1929 Mail Truck Find.

[Wick]

Loaded and heading to Mathews Va.

[Ruth]

Nice !!

[Steve Plucker]

Way to go Wick...Hope you bring it back to life!

Pluck

[Wick]

Need original door plans

[Wick]

Same lady owner last 55 years. Drove to high school. Then became a school teacher
Last driven in 75.

[Bob C]

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This is the best you can get.

$28 (includes S/H)
The Ford Model A Mail Truck by Aldie Johnson, Jr. To order, email Dan Perla at the following address: [email protected] or call Jim McPherson @ 706-592-4835 (evenings)

[Dick Steinkamp]

Needs a little more air in that right front tire, but otherwise looks perfect to me.

[burner31]

Can't wait to see how she looks all cleaned up.
You have some work/fun ahaed of you.
Good find...good save

[henry's 31]

Hi Wick:

What a great find. It looks like it is all there. Wish I could find something like that. Highly recommend the Mail Truck book. Have fun with it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

You sure come across nice buys.
If there was anything left in Minnesota, we'd have to dig through a snow bank to find it.

[updraught]

Does it come with a load of express post?

[Wick]

Ordering the book in the morning! Inside Above the windshield I found something. A brass Tag. Scraped the paint off. It reads District of Columbia . D.V.T. Motor No. 4140 Dept.of Vehicles Traffic
The steering wheel is So worn and the brake pedal (what's left) is 3" wide. 1 tire has us post office on it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Check in the back for my 1950 Studebaker Land Cruiser taillight that the post office lost 3 years ago.

[Smooth_One]

Very cool!

[3.6rs]

Did you buy the trailer also ?

[Dave Mellor NJ]

I see a Chevy in the first picture of Burner's post

[Dick Carne]

Hi Wick -

Congratulations on your new find. Last summer I spoke with a nice fellow by the name of Bob Kylie up in Ladina, Ohio. Kyle has collected several of these, and was considering undertaking the reproduction of some of the metal work unique to mail trucks. It is my hope to be able to visit with him at some point later this summer, but in the meantime, if I can help you with any questions or insight, please let me know. My nephew and I are about to get back on our '29 once the weather breaks (we had ceased work on it once we realized that the finished height is just over seven feet tall ... we both had seven foot garage doors at the time, but he recently moved into a new place with a ten foot door!!! ... so ...). If memory serves me, we will be using P.O.# 10257. Good luck.

Dick

[Steve Wastler]

Nice find, cool on the dc brass tag, the number doesn’t designate the pod body serial number, there are a few places to look for some stamped digits to determine the actual serial number of the body. Since it’s a 29 it was manufactured by York Hoover same as first 31 procurement. Looks to be missing mirrors, metal side panels, side doors and hardware, center partition, partition door and hardware, upper rear doors and hardware, correct rear fenders. As stated above there are quite a few repop pieces now made and available thru add on postalas.org., which you’ve probably seen. There’s no real definitive side door plans, but the CD on the site includes like 75 of aldies drawings, more geared for the 31’s, the 29 doors were slightly different. I sold most duplicate hardware pieces I had but still have one rear tail gate hinge and the horseshoe trim for the cowl of a 29. You are welcome at my place (Frederick,md) at anytime to look at my unrestored 31. There’s a few 29s in MD, one restored and one shell that’s just wood, no hardware, it was used in the restoration, with leftover wood sold off. I guess you’ll be at the auction on Friday, I’ll be a bit late going in early AM for first cyberknife treatment for non responsive tumors on my spine, can’t believe the auction was on calendar For like 8 months and treatment falls on that day, go figure. My home is 10 minutes from fairgrounds. Maybe we’ll finally meet......

[ronn]

great job Wick! didnt know they were still out there........

[Steve Wastler]

Just looked thru Aldie's drawings cd, there is drawings for the side doors and shows differences in 29-31

[wingski]

Hey Wick, finally a ’29 that has more wood than my ’29 cabriolet. Is that picture a realistic view of all that wood? Is it really in that good of shape? What a wonderful puzzle to put back together.

I love working with wood, and I am envious as all get out. Too bad that I’m across the country or I’d volunteer to help.

You lucky dog,

Mike in Souther Oregon

[TinCup]

Some guys have all the luck!

[ursus]

Nice find and very original. I knew an old guy that delivered mail in one of these back in the 30's and into the war, until he was drafted. Upon discharge from the Army he resumed his job with the Post Office but in a newer vehicle which he didn't like so much. Unlike the Model A postal truck, the newer vehicle had insufficient room to lie down for a nice nap.

[barnstuf]

I owned a 1931 Mail Truck for over 50 years, in fact mine was so complete in its "as found" condition that Aldie Johnson visited me several times for photos and data for his book on mail trucks. I still have the leftover screening for the rear double doors as I had to buy a 4 x 8 foot piece to get the smaller amount I needed. I do not know if the 1929 rear doors are screened or not. My truck was sold to Bob in Ohio, the man who has several, just a few years ago.

[Wick]

Steve I'll be there Friday. I will have pictures with me.This truck was purchased in Bumpass Va. In 1963.
Have the receipt for $200 The body is solid,we have the mirrow for the driver's side. The wheel paint is flaking off and the original paint is showing. Same for the body....white falls off and the original paint and lettering is under it. Roof is solid. I'll load more pictures.

[Wick]

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Here's a few pictures.

[Wick]

This is after she painted it and made curtains.

[Clem Clement]

Good on ya Wick.

[Wick]

The Woman in the picture was the Truck owner for the last 55 years. She may look familiar. Christian Music Artist Becki Moore.

[burner31]

Can almost smell the wood from here, to bad you can't upload the scent.

[Dollar Bill]

What a great find Wick!! I see many rewarding hours ahead for you while bringing this one back to life.

What is the doohickey near the carb? Governor maybe??

[Wick]

Yes it's a governor has a lead seal on it just like a speedometer. Motor is not stuck,gas tank is very clean.spark and gas rods work. You see where this is going.....

[Steve Wastler]

Should be running pretty soon then, it seems. Can’t wait to see more pics, I’ll be in the postal A baseball cap on Friday, would be cool to have you swing by after auction. My 31 is York Hoover built so fairly similar in build. Lift that seat and look for stamped numbers on the top of the forward board, they are 1” and not hard to see. The only place the entire POD serial number may remain is under the white paint on the cowl board under windshield behind gas cap. There was some numbering issues in the 29 run finding both ‘sets’ of numbers would be keen. Missing a good bit of postal hardware, interesting governor is still in place most pulled them off, a hoof was used originally.

[JBill]

I was raised on a farm in Illinois and for years our mail was delivered by a mailman driving a Model A Tudor. Driving it hard. The way he would come tearing down those roads makes me pretty sure that particular Model A mail delivering vehicle had no governor on it!

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Wick

Yes it's a governor has a lead seal on it just like a speedometer. Motor is not stuck,gas tank is very clean.spark and gas rods work. You see where this is going.....

How does the choke rod not bind when the governor moves the carb lower?

[Steve Wastler]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

How does the choke rod not bind when the governor moves the carb lower?

The post office garages drilled an extra hole in the firewall to accommodate the change in angle of choke rod when assembling body to ford chassis.

[Wick]

Steve after the Auction I have to go over to Chantilly to Work the Boat Show the rest of the night and weekend. 17 days a year I sell Boats. I will look for you Fri.

[Clem Clement]

Wick,
please give us a report on Dave's auction. WE will stop in for a look -see at the signs on Saturday

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

How does the choke rod not bind when the governor moves the carb lower?

You can see the hole used when the governor was install right below
the choke rod. There was also a drop down bracket that bolted the
original bracket on the gas tank to lower the knob end of the choke rod.

Bob

[Wick]

Clem my trailer is empty and swept out. Hand truck inside ready to go.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Wick

Steve after the Auction I have to go over to Chantilly to Work the Boat Show the rest of the night and weekend. 17 days a year I sell Boats. I will look for you Fri.

So, you're the guy that all those mechanics make their boat payments to. LOL

[Wick]

Tom, Those payments keep the people employed in Cadillac Michigan at the Wellcraft Factory.
I'm just trying to do my part.
I've met people that go to Hershey,have Model A's,VW's and know where car's are sitting. After 24 year's I'm still having Fun!

[Clem Clement]

Wick ole Bud,
You haven't growed up have yer???

[Wick]

Naw Clem, When I see you playing with Trains and Sleigh riding and hitting the Swap meets I know I don't have too grow up just yet. Too much I want to learn and do.

[Clem Clement]

You got it Wick. I'm 80 years young and can't wait for the 3 meets this Saturday: Howard County; Petronellia and Patina

[Steve Wastler]

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So the owner of this mailtruck stepped up and introduced himself to me at the auction on Friday. Seems to be a good guy to be caretaker of this one. Didn’t get to speak long as I was running outta steam, will be watching for progress updates, Bobby.....