Major Museum Find - Incredible!

[DavePEI]

Hi All:

I am more excited than I have been for months. Before you guys say, that fellow needs to get out more, I will admit, that is probably true!

From a fellow in Ontario, we have arranged to acquire the box off a 1937 Bell Canada truck. It doesn't appear to be in bad shape for its age, and one of the more interesting things to me is the chart inside the rear doors with a map of what is to be stored where. Too bad the truck isn't still attached to it 

The plan is to have it picked up in a week or two, and have it brought to the home of one of our Ontario supporters, then it will come down some time this summer.

So here are photos including cobwebs and sawdust! Side door is built on a slant to clear the truck's fender (last photo).

Dave

[WesternElectricBen]

Very neat find, I'm sure you will find some more goodies inside. I'm guessing you intend to use this as some sort of display?

Too bad you couldn't get the truck for the box, it would look cool in front of your museum.

Ben

[DavePEI]

Very neat find, I'm sure you will find some more goodies inside. I'm guessing you intend to use this as some sort of display?

Too bad you couldn't get the truck for the box, it would look cool in front of your museum.

Ben

Hi Ben:

It will be interesting to see what might be in it telephone wise. However, there may be nothing telephone left inside, as it has been in use to store other stuff for years.

Even without the truck for it, we are going to display it in front of the museum. What we are thinking of is making a trailer out of an old pickup truck chassis, mounting it on it, and that will not only make it easier to haul it here, but also if we park it facing toward the museum, it will look as though it is still attached to a truck, sort of...

Dave

[Dennis Markham]

Congratulations Dave.  I'm sure when you're finished it will look awesome at your museum.  It looks to be in great shape for something that spent so many winters in the cold. 

I would love to make it to visit your museum in a not too distant summer.

~Dennis

[DavePEI]

Hi Dennis:

Yes, it should be an interesting addition. It will likely be down later this year.

It is nice to have something like this to look forward to. I have been sick so long that it will really give me something to look forward to. I was feeling better, then this came along, and it gives me even more reason to get back to par!

I checked with the fellow, and as far as he knows it has always been located outside on concrete blocks, so it really is amazing that it is in such amazing shape. Must be better metal than we use today!

I can't wait to see more detail on the map in the back door. I spoke to the fellow who is giving it to us, and he is going to try to get a better shot of the map.

Dave

Congratulations Dave.  I'm sure when you're finished it will look awesome at your museum.  It looks to be in great shape for something that spent so many winters in the cold. 

I would love to make it to visit your museum in a not too distant summer.

~Dennis

[Mr. Bones]

Dave,

     That is a wonderful addition to your already incredible collection for the Museum!

     I'm afraid that I can't wait until warmer weather, so could you ask them to please, please, take a legible photograph of the inner door map / contents card?

     I'm not certain that I can last until summer; it's a rare opportunity to find such a thing intact. The suspence is nearly too much.

     I'm supremely delighted to hear of your wellness, and hope and pray for a continuing upward trend!

     Take care, my friend...Spring is just (cough) around the corner..

Best regards!

[DavePEI]

Dave,
     I'm afraid that I can't wait until warmer weather, so could you ask them to please, please, take a legible photograph of the inner door map / contents card?

First thing I asked him. Problem is he lives in Northern Ontario, and the box is in Southern Ontario, where he is clearing out his parent's home. He will be there some day next week, and I am trying to coordinate his meet with one of the museum's supporters who lives nearby.

I have asked him to take a better photo of the chart (yes, I totally share your interest in what is on it), and I will also ask Brian to get photos as well. Hopefully one of them will turn out as well. Brian is the fellow who brought down all the teletype gear a couple of years ago.

Yes, it is nice to start feeling better. I have my breath back, and, though I have to strengthen my legs, I am able to get around now.

P.S. I have added a photo of the side of the box to the message below which I forgot to upload earlier...

Dave

[AE_Collector]

Glad you have a project to look forward to for this year Dave. That one should keep you busy for awhile and be a great addition to the museum once you are done.

But most if all, I am glad you are on the mend and feeling better overall. It has been quite awhile now hasn't it.

Terry

[DavePEI]

I was able to find a couple of photos of very similar boxes on 1930s trucks...

We were told there is a date of 1936 on the box - nice to find photos of these boxes in use.

Dave

[DavePEI]

The latest word has it that this will be loaded on a trailer tomorrow and will head to our supporter, Gary's garage for safe storage until it can come down this summer! Hopefully Gary will take more photos for us, especially of the map/storage card inside the rear door!

Dave

[DavePEI]

Update, January 21, 2015:

The truck box was picked up by Brian Gough in Picton from its owner, Gary Batchelor, and is safely in Oshawa, where Brian resides. Tomorrow, he will unload it in a barn he rents and take photos, including hopefully a better photo of the chart inside the back door. It will wind its way down to the Island later in the year.

Thanks goes out to both Gary and Brian.

Hopefully they will turn out well. At the request of several, if we get a better photo, I will post it here!

Dave

[DavePEI]

Bones and several others voiced a desire to see the door card in higher res. As I mentioned below,, it is now safely in the bard of one of my Ontario supporters, and he has sent me new photos.

I will post some of the photos I have here, including the better photos of the door card:

[DavePEI]

Here are more photos of the truck box itself, and include photos of a 4 line set and a roll of cable also coming down from the same person! Without being able to see the phone yet, it is one of the 440 series keysets.

I must add in addition to Brian Gough and its former owner, Gary Batchelor, one of Brian's friends, Mel Norwick who assisted with the recovery yesterday.

P.S. Brian informed me on Jan 24th, 8 drill bits including some of the long ones - up to 31" were found in the truck back and also donated to go with my Bell brace.

Dave

[DavePEI]

Here is the Northern Electric label on the roll of wire:

[Mr. Bones]

Dave,

     Thanks to all involved in this acquisition / storage / delivery process! What a wonderful slice of telephony history to document and preserve for posterity.

     'Most 'bout as rare as hen's teeth, ah reckon... never seend one where I growed up, and my Grandpa was a telco field guy; got pictures of him in gaffs, etc., in front of a phone-booth (26-27) Model T Bell truck.

Best regards, stay healthy and happy!!!