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Washington, 1925. "Ford Motor Company. Capitol bedding truck." In a rare stab at whimsy or wit or whatever you want to call it, National Photo shot this Capitol Mattress truck in front of the actual Capitol. Tee hee! View full size.
What did a Tempur-Pedic sell for in '25?
This photo appeared in the May 10, 1925 Washington Post, captioned:
"Graham Brothers 1½-ton truck on 158-inch wheel base with body designed to carry bulky goods."
It still makes no sense why Ford would commission the photo. Perhaps a transcription mistake occurred later.
[The transcription is correct. Graham Bros. manufactured the chassis. The powerplants were supplied by a third party, generally Dodge or Ford. In 1926 the company was bought out by Dodge Bros. - Dave]
The high point of this pic is the lettering on the truck. This was an expensive job rendered by a highly skilled signpainter. Look at the split-blended shading on the main copy, and the detail in the Capitol image.
I was getting ready to launch a comment about how this isn't a Ford, but fortunately calmed down long enough to read the comments and see it had already been mentioned. I do wonder, though, why FoMoCo wanted the portrait of a Dodge Truck. Comparative study?
Also, it looks like the truck driver backed right up to large tree that would block unloading.
Lastly, I'll just say I love that old iron fencing in the yard to our left.
Sanitary is always a good quality when it comes to mattresses. I didn't know you had a choice?
Photographed on East Capitol Street- view today is very similar. An ad from 1919 Washington Post reveals that Capitol Brand Mattresses were locally manufactured and distributed through many local stores including
"Serviceable?" That seems perilously close to damning with faint praise. "Why, yes, our mattresses are deeply adequate!"
Typical, even in 1911 these truck drivers think they can park right in the middle of the road!
Lovely, brand new, truck, but it's not a Ford.
[Ford Motor would have been the client who commissioned the photo. The truck is a Dodge. - Dave]
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