Glimpses of Canadian History, one vibrant moment at a time
  • Home
  • Admin
  • About me

Canada’s Trucking Industry – the First Trucks

  • By Susie
  • Jun-5-2012
  • Fascinating Canadian History
  • Comments Off on Canada’s Trucking Industry – the First Trucks

Built by Still Motor Company in Toronto, Parker’s Dye Works Van was one of Canada’s First Trucks

First Commercial Trucks in Canada were Electric-Powered Carriages

Simpson’s store and Parker’s Dye Works boldly used the new horseless vehicles to enhance their delivery services to customers. They were pioneers of the trucking industry

There weren’t many roads, just dusty, dirt paths, mostly. There were a few paved city streets, but no such things as paved highways, let alone four-lane freeways. But goods were being rapidly manufactured, farm produce grown to be sold quickly, new inventions to be enjoyed. And all the items had to be delivered to customers.

The horse and wagon filled the need for carrier services for decades, but by the late 1890s, innovative horseless carriages were appearing along with cars like Ford’s Model C and Model T. The new commercial vehicle looked similar in shape to the usual carriage but something was missing: there were no horses out front to pull the wheels. Running on electric power, the new trucks could purr along at a steady 14 miles per hour without fuss.

The Number 2 Coach Delivery Wagon

In 1898, the first commercial truck in Ontario was used by the forward-thinking Robert Simpson Company Limited in Toronto, as a delivery wagon for the Canadian department store’s variety of goods. The Number 2 Coach Delivery Wagon was built in the United States by the Fischer Equipment Company in Chicago, Illinois. The electric battery-powered vehicle was “in keeping with Simpson’s leadership in delivery systems” since they were known for using “smart delivery wagons… drawn by matching grey horses,” notes the Ontario Trucking Association website. The truck’s maximum payload was 200 lbs. With the driver sitting out unprotected in all weather, steering the truck was stiff and difficult. The power system was four batteries mounted on trays in a connected series that produced a maximum of 80 volts. According to the OTA, it could travel a 35-mile distance on smooth roads – if there were any to be found.

(Simpson’s was founded in 1872 by Robert Simpson, instituting a catalogue division in 1894. The company established a separate division with the American retailer Sears, Roebuck and Co., called Simpson’s-Sears, and was purchased in 1978 by the Hudson’s Bay Company. The name is no longer in use.)

Still Motor Company built the first Canadian-made truck

Parker’s Dye Works, also in Toronto, was the next business name to be seen on the side of a delivery truck. Their van was constructed by electrician William Still in 1899. The Still Motor Company is credited with creating the first Canadian-made motor delivery wagon. The motor was mounted in the centre of the truck, allowing the driver to sit under the roof of the open cab. A belt to the larger back wheels permitted rear-wheel drive, and it had an easier steering system.

(Established in 1876 in Ottawa, the company was originally called R. Parker Dyeing and Scouring Works. Their main business was dying ostrich feathers and work gloves. The company later became a dry cleaning business.)

Parker’s Dye Works truck celebrated by Canada Post

The Parker’s Dye Works van was commemorated as the first Canadian commercial truck by Canada Post with a 45-cent stamp. It was included in the 1996 series of Historic Land Vehicle Stamps, Industrial and Commercial Vehicles, Scott #1604.

The transportation industry flourished with new and larger truck configurations as each year passed, hauling newer and larger items to customers. Gasoline trucks came into production in the early 1900s, paved roads were becoming more common, and provincial licencing was soon to follow. Even in those early days, the modern trucking slogan applied: “If you’ve got it, a truck brought it.”

Sources:

Collections Canada

(1) Canada’s Automotive History, Canada at Work Series, by James Dykes, published by McGraw-Hill Company of Canada, 1970. Pg 14. (Photo from page 14.)

This article first appeared on Suite101.com                                ©  Susanna McLeod

Comments

← Previous Post Next Post →

Categories

  • Fascinating Canadian History
  • Those Canadian Women, they got this

Search:

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
About This Site

A cras tincidunt, ut tellus et. Gravida scel ipsum sed iaculis, nunc non nam. Placerat sed phase llus, purus purus elit.

Archives Widget
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
Categories
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Jobs & Lifestyle
Search

Powered by WordPress  |  Business Directory by InkThemes.