This 1941 Ford delivery van is an interesting piece of our nation’s courier service history. The seller notes it belonged to the Railway Express Agency, which has a fascinating history as a government monopoly created in response to WWII. As you can see, the Ford is now wedged between a small forest of trees and will require creative extraction. Find it here on eBay in Florence, Mass. for $3,500 or best offer.
The seller offers very little info about the Ford, other than noting they will get the removal process started (perhaps that’s what the first picture is showing.) However, details surrounding its history and mechanical integrity are unknown, which is why we suspect the seller opines, “You’re on your own here.”
You can still find scale models for Railway Express Agency vehicles, which gives you some sense of the organization’s significance when it existed. It relied extensively on rail transport, which leads me to believe this Ford was used for transporting packages to and from the railyard. It’s not surprising to see it in Western Mass., either, as transport routes between Boston and New York were heavily traveled.
It’s near impossible to tell just how rusty this Ford is, but take a look at how much the fender has been pushed back by the tree – think about how much time had to have passed in order for the tree to grow to the point that started pushing the truck out of its way! It’s difficult to assess the potential here, but the low asking price may make it worth taking a hacksaw out to Western Mass.
Now this is pretty cool, no chance of resto-mod here. Actually, you are close in your description of the REA, except, while most goods were shipped by rail, these trucks would take the packages from the rail warehouse to the consumer. Before my time, but I believe REA was pretty big. Here’s a truck that should be restored to original. Package delivery is huge today, and this is how it started. It’s a part of shipping history, man.
BTW, those Husqvarna chain saws are junk, get a Stihl, and be done with it.
Barn Finds chainsaw smack. Love it.
I’ve had 2 Husq chainsaws working almost daily for the last 4 years without any problems….
I agree about restoring the truck.
I take exception to your chainsaw smack. :-) I own multiple saws of both brands (both using 36 inch bars), for over 40 years, and they are both great saws. Just watch a few chain saw fails on youtube, and you will soon be able to determine that it isn’t the saw that is the problem, but the operator.
Bob
Hmmm, chainsaws. We’ve had Oregon, Stihl, Husky, Homelite and Pioneer. Still have some remnants left. Which is better? Makes about as much sense as guessing the Power Ball. But in Howard’s defense, I have to say that I’ve known some people who seemed to have nothing but rotten luck with one brand and the other worked for them without a hitch. It’s like what do you prefer? Cummins or Detroit? Ford or Chevrolet? Import or Domestic? We can argue that until the cows come home and leave again….
Only on barn finds do we find ourselves debating chain saws, hahaha to funny. As for the truck I’d be looking for a cab to go with those fenders and than putting them on a more modern chassie. The delivery part of this thing I’d scrap.
Wouldn’t buy either of those….my 45 year old McCulloch works circles around those!
Sorry for the chainsaw derailment.(get it? REA,,derailment) It’s just, I came from N. Wisc. where a decent chainsaw is more important than a good woman,,,for some. Cutting wood is a national pastime up there, and I’ve seen all the saws. Farm I lived at, the guy burned wood for heat, he had a couple Jonsered’s, good power, but heavy, some old green widow maker thing, and Stihl’s. And try to get parts for those old saws. The local small engine repair had a PILE of chainsaws waiting to be repaired, all brands, but not one Stihl. Ask any old fart in the N.Woods, they all have Stihl’s, again, back to our regular complaining. :)
Odd location for a gas filler pipe. The first photo makes this truck look like it could just roll right out. Alas, after seeing the other photos it looks like a days work just knocking down the trees to where the vehicle can be extracted. Bring some replacement big Ford truck wheels with tires mounted to ease the process.
well if it’s going to be restored it should be done by a freight company and they can put it on display at some corporate headquarters and trot it out for special events. UPS? FedEx? DHL? Any of you hear the siren call bc I cannot believe that a private individual would take the time and $$$ to restore this.
Regarding chainsaws …. get to the Stihl professional level to avoid junk then make certain you follow maintenance rigorously.
I don’t know what a person would do with one of these, except to haul a lot of stuff around. Definitely not conducive to driving against the wind, so that pretty much leaves out anyone’s chances of putting on a lot of miles in the Chinook belt. Good parts van, maybe even a camper, and you could still have a lot of fun with one. I saw a newer version at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma. I’d guess it to be a ’46.
I agree, what to do? It’s not like you could restore it for the company, closed in 1975. It was UPS that helped put them under. I think REA even sued UPS and lost. Not a road truck, for sure, as these rarely went out of a city. I bet restored, you’d still draw quite a crowd at a show ( once you finally got there, that is)
Hi Howard. I was just thinking. Chief Ironside rode around in a ’40 Ford paddy wagon, which was shaped similar to this. I guess if you could outfit a paddy wagon for a special transporter, you could outfit one of these….
https://www.imcdb.org/v325058.html
It would make a awesome overnighter RV, love it!
Looks like you could skip the chainsaw and just move it out backwards.
I had a 46 Willys Box van that I put my shop in back before I owned a home, swapped the 4 cyl for a buick, would pull/carry/push everything, went on the roof to watch races This would work fine!
Could be used for a trailer queen transporter or load it full of tools to take to the race track. It could also be used as a rotating business sign sitting on top a tire/ mechanic shop. Imagination is one of our greatest gifts.
Pretty neat. I think I’m seeing ground just behind that drivers seat. The saving grace here I think is that all the panels a straight, flat pieces so it might not be that bad to restore to some sort of derivable condition.
Great non train addition to any Railroad museum.
At the Cowan (TN) Railroad Museum, we have been given a 1938 1-1/2 tonner ford REA truck. It was used around here, then stored in a farmer’s lot and partially disassembled. Sinking up to its axles in the muck, and suffering vandalism, it was then dragged with six locked up wheels (a dually) to a covered barn storage with all its various parts. Meanwhile a set of four 7.50x 20 tires mounted on the right wheels were applied.
I have begun to free up the motor and clean up other stuff, having done lots of flathead Ford stuff as a younger man. Big problem for me is how heavy everything is. Trying to free up the brakes now for ease of moving around, may actually make this old girl run again… need advice tho’
Value may depend on the guy in the picture with the saw… !
Was he proposing to saw the fenders off the car or cut down the ash trees to get it loose ?
Either way, pretty good car
You would have to look a long time to find another one
So a lil history for you. Way way back the Pony Express delivered mail and small parcels. Once the west was opened many express companies sprung up. The Pacific Steam Ship express, Adams Express, Wells Fargo Express, American Express to name a few. On or around 1905ish Wells Fargo had been bought out by American Express. Then they were bought out by REA. I have a fine collection of REA Agent badges and other stuff. Lowest Badge number is 78, These agents were equipped with Colt 1877 Revolvers and holsters. They had purchased 1200 each, some of the Holsters carry multiple company stamps where it shows the various buy outs. They also had some shotguns, later The company purchased swing out cylinder Colts also 1200 each. I even have some original bills of lading for a lot of them outfits. REA basicly became a monopoly in so far as Rail Express services. REA was a coast to coast outfit. When UPS entered the picture it was a result of the busting up process of those monopolies. Similar to Ma Bell’s breaking up.
This old truck looks as if it could just be pulled out away from that tree if some of the bark can be chipped back. Part of me thinks there is a REA museum somewhere. I just can’t remember where it is. I think this truck should go there. When the company folded or sold out. All of their equipment was sold or auctioned off to be repurposed. Which is how this truck ended up in a field I’ll wager.
Thanks for the history.
I used REA to ship model A fenders all over the US in the early 60’s. Our local REA office/ depot had a smaller unit just like this one.
I got it out, today. Four hours and four chains later… (Note: I am a professional tree climber: both Stihl and Husqy top-handled saws have served me very well.)
1941 Ford Truck Railway Express Complete needs restoration
You are on your own here, Will extract from the tree. All condition unknown, neat old truck. Unmolested just neglected. All there.
update:
Update: The truck moved for the first time in forty years today!
It’s not abt the truck, it’s abt the tree. Emerald ash borer (bug)will decimate all (at least ‘white’ not sure bout ‘green’) ash trees in USA. No more axe handles, baseball bats, etc frm them.
Pete: U R good w/the history. Some even earlier relates to ‘road agents’ and ‘Marshals’ (western USA history 1800 – 1880s/90s). Listen to “the Highwayman” by Phil Ochs or Johnny, Willie, Waylon’n Kris (esp. Willie’s prt) for more info or even movie the Ballad of Lefty Brown (prt fiction/all fun).
Florence is an urban area (not exurban, some prts R suburban’n even a lill rural) and many of us here use the top-o-da-line Husky, Stihl, or Jonserreds (just like the “big 3” – yrs/models can vary). But those R the 3 pro’s co’s.
Wassss Up w/the ‘van’ now?
Just waiting for the right customer.
whsa motor/drive train, frame etc?
– -Chad
chrlsful@aol.com
It’s a ford Truck Chassis, dash, nose and V8 Flat head Ford.
I think this may have once been my truck. I was a craftsman woodworker living in Hatfield and I had the truck until the 1980’s. I’m looking at the paint on the roof and the particular rustoleum on the sides. My late ex-father in law disposed of the truck after we moved from Hatfield, Ma, but I don’t know how he did.
I would love to talk to you. You weren’t the guy that built the wooden trucks?
That was totally me.
Temple’s Wooden Toys. I’d also love to know how you came by it. Looks like you’ve had it a loooong time.
Matthew is close too then – Hatfield, Amherst, Florence. Hummm
I’m tryin to restore a ’66 Bronco in Hatfield. The guy seems stuck tho…
But do you know if it’s still there and where it is?
Yes, it’s in Haydenville, Mass. I’m the owner.
My daughter Soren lives in Florence and is sentimental about it. Could she (or I) take some pictures of it? Did you liberate it from the trees? If you don’t mind sharing your address or email we could take this discussion offline. My contact is Heuristik@gmail.com. I lived in Whately and just last week my daughter and I drove around the Haydenville road from Florence (or is it Williamsburg) to Whately. I’d love to hear from you. I photograph lots of old things. (And my daughter does too)
Ahhh, da ol daze.
May B U can help him sell it?
I’m not sure. That would be great. But any photographs you’d be welcome to. Back in the day I had a friend who wanted to put a modern engine and transmission in. I drove it to fairs and it was my work truck, flathead V8, double clutching, and all
The Agency was not a government monopoly. It was created through the forced consolidation of existing rail services i.e. New York Central, Sante Fe, Union Pacific etc. into a national near-monopoly to ensure the rapid and safe movement of parcels, money, and goods during World War I own by all the contributing Railroads. They went under in 1975 due primarily to the shift of ship from rail to air. Back in the 1960’s the sight of an REA truck was as common as the sight of a FedEx truck today.
This is still available.
congrats on the recovery.
How far did U get (been 18 mo).
How is it equiped beyond ‘a flathead V8’?
(not interested in a buy)
What condition is that?
Need more info than to just say ‘it’s here’…
Ask BF to relist now it’s available?
Sold, fitting that it was winched onto the trailer with a chainsaw powered winch.
That chainsaw winch saved the day 👍
If we had just aired up that front tire it would have rolled right up the trailer hahaha. It was easy getting it off that way.
✓
local buyer?
A good follow-up for the BF team…
(they have ‘spec features’)
She went to a good home. Already been workin on it!
Luke, If you read above, you’ll see that this was once my truck and long gone to me. I’d really love to see what you’re doing to it and how it’s going. (Back in the 70’s, Steve Rogers, one of the owners of Skera Gallery (Hadley/Northampton) wanted to work on it, put in a new engine, and transmission and redo the body …. but I had no money for that project then.). I’d love to come out and see it. I lived in Whately at the time, and there were lots of people around with your last name, right? But I’d make a road trip to see and take photos if you are willing.
again, how far away?
a local buy it?
Its in Winsted CT now.
I eat at A1 Pizza or Flo Pizza about 1X wk w/garage in Hatfield. Restorin a 1940s cheb p/u right now.
Yep, local (50 mi S on Rt 202 or 8. The former goes from ME to Del).
Glad it’s movin toward road worthy.
Im sure one day you will recognize it out somewhere and it will draw you in haha.
“…it will draw you in…”
has.
mostly, as that’s the net 4 me, cuz it’s a local story. I go internat. to make local connections. Come C ours – Bridge St, Hatfield – 11 min, 5.5 mi…