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New Custom Mudflaps for Sale!!

4/22/2016

By popular demand we have produced the old logo mudflaps and will have them for sale at the ATHS show in Salem, Oregon. If you would like to buy them from our website, the price includes shipping.

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Truck News Covers Singing Wheels

4/22/2016

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Harry Rudolph from Truck News reviewed our book and discusses the Fruehauf History. To read the article click here..........

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A 1916 restored Fruehauf trailer on display in Detroit

4/6/2016

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Barely making it into the freight elevator with inches to spare, volunteers at the Ford Piquette plant museum in Detroit breathed a collective sigh of relief when they managed to maneuver the 1916 Fruehauf semi-trailer into the cramped enclosure. Gently the trailer was transported from the Detroit Historic Museum storage to be displayed on loan at the Ford Piquette Plant Museum for the next five years.

The loan was made possible because of truck collector, Randy Shelton who is a long time supporter of the Ford Piquette plant and a new enthusiast of the Fruehauf Trailer history. Mr. Shelton's beautifully restored Smith Form A Model T was the perfect companion for the Fruehauf semi-trailer. In 1914, when August Fruehauf and Otto Neumann invented the semi-trailer it was paired with a Ford Model-T. Mr. Shelton has become an expert on early Fruehauf trailer engineering and now owns four trailers, which he is in the process of restoring.

Ford Piquette Plant Museum
The Birthplace of the Model-T
461 Piquette Ave, Detroit, MI 48202

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A Fruehauf Trailer Historical Display - 1913 Smith Form A Model T and 1916 Fruehauf Trailer

4/6/2016

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A Detroit truck collector and Fruehauf enthusiast is restoring a 1913 Smith Form A semi-truck to be paired with a restored 1916 Fruehauf semi-trailer. The pair of vehicles will debut at the Ford Piquette Plant museum July 10-12th for a reunion of Fruehauf Employees. The semi-truck has even been named for August Fruehauf and will be known as the Guvnor, August's nickname.

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Colorized photos by George Murphey

4/4/2016

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Our Facebook group page, "Fruehauf Trailers Were The Best" is more beautiful because of member, George Murphey. One day he was attempting to identify a historical photograph and realized that color would aid that process. He was instantly converted and began to colorize trucks to their true and authentic company colors. We love to see the old trucks in color and a splash of color let's us know that George has been posting photos.

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A radio interview with Warren Pierce, WJR Radio

11/15/2015

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I enjoyed Warren Pierce's interview today on WJR's radio talk show. Thank you!

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The Lockwood Report alerts all history buffs to our book!

9/30/2015

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"HISTORY BUFFS, REJOICE!
Being a fan of trucking's fascinating history, I've been keenly following the Fruehauf Trailer Historical Society for the past couple of years. It's been gradually growing with new photos and tidbits, and it's pretty entertaining. Now, to celebrate the centennial of August Fruehauf’s 1914 invention of the semi-trailer, the Society -- that is, Ruth Fruehauf, the founder's granddaughter -- has produced a book to tell the company's colorful history and to some extent that of the equally colorful family behind it". For the full article click here.

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Historian Ken Kinlock

9/15/2015

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Thanks to Ken Kinlock for posting our book on his website. Click here for more information.

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Smith Miller, the Kennedy's and Fruehauf

9/1/2015

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A large number of these toy trucks were produced by the Smith-Miller Toy Company after receiving the design for the truck and trailer from Roy Fruehauf. They were created for distribution during National Truck Week. The trailers bore the name of Fruehauf, while the Teamsters’ Union logos were displayed on the sides of the trailer as well as the doors of the truck. Very few of these original trucks remain in circulation. Most are held in private collections. The actual truck used as an exhibit in the McClellan Hearings can be found at the John F. Kennedy Museum.

The basic truck and trailer design was a favorite of the Smith-Miller company, and was reproduced bearing the logos of numerous companies in the years following the hearings. The Fruehauf Trailer Historical Society, with the assistance of toy designer David G. Norman, restored a vintage Smith-Miller and transformed it into the infamous Teamsters’ truck and trailer. It made its debut appearance in August 2015 at the Brooks Truck Show in Brooks, Oregon. These photos show the before and after of this restoration.