July 1939 near Muskogee, Oklahoma. Elmer Thomas at the wheel. Ready to depart for the journey to California. View full size. Photograph by Russell Lee.
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Sun, 05/11/2008 - 2:38am.
The whole family ended up in Bakersfield, California, dog and all. Elmer was my great-grandfather. Others in the truck are Edna his wife, Tommy, Frank, Viola and Ruby.
I agree. At least the dog got to go with the family. Speeds were likely 20-30 mph if they were lucky enough to be on a good road. Chances are that the dog survived just fine.
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Wed, 03/12/2008 - 12:10am.
What about the people living through the Dust Bowl trying to survive and being uprooted from their home. I'd say the dog's damn lucky he didn't get left behind so they could save a couple pennies a week on food.
Good grief! More compassion for a dog than people...talk about messed up priorities.
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Fri, 10/05/2007 - 2:50pm.
Tying off Scout, or Butch, or whatever his name was by the neck might not have been the smartest thing, but Brother's holding on, and at least they didn't leave him behind. And, the journey didn't involve screaming down the interstate at 75 mph. I bet he survived the trip, as did the ladies riding topside. I hope California was good to them all.
Submitted by Anonymous Tipster on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 1:36pm.
The radiator ornament is somewhat reminiscent of the "Spirit of Extasy" designed by Ch. Sykes for Rolls-Royce in 1911, but it is not the same. Personalizing your car with a custom radiator ornament was very popular in the thirties and there were hundreds to choose from. If you happen to have a frosted glass ornament by the French designer Lalique, left over from your grandfather's phaeton, you are sitting on an item that could fetch a multiple of $10,000 at auction if in mint condition. I wondered too about the fancy figure on this otherwise clapped-out Ford A, but I guess it was on the car when these people bought it.
