post office trucks

[LL675]

Dad just gave me a couple modern type post office trucks. I model the '20s to the '50s. It got me to wondering what the Post Ofice used back then. Growing up in the late '60s, the earliest trucks I remember seeing are the DJ5 Jeeps.

Dave

[lionelsoni]

I remember everything postal as being olive drab.  From the post office's on-line history:

Green gave way to olive drab after World War I when the War Department gave the Post Office Department a vast supply of surplus olive drab paint. This became the standardized color for collection boxes and remained in use until 1955.

http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/CollectionBoxColors.pdf 

[LL675]

 

what I was trying to find out was what kind of vehicles the Post Office used in the '50s and earlier.Thanks for the link,it has a section with pics of horse drawn wagons and early trucks for the '20s.

 Thanks

 

Dave

[westshorefan]

In the 50's, the Post Office had a mix of vehicles! Among them was a 3-wheel Mailster; Dodge trucks; & Jeepsters.  They started to standardize in the 60's with the Jeeps you remember. Right-side steering wheel, & two-wheel drive.  When I became a Letter-Carrier in 1967, we (the P.O.) rented conventional station wagons, & we drove on the wrong side of the road, to reach the curb-side mailboxes!  Eventually, we got the Jeeps.  Hope this helps.

 

 

westshorefan (nearing the end of the line)

[LL675]

thanks westshore. I came across a pic of a Jeepster. I'll keep an eye out for one, and a Dodge truck. Did these have Post Office markings, or were they plain like todays rural delivery vehicles?

[westshorefan]

The Mailster, & Jeepster had white cabs, with "U.S. MAIL" lettered above the windshield. The rental station wagons were dark blue, with a cardboard "U.S. MAIL" sign we put on the windshield, while delivering. I am not sure when the bigger trucks went from Olive Drab, to blue & white, as the AMC Jeeps were painted. Unfortunately, my book covering the history of P.O. trucks (with plenty of pictures!) is 1500 miles away, at this time.   P.S.  During my 26 years, we also drove Ford Pinto's, & the Grumman LLV's, now in use.

[westshorefan]

The book is "MOTORIZED MAIL" by James Bruns.  Used copies available from Barnes and Noble, starting at $2.39   Exactly what you need for your project!   I have Matchbox LLV Mailtrucks on my H.O. layout, since I model a later timeframe.

 

westshorefan