What was truck driving like before air ride seats? What kinda seats would it have?

Armstrong steering where the wheel was so big, you had to watch how you turned around a corner so you didn't catch a finger on the window vent latch(vent latch - the front corner of each side window use to have a seperate window that you would have to manually unlatch and open for fresh air...aka putting your 255 a/c on low)(255 a/c is 2 windows down and drive 55) I remember being upgraded to an R-model with air assist steering, an air ride seat and air ride cab...I thought I was given the keys to a Cadillac...although it still had the camel back suspension. And back then the traction control/anti-lock brake system was a switch on the dash that cut off air pressure to the front axle so you didn't lock up your steers so you could correct a slide on slick pavement.

 

i had a few trucks that had, "Armstrong steering"

 

Had a 20's era mack chain drive for a few circles in a farm steam show for oh 10 minutes. That wooden wheel was something else. I was pretty fit and strong. But man... those hard wheels with airless wooden type rubber rims on metal was no fun.

chuchuchuchuchu putt put putt putt and thats at less than walking speed too. 40 acres to turn around. squeak squeak squeak. add fuel. rattletrarrtleratterattle...

what a experience.

300 miles a day maybe at most. I cannot imagine how hard people had to be physically to tolerate that on say gravel. Remember Little Rock did not really possess a road bridge until about around 1914 downtown much. It was just replaced two years ago with a fine arch modern bridge that will last 150 years.

The 70 year old I-30 river crossing bridge is slated to be blown up and replaced as soon they finish staging everything. ThaT will be a absolute headache, it has to be done. Planned life was 55 years. Its 70 now and carrying weights at times that are extreme.

 

imagine driving that today, on the Cross Bronx, or the GWB bridge...!!

you won't need a dentist, your teeth will volunteer to fall out on thier own...lol

 

Yes the teeth are coming out when they get infected. Dentures soon enough.

Can you imagine jumping out in rush hour on that bridge chasing a pair of teeth over the railing? HA...

My pastor got into a little hellfire one day years ago, the teeth landed in the third row.

We are still in hysterics over that. You had to be there.

 

My pappy, born 1901 and did boat building and carpentry with hand tools [Popeye arms] described driving a loaded chain drive Mack..."put one foot up on each side of the dash, grab one side of the wheel with both hands and pull like HECK [censored by author] for each turn."

 

How about the headache of listening to a 318 roaring thru twin pipes riding shotgun in a 68 Brockway 361...

Soundproofing?

Nothing built in Courtland, NY needs stinkin' soundproofing.....

 

Here you go Bostrom

History

 

Have to be rolling a little to turn, gives a whole new meaning to setting up for backing into a dock. Still use those habits.

 

A air ride trailer was the cats pajamas when they first came out before we got our air ride Cornbinder buses.
Drivers used to fight over them at Wausau Homes.