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For Motor Mayhem Monday we're back in Oakland circa 1958, with a Ford punching above its weight. 4x5 negative from the News Archive. View full size.
Bluegeorge, how the heck did you do that?!? BTW, those little landscaping bricks in the bottom right corner are still there, too.
I remember gathering with my buddies to watch one of these trucks at work when we were about 10 years old. Those twelve canvas bags inflate, and stand erect on the back of the truck. We were too young and innocent to be inspired to any creative comments. One pal's dad happened by, and kept his thoughts to himself. Except to say that the bags served no purpose and were just for show.
Looks like the intersection of 106th Avenue and Sunnyside Street, down the road from Foothill Square.
[Still with chimney-mounted TV antennas! -tterrace]
My guess is there's a third vehicle involved, possibly the truck barely visible beyond the fire unit. Possible scenario: Ford was T-boned on passenger side by the truck while crossing the main street and spun onto the lawn where it sits. The top-heavy furnace cleaning truck swerved sharply to avoid the spinning Ford and tipped over.
I'll bet if we wait a day or two a second photo of this scene will be posted and will answer our questions! (Fingers crossed.) As for the car, I believe it's a 1951 Ford Custom Deluxe based on the added piece of (dulled here) chrome trim under the rear window.
The late lamented Goliath is a 1940s Dodge truck. The headlights protruding from the fenders is the clue, as well as the crease down the top of the fender.
So many of these Oakland accidents seem to take place in sleepy suburban type neighborhoods of quiet corners with clear visible intersections???
The overturned Goliath is a furnace cleaning truck, used to vacuum out sooty ductwork. Similar vehicles are still in use today.
"David" appears to be a 1951 Ford. I can't tell what "Goliath" is, but I'm guessing an International, Diamond REO, or similar commercial truck.
I'm trying to figure out what kind of truck received the odds-beating blow from the mighty Ford. It looks like it sucked something in through its hose and then blew the air through the large sock-like things in the back? Maybe it sucked up leaves that were trapped by the sock filters for disposal?
Are we missing part of this scene? From this view it seems the truck hit the Ford on the passenger side. But then how or why did the truck tip over? Maybe a third vehicle involved not in the photo. Also the back of the truck looks like a Whack-A-Mole game.
I see the other guy, and what the heck is that truck for?
What kind of truck is that out for the count?
It looks like one of those house cleaner trucks that sucks the dust out of your air conditioning vents
Yes, the Ford sedan is a casualty in this fracas but may not be the instigator. I see another truck, perhaps a dump body or a flatbed, facing the fire engine. I wonder if that truck was the cause of upsetting the vacuum truck and the Ford was in the wrong place at the wrong time?
The garden hose across the sidewalk seems to indicate that perhaps a fire ensued and a resident good Samaritan tried to keep the flames at bay until the professionals showed up with their capable rig.
The Ford may be mortally wounded but knocked the other guy out.
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