[An uncommon archive of 62 silver gelatin factory photographs for the noted Boyertown Coach & Body works delivery van, emergency vehicle, and commercial trucks in the Mid-20th-Century, representing a wide range of non-profit, government, and private businesses].

[Boyertown, PA: Boyertown Auto Body Works, ca. 1955-1958]. 4to. 62 mylar sleeves, all w/ inserted 8 x 10 in. silver gelatin photographs, all w/ company logo in lower fore-edge of negative, a few w/ additional company information, or P.R. typescript on verso. Recent 3-ring clamshell binder, an excellent set of images, with all retaining bright contrast. This fascinating collection of original Boyertown Coach & Body Works photographs showcases a wide range of commercial and government trucks built on Ford 1 ton, Chevrolet 3600, and Dodge chassis, engines & cab platforms. These images include many different food trucks, including those for hauling pretzels, vending machine supplies, bread, baked goods, portable donut trucks, and more. Also represented are refrigerated dairy trucks, such as one for the Lehigh Valley Farmers Cooperative out of Allentown, PA; or a refrigerated truck for the A.I. Lipsey, Inc. Furs Company. In addition, first responders and emergency vehicles for the Salvation Army Emergency & Disaster Canteen service, the American Red Cross canteen service; the Southern Chester County Station 71 fire & rescue truck on 1 ton Ford chassis, as well as specially fitted lift truck for the Rochester Rehabilitation Center Multiple Sclerosis patients. The photographs include those showing the trucks with operators, drivers, as fleets, and in one series a set of special semi-trailers built and designed for the Swift Centennial Merchandising Caravan, best known at the time for their Swift Meats for Babies, Norman Rockwell advertising campaign. Founded originally as the Boyertown Carriage Works by Jeremiah Sweinhart in 1872, the company would eventually begin producing their first commercial truck bodies in 1914 -- D.S. Erb & Co. Castle Hall Cigars wood body truck. Later the company was reorganized in 1926 by Frank Hafer (1883-1968), W. Howard Swarts & George Hoffman to specialize in metal-framed truck bodies. After 1934, Paul Hafer, Frank’s son became president and by 1949 secured the contract for producing parcel delivery truck bodies for USPS, and introduced their Ford-based merchandiser body. In addition, the company became well-known for their specialized civil defense & fire rescue bodies, as well as mobile canteens and catering trucks. See: Mark Theobald, Boyertown Body Works, Associated Builders, Coachbuilt (2004).