THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FORD MODEL

THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FORD MODEL A AND AA MAIL TRUCK PRESENTED BY CHARLES A. HILTON

FORD MODEL A MAIL TRUCK BY 1775, THE NEED FOR A CENTRAL POST OFFICE IN THE SOON TO BE UNITED STATES WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND SUBSEQUENTLY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS APPOINTED AS POSTMASTER GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

FROM FALMOUTH, MA TO SAVANNAH, GA FROM THE BEGINNING, HOW TO MOVE THE MAIL IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER HAD TO BE DETERMINED. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WERE NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND AN ASSORTMENT OF METHODS WERE USED FROM HORSEBACK, TO SHIPS, WITH PICKUP OCCURRING AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE.

FROM STEAMBOATS TO RAIL

AS MAIL SERVICE GREW, MORE EFFICIENT METHODS HAD TO BE FOUND TO MOVE THE MAIL

ON MARCH 27, 1923, HARRY S. NEW WAS APPOINTED POSTMASTER GENERAL BY PRESIDENT WARREN HARDING IN HIS 1927 REPORT TO CONGRESS, NEW REPORTED THAT THE POST OFFICE FLEET WAS COMPRISED OF 85% NONSTANDARD EQUIPMENT RECEIVED BY TRANSFER FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE BY THESE TRUCKS WAS FAIRLY SATISFACTORY, EVEN LOWER COSTS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE HAD TRUCKS BEEN SELECTED BEST ADAPTED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE. IN OTHER WORDS, A FLEET OF STANDARD TRUCKS SHOULD BE PURCHASED TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE POSTAL SERVICE AND MAINTAINED BY REGIONAL MAINTENANCE FACILITIES WITH STANDARDIZED PARTS.

TWO TYPES OF VEHICLES THEN IN SERVICE COLLECTION AND DELIVERY SERVICE • UTILIZED FOR THE COLLECTION OF MAIL FROM STREET LETTER BOXES, DELIVERING PARCEL POST, TRANSPORTING CARRIERS TO AND FROM THEIR ROUTES, AND RELAYING THE MAIL TO CARRIERS ON THEIR ROUTES • 100 CUBIC FOOT BODIES SCREEN WAGON SERVICE • UTILIZED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF MAIL BETWEEN POST OFFICES, POSTAL STATIONS, RAILROAD STATIONS, AND OTHER POINTS WHERE MAIL IS RECEIVED OR DISPATCHED. • 200 CUBIC FOOT BODIES

THE RESULTS WAS A BID TO PROVIDE STANDARD TRUCKS IN MAY 1929 FORD MODEL AA

FORD MODEL A POSTAL TRUCK • STANDARD FOUR CYLINDER CHASSIS WITH 103 ½ WHEELBASE WITH A LOAD CAPACITY OF 1800 POUNDS • BODIES TO BE OF WOOD CONSTRUCTION AND BUILT BY OTHER CONTRACTORS AND MOUNTED TO THE FORD CHASSIS. • THE NUMBER OF FORD MODEL A TRUCKS WOULD TOTAL 1400 • AN ADDITION CONTRACT FOR 400 VEHICLES WAS AWARDED TO CHEVROLET FOR CHASSIS MOUNT • AND YET ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR 1000 VEHICLES WAS AWARDED TO HUDSON/ ESSEX • CONTRACTS FOR WOOD BODIES WERE LET TO THREE SEPARATE COMPANIES 1. YORK-HOOVER – 1300 BODIES <900 FORD, 400 CHEVROLET> 2. MIFFLINBURG BODY CORPORATION – 500 BODIES FORD 3. GENERAL WOODWORKING CORPORATION – 1000 BODIES HUDSON/ESSEX

FORD MODEL AA POSTAL TRUCK • STANDARD FOUR CYLINDER 1 TON CHASSIS WITH 131 ½ WHEELBASE WITH A LOAD CAPACITY OF 4200 POUNDS • BODIES TO BE OF WOOD CONSTRUCTION AND BUILT BY OTHER CONTRACTORS AND MOUNTED TO THE FORD CHASSIS. • THE NUMBER OF FORD MODEL AA TRUCKS WOULD TOTAL 2900 • AN ADDITION CONTRACT FOR 950 VEHICLES WAS AWARDED TO CHEVROLET FOR CHASSIS MOUNT • CONTRACTS FOR WOOD BODIES WERE LET TO THREE SEPARATE COMPANIES 1. AUGUST SCHUBERT WAGON WORKS – 400 BODIES ALL TO FORD 2. METROPOLITAN BODY COMPANY – 1000 BODIES FORD 3. GENERAL MOTORS TRUCK DIV – 1500 BODIES FORD 4. WEATHERPROOF BODY CORPORATION – 400 BODIES CHEVROLET 5. GENERAL MOTORS TRUCK DIV – 550 BODIES CHEVROLET

SUMMARY OF VEHICLES BY CONTRACT TO THE U. S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SMALLER TRUCKS (100 CUBIC FOOT BODY) 1. FORD – 64. 7% 2. CHEVROLET – 20. 3% 3. HUDSON/DOVER/ESSEX – 15%

SUMMARY OF VEHICLES BY CONTRACT TO THE U. S. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LARGER TRUCKS (200 CUBIC FOOT BODY) 1. FORD – 75. 3% 2. CHEVROLET – 24. 7%

OTHER NOTES ON THE VEHICLES • WHAT ARE THE YEARS THE TRUCKS WERE PURCHASED? - THE CONTRACTS WERE FOR 1929 OR 1931 CHASSIS MODELS. BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS OF THE ‘ 31 ORDER THERE ARE 32 PARTS ON SOME TRUCKS THAT ARE ORIGINAL. • WHY OLIVE GREEN? - REMEMBER THE POST OFFICE WAS USING MAINLY WWI SURPLUS VEHICLES PRIOR TO THIS CONTRACT. AS THERE WAS A HUGE SURPLUS OF OLIVE GREEN PAINT, IT IS SUPPOSED THAT BECAME THE COLOR OF CHOICE • HOW LONG WERE THE TRUCKS USED? - ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT EXPECTED, THE TRUCKS WERE USED PERHAPS UP TO THE MID 1950’s. ONE REASON WAS THAT WHEN WWII CAME ALONG, THERE WERE NO (OR PERHAPS BETTER SAID – VERY FEW) VEHICLES AVAILABLE FOR NON-MILITARY USE

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405 1931 FORD MODEL A BODY BY MIFFLINBURG BODY CORP.

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405 CORRECT REAR DOORS

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405 Why U S Male and not U S Mail? ? From the Postal A’s newsletters, it was said that someone had restored one of these trucks and begin driving it around town. Shortly thereafter, an overzealous deputy stopped him for driving a stolen vehicle from the Post Office. Fortunately, the owner knew the Postmaster who quickly set things right with the Officer. The owner reported it to other Mail Truck owners who use “Male” to lessen futuristic opportunities with the law!

U. S. P. O. D. MAIL TRUCK #11405 PROPER LETTERING

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles Street Letter Box Lock Mail Sack Lock

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles Registered Mail Lock Rural Free Delivery Mail Lock

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles Letter Carrier Badge Special Delivery Badge

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles Motor Service Badge Motor Vehicle Service Badge

U. S. Post Office Department Collectibles Vehicle Service Badge Postal Transportation Service

U. S. Post Office Department Wanted Collectibles

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Dan Perla – Information and finding a Model A Postal Truck Jim Mc. Pherson – Information and finding a Model A Postal Truck Eric and Dotti Shogren – Loan of tools (already) and encouragement Walker Crosby – Getting me involved in Aiken Model A’s – Warm Reception