This photo is an excellent quality color 8” x 10” new photo reproduction of a 1980s new HENDRICKSON PRIME MOVER for sale at the Hendrickson factory in 1987.
”SAMPLE” will not appear on your photo, it is only on the scanned image. Laying the “SAMPLE” sheet over the photo for the scan, causes the eBay image to be slightly yellowed. Your photo reproduction will be pure black & white with no yellow cast.
DESCRIPTION: I took this photo in late Spring of 1987 when touring the Hendrickson factory in Lyons, IL. The story behind this huge Prime Mover was that it had been built to haul 2,00,000 Lbs. up a 4% grade on unpaved roads in Wyoming. The company that ordered the Prime Mover had gone bankrupt. Built at a cost of $250,000 for the buyer, this Prime Mover was now for sale “cheap”! It was painted black with light yellow front bumper, cab roof, fuel tanks, heavy I-Beam frame, and wheels, per the proposed buyer’s colors. The cab used was not the standard curved 1-piece windshield cab built by the Chicago Mfg. Co. for most Hendricksons, as well as the International R Series, but an oversize cab with a 2-piece flat windshield, a huge wide and long hood to accommodate the large diesel engine, a handrail along the right front fender, and what looks to me to be a ‘ballast box’ behind the cab. You can get a feel for the size of this prime mover by the height of the two men standing directly in front of the almost 5’ front bumper.
HENDRICKSON MOTOR TRUCK CO.: Magnus Hendrickson built his first truck in 1900 as chief engineer for a Fremont, OH company. Leaving that company in 1913, he returned to Chicago to form his own company, producing 3 truck models by 1920. In 1926, Magnus and two sons designed a tandem suspension using the now famous Hendrickson equalizing beam with center pivot to distribute the load evenly to the rear axles and reduce the effects of uneven terrain. An assembly plant was was built in 1927. By 1938 Hendrickson was offering Cummins diesels in both conventional and cabover models. Most Hendrickson trucks were predominately sold in the Chicago area as custom-built trucks for the customer’s needs with a wide choice of components. In the early 1950s production was in the 60-100 units per year. The company expanded into more custom-made trucks: crane carriers, airport ground support equipment, prime movers, motor home chassis, & fire trucks. Production reached around 300 units per year in the 1970s. In 1978, The Boler Company purchased various Hendrickson divisions to concentrate on truck & trailer suspension systems, auxiliary axles systems, and other heavy-duty components. The Hendrickson name of today is a leading global manufacturer of components to the commercial transportation industry around the globe. In 1985 Hendrickson sold the truck manufacturing operation to a Michigan based company that continues today under the name of HME, Inc., producing custom fire trucks.
In 1987, I toured the Hendrickson Mobile Equipment plant in Lyons, IL, where a broad line of custom-built trucks were still being produced. The sharp looking Hendrickson VT100 had recently been introduced. Shortly after, the truck manufacturing was moved to Grand Rapids, MI where the VT Series continued to be produced under the trade name of HME, for some time. I believe the HME truck operation now specializes only in custom fire trucks. All together, the Hendrickson company and affiliates is said to have built over 21,000 custom trucks.
CONDITION: This outstanding color glossy photo is a newly reproduced photo from a photo in my personal lifetime collection. This photo has been printed on excellent quality HP PREMIUM PLUS GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER using HP 02 Vivera Inks, producing a professional quality photo that resists fading over 100 years ... the best money can buy. This photo is borderless. For your information, the description and documentation of this photo will be loosely taped to the back side of this photo. I try to ad some “added value” to my photos by researching each one, adding some history and information that you may not know. If I get something incorrect, please let me know … thanks!
SHIPPING & HANDLING: This item will be shipped via USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL - PACKAGE RATE (non-machinable) within the USA, including FREE USPS Tracking from USPS from my door to your mailbox. For WORLD WIDE INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL mailings to eligible countries, I will mail to the eBay US Shipping Center in Kentucky for reshipment to you … expect additional postal charges from the reshipment center. Your item will be mailed FLAT, carefully packed in a large 9x12 double envelope with a cardboard stiffener in the inner envelope ... the cardboard stiffener assures you it will arrive in excellent condition.
I can usually mail your photo within 24 hours of your payment thru PayPal, and sometimes on the same day. You will get an email confirmation from PayPal that postage has been purchased, with a tracking number from USPS to track your photo from my post office to your mailbox.
PURCHASE 2 OR MORE ITEMS FROM MY SITE, AND SHIPPING WILL BE FREE. I believe you must put your multiple items into your SHOPPING CART to receive my FREE SHIPPING and pay with a single payment. If it does not work for you, please contact me and I can manually issue you an eBAY INVOICE with the Free Shipping.
PAYMENT: I believe for you to buy FIXED PRICE LISTINGS you must pay right away through PayPal, per new eBay rules announced in the Spring of 2013.
I will be adding a number of vintage truck and construction equipment photos/ads, listing an additional item or two almost daily. I still have several file boxes and shelves full of items to sell. Please check my auctions and store frequently to see what new items I have added.
Please check the comments in my “Feedbacks” to verify that I pack very well, ship promptly, describe my items fairly, and that my customers like the quality of my items. Rest assured, you get what is represented. It may be ‘old school’, but I treat my customers like I would like to be treated myself. Trucking and construction have been my life, and now in retirement I do this with a labor of love and enjoyment.
.... any questions at all, please feel free to contact me. I try to be prompt with my email responses.
Thank you for your interest in this item!