Brockway Motor Company
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Brockway Motor Company was a builder of custom heavy-duty trucks in Cortland, New York, from 1912 to 1977.
History
It was founded as Brockway Carriage Works in 1875 by William Brockway. His son George Brockway later turned the carriages into a truck manufacturer in 1909. The first trucks were high-wheelers. During World War I, Brockway built 587 Class B Liberty Trucks for the military. After the war they produced a new range from 1-ton to 5-tons.
They began with Continental engines but switched to Wisconsin in 1925. They bought the Indiana Truck Corporation in 1928 but were forced to sell it to White Motor Company in the early years of the Great Depression. A new range, the V1200 was offered from 1934 to 1937. The V1200 used a Script error: No such module "convert". V12 American LaFrance engine and carried loads up to 15 tons.[1] In 1935, Brockway sold 1245 units and in 1936 it increased to 1695 trucks [2]. In 1938, Brockway sold 1303 units and in 1939 it increased to 1815 trucks [3].
During World War II, Brockway manufactured the B666 heavy truck, including the B666 Daybrook M-II-A bridge erector[4] and C666 Quick Way crane,[5] as well as G547 and G690 6-ton 6×6 bridging trucks, part of a standard design series also built by Corbitt and White. G547 "Treadway" trucks had a large hoist on the rear for self-unloading, while the G690 chassis were fitted with "Quickway" cranes, also used in bridging operations.[6]
All 6-ton military trucks (of all manufacturers) had Hercules HXD Script error: No such module "convert". I6 gasoline engines, developing Script error: No such module "convert". at 2150 rpm and Script error: No such module "convert". of torque at 900 rpm.Template:Sfnp
Post-World War II Brockway produced single and dual axle tractors and heavy duty triaxle dump trucks. The company was purchased by Mack Trucks Inc. in August 1956 and remained a division of Mack until its closing in June 1977. Mack cited "union troubles" for the closure.[7]
Engines
Brockway commercial trucks primarily used Cummins engines, though many were powered by Detroit Diesels. Some Brockway trucks were equipped with gasoline Hercules I6 engines fitted with Rochester 2G (DualJet) carburetors.[8]
Legacy
In the making of the 1978 film Convoy, the loaded trailer of a white 1972 Brockway 361 semi truck toppled over when the convoy made a sharp turn at an intersection, toppling over also the semi. The unplanned scene was then included in the movie. The Brockway laying on its side due to adverse circumstances, getting kicked in frustration by driver "Widow Woman" and abandoned in a hurry while the movie hero "Rubber Duck" carried on in his Mack RS700 semi, inadvertently illustrated the recent demise of the brand.
There is a Brockway Truck show in Cortland each year with many events occurring at the official Brockway Museum located in Homer, NY at the Central New York Living History Center.[9]
The hood ornament used by Brockway was a husky dog with pulling harness, thus giving Cortland the nickname of "Huskie Town USA".
A documentary about the trucks and the Brockway company is available from Wiffle Ball Productions in Cortland, New York.
References
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- ↑ Ronald G Adams, Big Rigs of the 1950s Motor Books International St Paul MN 2001 Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ B666 Daybrook M-II-A bridge erector: length: Script error: No such module "convert"., width: Script error: No such module "convert"., height: Script error: No such module "convert"., weight: Script error: No such module "convert"., about 13 tons
- ↑ C666 Quick-Way revolving crane: length: Script error: No such module "convert"., width: Script error: No such module "convert"., height: Script error: No such module "convert"., weight: Script error: No such module "convert"., about 18 tons
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Street Rodder, 1/85, p.14.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Defunct truck manufacturers of the United States
- Motor vehicle manufacturers based in New York (state)
- Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1912
- Companies disestablished in 1977
- 1912 establishments in New York (state)
- Mack Trucks
- Defunct manufacturing companies based in New York (state)
- 1956 mergers and acquisitions