aa-fords.com

Hey folks,

Yes this forum is generally very civil but as more members sign in and start getting involved the chance for differences of opinion and style 'clashes" increase. We are all adults here so I think issues can be resolved in a civil and productive manner. I have no desire to add "moderators" to curb discourse, we are a small group and can co-exist without someone else having to watch over the happenings here.

Chris is just very direct in his posting style, that is just who he is. I'm not picking on or defending Chris, that is just my observation.

No disrespect or arguing on my part. I was simply stating facts and my experience. Short sweet and to the point.

if it has a hook on it it must be a tow truck and a fine one at that

towtruck wrote:if it has a hook on it it must be a tow truck and a fine one at that

All I was saying is takes more than a hook. You can't control a vehicle that is hanging from a hook on a cable with nothing else.

Good looking tow truck sandman.

Perhaps I can answer Chris's original question. YES, they did just pick a car up and let it hang out there. That's the reason many of the old tow truck had the tow cranes mounted way back over the rear axle and used either a winch or a block and tackle to raise the car to tow. Later as things became more efficent Manrly and Weaver both manufactured a device that grabbed the bumper/bumper brackets to lift the car and then used a "tow pole"to sort of stabilize the car while in tow. The hot set up was a set of towing "V-bars" from the E rnest Holmes Company which both spaced the car away from the truck and kept it from swaying from side to side.
The Homes V-bars were manufactured up into the early 50's. In the late 40's Holmes introduced the rubber strapped tow sligs that are still being used today. About the same time the "scobby plate" was introduced probably by by the Weld-bilt Body Co. The scobby plate worked well on early 50's cars that had heavy steel bumpers but were being phased out by the mid 50's because of damage complaints in favor of the rubber strap tow slings.

More information can be found at www.internationaltowingmuseum.org

I can see the car racing forward as the trucks brakes are applied. If it doesn't hit the truck the cable will surely damage the front of the car on the hook.

Here is a picture of a Weaver Auto Ambulance Model C. It was used in conjunction with the tow truck. The truck was designed to lift the car and the dolly was placed under the axle and chained down. The dolly with the car on it were hooked onto the back of the tow truck and delivered to the shop. The car was then lifted off the dolly and the dolly was placed on the back of the tow truck until it was again needed. The dolly had solid wheels about 12" in diameter. I wish I could find one of these units, but If I can't, I plan on building one some day. Nice to see everyone looking at my toy. Too bad most people are too young to understand how they worked. Stay posted for my other project.
Sandman`

russ wrote:Nice tow truck Sandman.
Edited thanks to smarter folks than myself.
Best, russ

Damn It, I missed the good bit, how about sending me the unedited version, ole buddy? Use PM.

OK, just kidding, glad I missed it all, don't need the rise in BP, and a little steady sunshine would be good for all of us!

The model C Weaver auto ambulance came with the option of steel wheels or hard rubber wheels I have one of each i can send photos to your email address .Bud Valerius (economyelectrric@hotmail.com)

Chris Haynes wrote:As someone who has been driving tow trucks since the '60's it amazes me when someone says they have a tow truck, when all they really have is a truck with a crane on the bed. Ihttp://tow411.yuku.com/topic/97763

What the hell does the 60s have to do with what was happening in the 20s. We had men walking on the moon in the 60s, let alone towing with a scoobie doo plate. In the 20s people were just looking at the man in the moon.

Maybe I'M just howling at the moon.

Shorthaul wrote:

Chris Haynes wrote:As someone who has been driving tow trucks since the '60's it amazes me when someone says they have a tow truck, when all they really have is a truck with a crane on the bed. Ihttp://tow411.yuku.com/topic/97763

What does hell does the 60s have to do with what was happening in the 20s. We had men walking on the moon in the 60s, let alone towing with a scoobie doo plate. In the 20s people were just looking at the man in the moon.

Maybe I'M just howling at the moon.

Yep. you probably shoulda read the whole thread... It's Done!

I find it interesting that the editing was only done on one side of the issue. Preferential?

Alan,

Russ edited it himself. That's why it was only edited on one side.

Red

Reds34 wrote:Alan,

Russ edited it himself. That's why it was only edited on one side.

Red

Thank you for the clarification.