but I am usually wrong.

As for finding a suitable resin or plastic cab.... why worry about the make? I can remember most businesses and service industries using all sorts of makes and models so as long as you get the right era... the rest is just scratch-building.

I still say it's a White. Not only from the unique window shape, but also the character line/molding below the side window. It's a lot wider than the ones on the others mentioned. A pic of the front would confirm the make and year. Perhaps a public library archive might contain a pic of those ice trucks. Activity was documented quite a bit in those days in commerce areas. It's possible to create that truck with some massaging of a forty Ford or forties Chevy pick-up cab to resembler the White. I would use the Dodge truck kit from Lindberg for the frame. The site I linked to earlier (Hank's Trucks) has a pic of the motor from White trucks.

Edited August 7, 2008 by lordairgtar

[Aaronw]

Have a look around AITM, he doesn't have any of the trucks suggested as possibilities but he does have a Mack L which would be the right time period and looks similar. He also has a Diamond T 950 but I'm not sure of the year, looks to be from the 60's so probably too new.

http://www.aitruckmodels.com/

[Guest zebm1]

I think that is a White Truck, maybe late 40s, early 50s.....check out this page

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/kg_white.htm

Edited August 9, 2008 by zebm1

[gasman]

found a much better picture of the truck. I got some scratch building ahead of me when I start this project

[James W]

Great subject for a project. All do-able and interesting.

The new picture looks like a longer truck. Did he have a fleet of trucks. I would guess so, lots of rail cars and melting ice. Look at all the guys working from one truck. You don't see that today.

Find a resin cab and a set of wheels and the rest is all you!

Keep us posted.

[lordairgtar]

found a much better picture of the truck. I got some scratch building ahead of me when I start this project

Yup, definitely a White. But this new one you post is not the same as the one you first posted...note the fenders are different. They are both Whites.

Edited December 20, 2008 by lordairgtar