I have a question regarding the original finish on the bed wooden floor in the 1938 One Ton Express truck. I never found anything specific on this issue. The Tonners are different than many other trucks (especially the ½ ton pickups) that had a metal floor that may have additionally been covered with wood. The Ford Tonner had no metal floor, only the wooden planking with wooden cross supports. I have a couple of Ford publicity pictures that clearly show the underside of the floor as having no paint on the bed wood or cross supports. However, I never found any pictures clearly showing the top of the bed floor.

What was the factory finish on the bed wood and skid strips? Were they painted? If so, what color? I know that some manufacturers may have painted the bed wood and skid strips black. Or alternatively, the wood may have been treated with lampblack and linseed oil.

Based on what I could determine from my truck as it came to me, I finished the bed floor in clear spar varnish with stainless steel skid strips (which are what is available). I had only one small piece of the flooring about 2 feet long that showed no signs of paint or color anywhere. The steel skid strips which were all badly rusted also showed no signs of paint or having been protected in any way. Just for information, I am attaching a couple of pictures of what my truck's original parts looked like.




What I am really looking for at this point is original information from Ford on this matter. I have copies of the original salesman's manual, the Green Bible, the sales booklet, a number of adds, Jim Wagner's book and some other documents. Where else should I be looking?

 

I certainly don't know the answer but, if you don't get answers here you may want to ask the guy's on the Ford Barn. Always amazed at the collective knowledge of old Fords from them.
Good luck!

 

Try contacting James Wagner and asking him. He is the Commercial vehicle restoration advisor for the Early Ford V8 Club. The club publication, the V8 Times, prints questions and answers in the back of each issue that may be interesting to other club members. Searching through the index I found a couple answers from Wagner that may help. Apparently Ford changed the stated wood used in beds from "hardwood" to "seasoned wood" between 1935 and 1936. It appears that Ford was using inexpensive wood in bed construction, not more expensive and pretty hardwoods. The furniture like finish of many truck beds and stake side is simply inaccurate.
One of the references I found, July-August V8 Times pages 65 & 66, was regarding the bed for a 1941 3/4 ton stake truck. Wagner stated that all of the bed parts, metal, hardware, and wood, were painted body color. This matches my memory of the very few original wood bed floor trucks I have seen with any paint left visible, both stake and early 122 wheelbase pickups. Again, best to contact Wagner directly for verification (join the V8 Club and ask questions!).

 

I've gotten a couple of similar responses on The Ford Barn. I am a member of the V8 Club and others and am in the process of contacting James Wagner. However, I may already have an answer to my question.

 

Have you seen the new 2021 Hemmings calendar? Miss August is I’d guess your avatar.

Also, btw, I’ll add to what I wrote on the ‘barn that I looked closely at my copy of the 1938 Salesman’s Handbook but it too is silent on your question. Stu

 

Thanks Stu for the information on the Hemmings Calendar. I hadn't known about this or seen it until now. I also appreciate your input here and on The Barn. Bob