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Washington, D.C., 1919. "Franklin Motor Car Co. police van." The latest in law enforcement. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
I wondered what the large circle on the front of the truck was. It looks like something was missing or removed. A quick Google revealed this:
A term used to describe either the occupants or the operators.
This old Irish cop preferred the term "prisoner transport', but the difference was lost on the young constables.
Worra, worra.
I always thought Franklin only made idiosyncratic luxury cars with air-cooled engines and wood-reinforced frames, so this truck was a surprise. Doing a little research, I found a 1915 ad for the Franklin Commercial Car Company showing what looks like this truck minus the 'police' bodywork and mentioning its air-cooled engine, which leads me to believe it was in fact a product of the Franklin Motor Car Company (as stated). But I'm blowed if I can find any mention of trucks in the FMCC's history on line. Can one of Shorpy's resident experts relieve my confusion?
[Trucks were produced by Franklin's Commercial Division. -tterrace]
Anybuddy gat a knife?
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