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Topic starter
08/12/2024 12:20 pm
As a kid, I was always waiting for the Divco Tuscan Dairy truck for our delivery of un-homogenized milk in those reusable glass bottle so I could pour the cream off the top and on my cereal. The afternoon Divco was from Dugan's Bakery and I would beg my mom to buy a box of fudge topped cupcakes. Us kids loved to hitch a ride on the truck thinking the guy had the coolest job. Looking back on it now, that poor guy was probably exhausted by the end of the day. During the route, he'd be standing over that collapsible chair and constantly climbing in and out of the truck for deliveries and pickups. Divco, or the Detroit Industrial Vehicle Company started in 1922 with all electric trucks and went to gas engine trucks in 1926. All the model designs featured the snub nosed shape. The truck we all remember (well, us old guys anyway) is the Model 13. A Model U with dual controls was also available.
The ubiquitous Model 13, with only minor changes has been around since 1938 and production finally ended in 1986. This Divco is powered by a 46 HP Continental flat head 4 giving it a 43 mph top end. The transmission is a manual 4 speed with 1st gear is a crawl speed. Divco, the company, had solvency problems and re-incorporated to Divco-Detroit in 1927, then seized by creditors in 1931 and then sold to Continental in 1932, finally, the Twin Coach Company in 1936 so all that exists of Divco is just the brand. This Danbury Mint model is a 1950 Model 13 and is just loaded with eye candy and a bit of finger fun with its operating doors and hood and nicely replicated milk bottle cases. This Divco and the '50's Good Humor Ice Cream truck are such great nostalgia pieces that take me back.
08/12/2024 12:30 pm
Lovely photos and story. I had completely forgotten that during school holidays, my brother and I would help our milkman deliver in the few houses in our locale where we were acquainted with the owners, in return for a ride in his milk float (as the delivery vehicles were known in Blighty). As you say, "the coolest job", despite most of the fathers we knew working at various Ford facilities.
08/12/2024 12:48 pm
thanks for sharing, there are a number of models that I should acquire, and this is one of them
08/12/2024 7:37 pm
My memories of the DIVCO go back to the forties and fifties in the St. Louis area. I specifically remember the Pevely and Sealtest dairies having these trucks. Thanks for the history Rich.
08/12/2024 7:57 pm
Ahh, memories, what a neat model. I remember our local Miami County Dairy delivering ours.😊
John Napoli reacted
08/12/2024 9:24 pm
This is another really awesome model. I think I can vaguely remember seeing a couple of these around when I was very young, but those memories are a bit fuzzy. No matter, I love this model, and I was thrilled when it arrived.
Rich your photos are fantastic, you've captured every bit of charm that this model has to offer.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
09/12/2024 9:46 am
I have this one and glad that I do, as I remember back in the 60's our milkman would deliver in one of these. Always thought it was a cool looking truck.
Rich Sufficool and Geno reacted
09/12/2024 10:05 am
In my hometown of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada delivery was made by the Northwestern Creamery truck in the 1950s and 60s. Their competition was Palm Dairies whose Divco van was cream colored with maroon lettering. I fondly recall the shiny foil bottle cap covers on the deliveries to our house, which I would fold tightly on the spokes of my bike. Very cool! Lol.
