57 bcr

Cool truck,Leslie! Got to be a '60's model 361(or at least the headlights are),I think.

Mark,many of these photos were taken after a rebuild or when new.As a rule,they were just tools of the trade and some looked worse than others.Many of their drivers did however,keep them shiny.You could see them either way.During the 1st Arab Oil Embargo ('73-'74),Celli as everyone was stunned by the jump in fuel prices,and sold many of the company trucks to the drivers.He paid them in 2 checks:1-the drivers wage& 2-the trucks net earnings.This was unprecedented at the time,and though skeptics in the area thought it was a crazy way of doing business,it worked.Many of the guys left hauling around the Chicago area today,got their start at Celli.You have to dig pretty deep to find any of these guys that didn't have respect for Eugene "Gene" Celli and the way he treated them.Guys would tell me they would blow an engine or lose a transmission.Celli would send the B-model wrecker out.Get the truck into the shop, fix it fast,and get the guy back out earning again.Yes it was a lease-purchase plan.But one that guys actually succeded in.

Another Celli picture I forgot to put in.This is a "re-do" of an old picture that was destroyed or lost.Gene photoshopped himself into this picture with his father Carlo.

I'm thinkin' we could pick up that pup for Ken in Az. with it too,Mark!!!

Do you even know the financial condition of Oshkosh Trucks? If MACK was to become American owned again (by Oshkosh), it would only be long enough to put it back up for sale to yet another foreign entity. When Oshkosh bought out JLG,they inherited a massive debt.If they hadn't had the military contracts,Oskosh would cease to exist.I doubt Oshkosh would have had the $9 million to even invest in the Customer Center at Allentown,also.Just sayin'!

Nice try! If the government ever stops awarding defense contracts to Oshkosh,they will fold faster than you can say B'Gosh!! I hate to say it,but Volvo may not be the worst hands Mack could be in.

Happy Birthday,Other Dog!

Nice survivor! Man that truck is straight! Just look at that bumper!!! If momma don't want the truck around, it can stay in Northern Illinois for awhile!!

Vinny, you win the prize........ It is an old Celli truck!

No,the Clariben hoods were aftermarket.

Sharp U,Vinman!

Sign said,"REAL TRUCKS MUST USE LEFT LANE"

Happy Birthday you guys!!

Here is a nice group of pictures of the First Gear Celli truck.This one was for sale on ebay a couple weeks ago.

Here you go,James...... Bill Bedell photo

Tewes was bought out about 10-12 years ago, by a guy who is no longer in business,himself.I think I have a picture of one of their last R models,James.Let me dig it up.

There was a bunch of the old drivers there when I started hauling for Meyer,in 1986.Most had started out in a B.Glad I got to talk to the guys,most have passed on.

Rick, Thanks for posting these A.I. trucks.They bought us (Meyer Material Co.-Chicago area) out 5-6 years ago.So far, everything still says Meyer on it.Hope they don't take the Meyer name away,but I'm not holding my breath either. Al

Here's another from the lense of Brian Dhamer....... Magnum (don't know if its:Cartage,Trucking,Excavating,or just Inc.)

SINKHOLES.............Are nothing new!!

I'm sure its(44K) like a "future GVW" rating,Mark! Al

Did you ever notice their ads,EVERYTHING has 44K camelback,Jake! Its almost like MACK never made anything smaller (to these people)! I never realized some of the (former)freight hauling trucks as we know, had such heavy axles on them!! HMMMMMMMM???????

Happy Birthday,Dan!