The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Who used these trucks (gov't, state, utility co.)

From time to time, I'm sure some of us run across pictures of bolts hard at work in their previous jobs. Who used these trucks? US Gov't, military, state highway departments, phone companies etc. I've seen some trucks restored as Bell Telephone company trucks. Saw and old Air Force film the other day and spotted a 55-57 stepside in Air Force blue.

I'm probably going to put a 1950's 2 way radio in my truck and use a ball mount antenna on one of the fenders (radio is another one of my hobbies). Just looking for ideas and pictures of trucks in a business or government role. Especially 55-59.

Well, as far as I know, everyone of the above mentioned used these trucks, as they were, back in the day before I was even thought of and probably before my parents were born, they were the new "standard equipment", so yes, everyone of those mentioned did use these trucks.

My first experience at driving the old ADs was while I was in the Army.While at Ft.Richardson,AK. we had several in the motor pool,mostly 52s and 53s.And next door at Elmendorf AFB they had several of them too.

Here are a couple of pix of my '55 2nd-Series Bookmobile.
http://forums.aaca.org/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Main/110492/Number/480988#Post480988

You can also see it in the Stovebolt Gallery; the link is below.

Regards,
TG

Apache, looking through the "Crestline Encyclopedia of Chevrolet Trucks" here are some of the logos seen on '55-59 trucks.
'55 Polka Dot sliced Bread, Maytag Appliances, De Paoli--contractors-builders, Lumber Mart, Bearden Foods, Schroon Lake Fire Dept., West Athens NY Fire Dept., Kramer Bros. Freight, and Independent Truck Line. 1956--fire trucks and U.S. Army. 1957--Fire Departments, 1958--Fire trucks, farm trucks, iron works, florist shop, bulk farm feeds. So it seems that Chevrolet trucks were used for just about any business there was plus many of them were pleasure trucks or combination utility truck-family weekend sedan.

Okay Apache,

You asked for it, and you got it...and it ain't no Toyota! Here are two more 'Bolt Bookmobiles, produced by the Gerstenslager Company of Wooster, OH. The larger one was used by Greenville, SC, 30 miles north of where I live.

http://photos.aaca.org/data/509/Other_Bookmobiles.jpg

Curiously, when first seeing my '55, a mechanic at the shop next to our garage said, "You'll have a pretty nice truck when you put a bed where the box is on that Chevy."

Why, in Heaven's name, would I want to do that? It's proof-positive that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

And to my eye, service trucks rule!

TG

Very cool finds. That bookmobile is pretty neat too. I've toyed with the idea of restoring my truck to some type of utility vehicle, especially if that 2-way radio goes in there. There's a lot of restorations stock trucks and it's always neat to see one that is out of the ordinary.

Hey Apache,

Here's a feast for sore eyes, from a photo found on ebay awhile ago. There's 'Bolts abounding, plus some super-rare '42's from "other" manufacturers.
Looks like the Merchant Marines had everything covered in this motor pool.

http://photos.aaca.org/data/500/Navy_Motor_Pool.jpg

TG

wow!
cool shot of some beauties.