So yesterday, the weather, which was forecast to be a nice, spring, yard work kind of day, turned out crummy and gave me the perfect excuse to go work on the Merc. Did a little spring cleaning on it that I never got the chance to do since I bought it. I pulled the seat out and cleaned out some of the dirt, debris, old wasp nests, etc., and while blowing out the interior header panel, above the windshield, out popped 2 proof of insurance cards dated November 25, 1952, and April 25, 1953. It listed the owner of my Merc as Mick's Moving and Storage, Vernon, B.C. I thought that was about the coolest thing I could have found, (except for maybe a certificate of title, lol) Here was a little piece of history not too many people get to find; documentation of what presumably is original ownership. It perhaps explains how a truck gets ordered as a cab and chassis with the deluxe trim (body code 81B), and delivered in primer, not a factory color finish, and also the custom heavy duty flat bed that was on it. It also tells me that the story told by the guy I bought it from of the truck being bought new by his Grandfather was either one of incomplete information, or just plain bunk. He said his family was sheep farmers, not movers. ;-)

So, does any of my Canadian friends know anything about Mick's Moving and Storage, or are from Vernon? And what other cool things have you guys found on your teardowns or cleanings?

 

Very cool! About all I ever found was dirt and some silver nuggets, but I guess not too many people have found silver nuggets, lol. (truck worked in Gold mine)

 

That is a very interesting find. With a little investigation I believe you will probably make a contact with the previous (original) owner, or at least a family member of the original owner. For many older vehicles it is very difficult to trace ownership history and for one that has crossed over borders it would make it more difficult. Your discovery should make the task easier if you would care to pursue it. -- BTW, if my first car, a '62 Oldsmobile Cutlass - purchased when I was 15 years and 11 months old in November 1967, I found a stethoscope, some golf tees, and a golf ball. These items were in the trunk under the spare tire and between the floor of the trunk and the inner wall of the rear fender. Later I learned that the first owner of the car was a doctor.

 

found a wedding invitation from about 1955 in the header panel of a 52 F-1 parts truck from the pick and pull. then a 1949 F-1 I picked up for the engine (had a Merc flathead) had a couple thousand dead ladybugs inside the intake and carb. the engine was froze up.

 

I've mainly found registration papers in the trucks, including in my 37 Airflow. The reg in the Airflow goes back to the 60s. Wish I had reg going back to when it was purchased.

I also found an old Budweiser glass bottle underneath the seat in one of the parts trucks.

 

Hey 52Merc,
Nice find, story, and good luck with follow up research. That is one very sweet looking truck you have. I love that "minty/green".

 

Since I am the second owner of my truck I have some neat things. I have the bill of sale from the dealer my grandfather bought the truck from in Dec 1954. I have some of his registration cards and some of his handwritten notes. I still have the bill from the machine shop that rebuilt the engine for me in 1979. However, I do not have a picture of him with the truck! I have checked with all my uncles and aunts to see if they have a pic of the old Ford truck and they do not. I wish I had taken a picture of Grandpa and me with the truck when I bought it in 1977.