"Single tires are no good for a tow truck"

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There is an interesting lot auctioned last weekend (the 23th of June) during the Den Hartogh sale by Bonhams. Lot 112, a Ford Service Truck. The information in the auction catalogue was quite sparse. Being the former owner, you might like to hear about some of the truck's history.

The Service Truck was ordered new by Piet van der Berg, Official Ford Dealer in Voorburg, near The Hague (the Netherlands). Standard these trucks came with single tires at the rear. But Piet wanted double tires as "single tires are no good for a tow truck" he told me. In March 1932 the truck was collected from the Amsterdam Ford Factory by Piet himself. And with that, it had its longest trip. The second longest trip being to Oegstgeest, near Leiden, to collect a clients car.

When the truck was in my possession, I once took Piet on a short trip through Voorburg, for old times sake. Would he like to drive? No, he has had enough trouble with it as it was. Trouble? "The crane was placed directly above the rear axle, so with heavy loads on bumpy roads, the front wheels would lose contact with the road. With the Model A and T Fords it would be alright, but with the later, heavier Ford models a mechanic had to sit on the front bumper for extra weight.''

In Van der Berg’s ownership, the truck collected just 9000 km. Which sadly cannot be confirmed as shortly before I bought the truck its instrument panel was stolen. I clocked another 825 km's on it and I do not think Mr Den Hartogh added much more. So I think we can safely say that in all the truck collected less than 11000 km's in its life.

Other than restoring its mudguards, which had taken quite a beating, I did very little to the truck. It didn't need to. If you remove a brake drum, you'll find everything almost new as it left the factory. It drives like new. It IS new. Hardly run in, so to speak. And with that, I hope the truck's history is conserved.

Attached is an article about Van der Berg's new showroom which appeared in the Dutch 'Ford News' from 1933. The Truck' crane can be seen sticking out above the other Fords in the showroom.

Words an photographs sent in by Mr Berserik. Coloured photograph courtesy Bonhams.

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