Feature Truck for Winter 2001:  1908 Galloway

by Don Hays

Our featured truck is a 1908 Galloway half-ton farm wagon. The William Galloway Co. of Waterloo Iowa, was a well-known mail-order supplier of small farm equipment. Thinking about this truck brings back memories of truck hunting expeditions with my father, Pop Hays.

On a bright summer day in 1987, Pop Hays and I took the pickup and trailer to Meadow Vista California to look at a Galloway truck. Meadow Vista is a community of homes scattered through the pine forest east of Sacramento. After we found the address, nestled in among the trees, we found a wide place to safely park our rig. As we walked up the driveway toward the residence we noticed the neat, well-kept shop building in the back. Isabel Vogt greeted us part way up the drive, and opened the large door to the shop. It was immediately apparent that her late husband, Henry, liked to spend time in the shop doing woodwork and restoring the Galloway truck.

The chassis appeared to be assembled and complete. Isabel said that Henry would start the engine every week or so. The wooden body, stored nearby, was in the original state but in fair condition. The upholstered part told the story of many years of deterioration. The seat springs were sitting, uncovered, in the back of the bed. The brass still shined from Henry’s polishing. Pop Hays looked things over and decided to buy the truck.

We backed the trailer up the driveway and prepared for loading. We had to move sawhorses and lumber to allow the Galloway room to exit the door. We loaded the truck and body and made the trip back to Woodland. The Galloway, now restored, has a predominate place in the museum. The museum’s volunteer, Ken Row is now taking the responsibility for polishing of the brass.

The “GT Farm Wagon” was sold by mail order from 1908 to 1911 and was one of the least-expensive vehicles on the market. The truck was made for Galloway by the Dart Manufacturing Company. The engine is a water-cooled, 2-cylinder, horizontally opposed, 142 cubic inch, developing 14 horsepower. The transmission is a two speed planetary and the rear wheels are driven by chain drive. Wheels are carriage type with wooden spokes which made them suitable for the farm areas in which they were advertised. Steering is on the right hand side.

The Galloway was discontinued in 1911 and Dart began selling the truck under its own name again. We know of two other Galloway trucks, one belonging to Lloyd Van Horn and one in the Smithsonian.