The truck is a circa 1916 White.

Based on similar pictures it is most likely either a 3 or 5 ton model. In 1918 wheelbases for these big trucks were 163" for the 3 ton and 169" for the 5 ton. These heavy model White trucks changed very little in outward appearance all the way through about 1928.

White Trucks were used extensively throughout WWI overseas. "In the Battle of Verdun the only White trucks to break down were those disabled by shells. The result was that 2,500 of them [the White Standard Model A] received the distinction of [being awarded] France's Croix de Guerre.'" (Time Magazine, Sep 26, 1932) I wish I had more information about this story.

Smaller White trucks were the chassis underpinning the buses in Yellowstone Park from 1916 through WWII. The story of these buses is at the following web site.

http://www.geyserbob.org/Buses-White.html

I believe I have seen these types of clamps on other old vehicles to secure tire chains.

They're some kind of spoke clamp. Yes, those tires are solid rubber. Although pneumatic tires had been available for passenger cars since shortly before the turn of the 20th Century, pneumatic truck tires did not come along until 1919. Solid rubber vehicle tires as on this baby were last made in 1929. By the way, this is a good opportunity to suggest replacing your tires if they're more than six years old, the limit generally given by the industry. (I attended a hearing on a State of Maryland tire aging bill in Annapolis a few months ago.) Your tire "birthday" appears on the sidewall after the letters "DOT" (Dept. of Transportation). You should see four digits; the first two are the week of the year the tire was made, and the second two are the year, so e.g., 3009 = the 30th week of 2009. Even if your low mileage 1998 luxo motor home's original tires look good still, they aren't, despite how much tread they have.

Could they have made the sign for the toolbox any larger? WOW!

Five out of six spokes on the rear wheel have some kind of clamp on them. Any ideas what it is?

[My guess: They hold the inner and outer halves of the rim together. - Dave]

These must be the original puncture proof tires.

Are those solid rubber tires? If so, bet it was a rough ride.

All it needs is to get the rims chrome plated and maybe add some "spinners" and it would be "da bomb" today.

---

Washington Post, December 10, 1919.

“Ship By Truck!”

It's Quicker.

Long distance out-of-town hauling our speciality.
Phone North 9500, North 9501.

Jacobs Transfer Co.,
111 Florida Ave.