Feature Truck for Spring 2001:  1925 DeMartini

1925 DEMARTINI

by Al Mroz

The Hays Antique Truck Museum acknowledges Al Mroz's contribution in preserving the history of trucking. The following article is one of many he has written. This editor appreciates Al's permission to use his articles in the Old Truck Town News.

Although some records show that the DeMartini Truck Company was started in 1916, it is believed that production did not begin until 1919 at 457 Pacific Street in San Francisco. When most U.S. cities began municipal garbage collection services, George J. DeMartini saw the potential in building specialized trucks to accomplish this task far better than horse-drawn wagons.

DeMartini primarily built trucks for local government services, such as refuse disposal. Other San Francisco truck manufacturers MacDonald and Doane specialized in low-bed trucks for the drayage business at the waterfront piers.

George J. DeMartini was the son of John DeMartini, who was known as the Orange King of California with orchards in Lindsay, Tulare County, California. George DeMartini died on January 22, 1992 at age 98, having been a board member of Transamerica Corporation for 25 years. DeMartini built his own airplane in the first decade of the century and worked for the Army-Navy Aircraft Industrial Service. He built the first dump trucks in San Francisco and had many inventions, but stated he did not feel a need to patent them.

The DeMartini trucks were conventional assembled trucks usually having dump beds for trash hauling, although a few were built as flatbeds and fire trucks. A small number still exist, which have been converted over to other body types. Some still have the steps used to empty refuse cans. Most of the early models had open cabs, although a few C-cabs were built.

The 1925 1 1/2 ton model had a 150-inch wheelbase with 34X4 front and 34X6 rear tires on Smith wheels. It had a 22.5 h.p. Buda WTU engine with Zenith carburetor and Bosch ignition, ant it used a Brown-Lipe clutch and transmission.

The same year, the model OV 2-ton had a wheelbase of 147 inch and used a 28.9 h.p. Buda HTU 4-cylinder engine with Zenith carburetor and Bosch ignition. A Brown-Lipe clutch and Brown-Lipe 4-speed selective sliding gear transmission was standard on this model. Power was transferred to the rear wheels by means of drive shaft to a Sheldon semi-floating worm drive axle. The truck used left side steering with Ross steering gear. The front axle was a standard I-beam design. Semi-elliptic leaf springs were used on both front and rear. The wooden spoke wheels had a 34X4 front and 36X7 rear solid rubber tires. Price of a new OV model in 1925 was $3,200.

Another 2-ton model of that time offered a 168-inch wheelbase with 36X4 front and 36X7 rear tires. The 3-ton model had a 180-inch wheelbase with a 28.9 h.p. Buda ETU engine and used 36X5 front and 36X10 rear tires. The 4-ton model, the largest for DeMartini at that time, had a 190 inch wheelbase with a 32.4 h.p Buda YBU engine and used 36X6 front and 36X12 rear tires. On each of these last three models the clutch and transmission were Brown-Lipe, the carburetor Zenith, and the ignition Bosch, with Ross steering and Smith wheels.

Pneumatic tires were introduced in the late 1920's. By 1933 the Model GW17 used an 85 h.p. engine and had a 5-speed transmission. However, after 1931 very few DeMartini trucks were built, although the company continued to manufacture dump beds until 1934.

A visit with Mr. DeMartini
At the DeMartini Truck Company, Inc
457 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA
December 1966

By Horace Fabing

(Editors note: It is interesting to go through the archives and find notes from members such as Horace Fabing. The following is from Fabing's article and other correspondence we have received from him. Fabing also had written some interesting notes about Lange Transportation. Hopefully he will allow us to use that for a future article. )

I had seen a number of DeMartini garbage trucks in San Francisco back in the 1950's and found out that they were locally manufactured. While visiting in the City one day I happened to walk up Pacific Avenue and found the DeMartini name on a door. It appeared to be an out of business garage as the main door was closed and locked. For some reason I knocked on the small adjoining door. After some time the door was opened by an elderly man in a brown business suit with a vest, tie and hat. This turned out to be Mister DeMartini.

He asked what I wanted and I told him I had often seen DeMartini truck in the City and by chance had walked by his plant and had always been interested in trucks. He invited me in for what turned out to be a pleasant visit of about two hours. I recently found some notes that I later wrote about that visit.

Mister DeMartini started his automotive career with the Chalmers Auto agency in San Francisco while a teenager. He camped out all day on the doorstep to see the owner. He was finally hired at $2.50 a week, not because he was needed but because he convinced the owner that he wanted to learn the automotive trade.

He didn't take a vacation for over two years because he was afraid of two others that were bucking for the same job he wanted. After some time he was made shop Foreman over others and the owner announced that anyone that was not satisfied could leave.

During World War 1, Hall Scott was having trouble with some of the aircraft engines they were manufacturing and he was employed as a troubleshooter. He was with Hall Scott a couple of years and then left to start his own repair garage.

His father and he rented a building in San Francisco for $38 per month and opened a garage. He later decided that he could build a truck as good if not better than what was then available. In about 1916 he organized the DeMartini Truck Company.

The Company manufactured trucks until 1955. When the plant was shut down there were only three employees, all over sixty years old. He still maintains his office and comes down every afternoon. At the time of my visit he still had a small supply of replacement parts available.

Mister DeMartini was very interesting to talk to and unfortunately I didn't get back to see him again. I would guess that it was about 1965 - 1970. His office was about the same as I suppose it was in the 1920's with roll top desk. He was wearing a suit with a vest, coat and tie. Along the east wall were car magazines, I estimated about 1,500. I asked if he would like to sell them and he said no. He said car collectors came by now and then and he would give them one or two about their car. He said that he had taken the magazines home and his wife had the garage cleaned and he found the magazines out on the curb. He put the magazines back in the garage and hauled them back to the shop. It would be interesting to know what finally became of them.

The shop was well lighted, as there were skylights. It looked as though the crew had just finished for the day and left. There was a blacksmith area and most of the equipment was driven by an overhead line shaft. Various supplies - wheels, springs, etc. were about. The garbage company still had some trucks and he intended to keep them supplied with parts. I think he said that later trucks with enclosed cabs had body parts from International.