Item Description:
Original 8" x 10" photograph pulled from a Fruehauf Trailer Company salesman sample catalog, containing hundreds of original photographs, most stamped by Smith Brothers Commercial Photographers of Detroit, Michigan. This particular photo features glossy finish, vivid detail, and would look excellent when framed. The photo was removed from a vintage album and shows some glue and paper residue on the back, along with minor backing thinning from removal. None of these issues affect the visual appeal from the front. Please note: This auction is only for the photo shown in the first image. Any additional photos included are shown for reference purposes only and are not included in the auction. This photo comes from an estate just outside of Detroit, near the heart of Fruehauf?s early operations.
History of Pete De Shong Motor Freight Lines
Pete De Shong Motor Freight Lines was an early regional trucking company based in Amarillo, Texas. The company was operating by the late 1920s and provided freight service between Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, and Dallas.
During the early 1930s, Pete De Shong operated a regular freight route between Amarillo and Oklahoma City. Part of that route followed U.S. Highway 66 eastward from Amarillo, making the company part of the commercial trucking history associated with Route 66. The business also maintained service south and east into Fort Worth and Dallas.
By 1934, company trucks were numbered into the twenties, indicating a fleet larger than a small local delivery operation. The photographed vehicle is marked No. 23 and carries local telephone numbers for each of the four cities served.
The company later operated under the name Pete De Shong & Sons, Inc. In 1938, its operating business was absorbed into the Kansas City–Los Angeles Flyer Transport Company, ending its existence as an independent freight line.
The photograph was taken outside the T. E. Swann Company, a Victor Radio wholesaler at 706–708 West Second Street in Oklahoma City. The presence of the truck there is consistent with Pete De Shong’s documented freight service between Amarillo and Oklahoma City. The exact cargo or purpose of the stop is not known.
History of Fruehauf Trailer Company:
The Fruehauf Trailer Company was founded in 1914 in Detroit, Michigan, by August Fruehauf. Originally a blacksmith, Fruehauf created the first semi-trailer when asked to design a way to haul a boat behind a Model T Ford. The invention revolutionized freight transportation, and by the 1920s, Fruehauf had become the leading trailer manufacturer in the United States. The company expanded rapidly, supplying trailers for the military during both World Wars and developing innovations such as bulk tank trailers, refrigerated trailers, and container chassis. At its peak, Fruehauf operated globally before its assets were sold off in the 1990s.
History of Smith Brothers Commercial Photographers:
Smith Brothers Commercial Photographers were a professional photography firm based in Detroit, Michigan, operating from the Arcadia Building at the corner of Woodward and Stimson. Active primarily in the mid-20th century, they specialized in industrial and commercial photography, documenting automotive, transportation, and manufacturing industries at a time when Detroit was America?s industrial powerhouse. Their work, often commissioned by major corporations like Fruehauf, captured vital advertising and marketing imagery used for catalogs, sales brochures, and promotional materials.