What Era is the MiniMetals Union ICE Truck?

[mmagliaro]

I mean this one:


It is supposedly an International R-190, which started production in 1953, meaning this truck could
have been on the roads in the 1950s.

Is that correct?

I'm going to chop off the compressor hanging on the front of the box, and repurpose it to be
a small furniture moving truck.

[jwb]

There's a history of the Union Ice Company here. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-19/business/fi-5007_1_union-ice After the 1930s, it served restaurants, etc with bulk ice. However, the trucks normally had a shield-shaped logo similar to contemporary Interstate Highway route signs. An ice truck delivering bulk ice would be prototypical for the 1950s.

[wazzou]

There's a history of the Union Ice Company here. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-19/business/fi-5007_1_union-ice After the 1930s, it served restaurants, etc with bulk ice. However, the trucks normally had a shield-shaped logo similar to contemporary Interstate Highway route signs. An ice truck delivering bulk ice would be prototypical for the 1950s.

I think he's more interested in the truck chassis/cab itself, not the history of Union Ice or Ice truck delivery in general.

It would be very common from the early to mid-50's on well through the sixties to see the International R Series cabs.
http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/ihc/id/36853

Edited to add link.

[mmagliaro]

+1 This.
Yes, the chassis and era are what I am mostly concerned with (great find on the IH document!)
But thank you for the info on Union Ice.  I was always curious what era these trucks were supposed to represent.

I've had them in my goodies box for years, and it looks like I can finally make some use of them with a little
repainting.

[wcfn100]

Not totally related but I ran across this in my Waterloo, IA files and thought of this thread.




Jason

[Spikre]

 
  didn't CMW make plain box vans in N ?
  they did in HO,so they would save the trouble of lopping
  off the Reefer unit.
  Spikre
     

[nkalanaga]

They did make vans, but I've also seen prototype reefer trucks/trailers with the reefer unit removed and the hole boarded over.   If that's the goal, and the reefer unit can be used on another model, cutting it off may be the better choice.

[Spikre]

 
   N,
    good ideas that weren't thought of here .
    but doubt a 50s reefer unit would be put on a new 60s truck
   too often.
   what is the life of a reefer unit,5-7 years ?
   so should work well with 50s trailers and box vans.
    one good thing about scale models is they don't really need the
   insulation the big boys need.
     Spikre