The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts hey spanky!

i didn't forget you. yeah yer truck was sold new at couchman's oldsmobile here in lebanon. the bad news is, nobody is alive that worked in sales at the dealership. the better news is, there were 2 companies here in town that were in the concession business. one is christies, the other was lathon, or something like that. the old guy i was talking to said chrities had white trucks with red trim (he thought), and it seems to him the other guys used red trucks.

now the strange news. (are ya ready?)

the trailer that went to your truck just might be here in town. it's a red 35 foot single axle van type trailer. the old guy told me if that trailer is the one, it has bunkbeds built in the nose, as they traveled from state fair to state fair.

all things in time i guess. calvin couchman has not given me any info at all. i'm still working on it.

you interested in the trailer if it's the right one?

Thanks for the research Kool. Yep, it was Clifford Lapham, that purchased my '52 GMC 450 COE new, from Couchmans Olds-GMC Service. It was said, that he also purchased, a '50, or '51 GMC 350 COE from Couchmans. Do you think your truck could be it. I was told that in 1969, Mr. Laphams step-son (Jack Hays) took over the business, & in 1971, my GMC was retired from the concession business. The truck was housed in a warehouse, until 1978, when [censored] Wall, of Lebanon, Indiana, purchased the truck, & used it as a Rental trailer spotter. I purchased the truck in the Summer of 1992. My truck is white, with the red trim, (frame, wheels, front bumper,& the grille was red, but I installed one that is chrome)I see some evidence, that at one time, the fenders, steps, & step aprons, were black. I would have liked, to have had, that trailer, up until this year. I have recently removed, the fifth wheel, & saddle tank, from the frame, to get ready to install this, 1948 Holmes Heavy Duty W45 Wrecker Unit, http://community.webshots.com/photo/116208177/307575938srUrmo , I would like to have some pictures, of the trailer, if possible. I only have the one old picture from the 60's, with it hooked to the truck. Do you ever see any, old Automobile memorabilia, that has Couchman Olds-GMC Service, on it. I'd like to find some to go with the truck. Again, Thanks

o.k., now were starting to cook.i'm not from around here and don't know many of the old guys, so i'm at a disadvantage. i sorta relied on calvin as he was a family member, but i guess he has other things on his mind.

with names i can do some tracking, and i will.

i figure jack hayes might not be hard to find if he's not assumed room tempeture, so i'll try to find him.

remember some time back i told you about a 30 something with a hand operated wrecker body? he stubbornly refuses to sell the thing, yet is doing nothing with it. go figure.
for you guys who might be wondering why i'm posting instead of doing the private message, well, maybe some of you might know more than i do, and could help our friend spanky.

we're a pretty large bunch after all