Posted by Bob Stopka in PCB [172.69.62.91] on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 00:53:34 :
In Reply to: Truckstell Swivel Frame posted by Dave Horvath [162.158.79.164] on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 19:21:06 :
Dave, Paul. The Fla Div of Forestry swivels came from a wrecking yard in Lake City. I had been there a few times and saw the swivel frame power wagons. This wrecking yard was right around the corner from the very large Florida Division of Forestry Maintenance Shop. That's the reason the wrecking yard had all the residue trucks from the division of forestry. There were the 3 PW swivels and a few other non swivel PW's, quiote a few M37's and even a couple of very rough WC51's or 52's. There were many M35's and a few larger M's, what was left of a half track and an open cab WWII International 2.5 ton open cab cargo truck. Most were what I would call parts tricks. All of the PW's and some of the M37's had specially designed Florida Division of Foresty low profile plate steel welded up brush truck beds. These were completely closed, maybe 18 inches tall, with an integral water tank, and room on top to mount a booster reel, forestry fire fighting tools, and a portable pump. The Florida Division of Forestry has a beautifully restored Power Wagon, about a mid fifties B or C series. It is Div of Forestry green, witht eh divisions insignia on each door, and is very nice, but it is not a swivel frame. It is kept somewhere in central florida, at least 300 miles from me in Panama City. I have photos of the Dodges and many other interesting trucks in that yard. 35mm film photos. They are here somewhere in the house. I believe at that time, the wrecking yards name was called Hawthornes. I had looked at those trucks 3 or 4 times over the 10 years prior to Steve making the deal. I google mapped it recently, as I had not been by there in probably 10 years. Looks like the name is now changed. I think Mr. Hawthorne was a WWII Vet, as he was up there in age 20 years ago. I did inquire about purchasing one of the swivel frames, but 20 years ago, he wanted stupid money for them, like 1500.00 each. And as Davce said, there was nothing good on them to speak of. Very rotted. There were many older large civilian trucks from the 50's and 60's in the yard too. Some were 4wd. It was a neat place and the owners never had an issue with us walking through there. I never saw a rattler or water moccasin in there. It was pretty dry grass field up front where the Dodges were, but I'm sure they were there. Can't help it, but moving to NW Florida, to Panama City Beach from Connecticut 30 years ago, snakes love it here in the heat, and this is not as hot as central and south Florida. But, it's a great place to live. Not built up like central Florida, much more rural overall. Marvin Blocker has a swivel. He lives on the Florida east coast , over near Melbourne or St Augustine, I believe. He has a Div of Forestry swivel. It is red, restored, and a beauty. He has a regular PW bed on it.
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