Posted by Fred Coldwell on August 24, 2000 at 11:25:38:
In Reply to: WOJ, couldn't find a reference to Suburban by GM prior to WWII. posted by But did find Carryall was first used by Chevy. Brian in Oregon on August 24, 2000 at 00:10:32:
Brian:
In the 1920's, many custom body builders, such as Cantrell and Miffinburg, had a suburban body style in their lineup. These were open bodies, often with side curtains, and not enclosed like the first Chevy Suburban Carryall in 1935. For example, Dodge cowl-chassis were fitted with a Cantrell Suburban body as early as 1922; see Donald J. Narius, "Great American Woodies and Wagons" (Crestline 1977) at page 19. A 1925 Dodge with Cantrell suburban body is pictured on page 24 and a 1931 is pictured on page 35. There are numerous other illustrated examples of suburban "woodie" bodies on various make 1920's trucks in this book.
Around 1935 Cantrell changed the name of their Suburban Body to "Semi-Sedan Surburban Body" when safety glass replaced the snap-in curtains; see Narius at p. 42. In 1930, Fargo built an all-steel enclosed station wagon with side-by-side full width rear doors that was called the "Fargo Clipper Seadn", see Narius at p. 32.
This book is long out of print so may be difficult to find. I got my copy from publisher George Dammann in 1989; it was the last one he had left back then.
I have not researched whether GM trade-marked the name "Suburban" for their enclosed body trucks. If they did, it may be another case of a manufacturer obtaining rights to a common name throught secondary meaning.
I also have not yet researched the name "Carryall", but did find where Chevrolet used the name "Suburban Carryall" for their 1935 all steel enclosed station wagon; see Narius at p. 42.