Whether we’re travelling in town on local business, on extended road-trips for fun or even on assignment (rare these days thanks to the pandemic), we’re on the lookout for vintage metal. Be it an old school day to day driver or restored classic, we play no favourites. Be it never to turn a wheel again or a mangled jumble of parts, again, it matters not. Here we’re looking at a 1942-1947 Ford Pickup and it’s completely random find. This series of truck sometimes called a Jailbar Ford for the distinctive grill and we can see why. There’s a real looking out from a prison cell vibe to it.
So we’re out on some errand – is that an old…truck? Sure is! Comes a hard stop then soon after the photos below are captured.
While the decorative front licence plate (from Ontario) says 1942, it’s probable this truck is from the last couple years of production instead when output was at the highest. During World War Two many vehicles were earmarked for governmental bodies with few made available to the general public, so it would take a year after the conflict ended in 1945 before the flood gates opened in that regard. Still, it might be an ex-military truck for all we know.
Although we don’t know about this example, they could be had with the firm’s legendary Flathead V8, the first engine of this configuration to be mass produced. In spite of being a little rough around the edges, with a few dents and such, this old pickup does appear to be driven often.
That spectacular sky makes it a cherry on top kind of evening and the driver on the passing bus seemed to nod in agreement. Captured at the height of the lockdown (first edition) they had not a single passenger on board.
That same week… 737-200 – an old airliner in retirement.
Short Subjects: reports that are short and sweet in nature. This is stuff that’s interesting enough in itself, but not deserved of the full on BIGDoer.com treatment. It’s silly little snippets, vignettes and likewise things of that sort. You’ll be in and out in no time.
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Beer Parlour Fridays: before Pilsner in Saskatchewan, there was Bohemian or simply Boh. For decades, it was the most popular beer in the province. Incidentally, both Pil and Boh were for decades products of Sick's Brewery. This Boh cap was found in the basement of an old hotel in SW Saskatchewan during a visit by the Beer Parlour Project. It celebrates the beer winning a prestigious best in world award in the late 1960s.
Beer Parlour Fridays: here's a standard issue cast-metal round-top Beer Parlour table. These were supplied through the liquor control board (who heavily regulated the business) and therefore could be found at most drinking establishments. They date back to the 1940s-1960s period and surprisingly, we still see them out there in the wild all the time. Often they were covered in terrycloth to help sop up spilled beer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Tompkin's SK Hotel/Lucky Loon Saloon, previously Woody's. It was just a drive by visit and not a stop on the recent Beer Parlour Project tour of SW Saskatchewan. Had it been open we would have checked it out, however. Celebrating old school watering holes at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood Alberta, built in the late 1950s to replace one that earlier burned down. Visited in October 2024 by Chris and Rob. Watch for this hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
A retro, all-metal playground in Burstall Saskatchewan. The rocking horse, aka the tooth chipper or shin buster, was perhaps the most dangerous. Chris says he still has scars from one. But on a summer's day, those slides could get as hot as a baking pan fresh from the oven and gave new meaning to the words toasted buns. If you survived this playground, you were ready to take on the world. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Date: 2024. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
I live just down the street and see that truck out on the road every now and then. What colours in the sky!
The sky was alive! It did look like the truck was drivable and I guess it would have to be if sitting on the road. What a cool old ride.
Amazing!
I know, how awesome!
Love that sky!
I know, it really popped that evening.
I would ride the number six bus to work early in the pandemic and would often be the only passenger the entire trip. What a crazy time.
Strange days are these!