Jim sent me this great photo the other day of 1964 Ford N-700 4×4 once operated by Oneida County Rural Telephone Company. In his own words.
This is a picture of my uncle Peter McCarthy-Vice President of Oneida County Rural Telephone Company (and later Northland Communications) in Holland Patent, NY (on the left) and Ed Blask-Salesman with Dahl Motors of Utica, NY. The truck was a 1964 Ford N-700 4×4 custom built auger truck used to set telephone poles. Peter was a great guy who recently passed away in September 2015. Ed Blask owned Ed Blask Ford in Yorkville for many years.
This is a great photo for so many reasons. Thank you for sharing Jim! For those interested click here or here to see Northland trucks in their current incarnation.
I believe that it is Fabco four wheel drive conversion. It looks like other utilities trucks of the time, New York Telephone & Niagara Mohawk. O for a simpler time when trucks had a distinct style and tough look.
It was a pretty rugged truck. If my memory serves me right it had a 5 speed with a 2 speed rear end. Years later they had it reconfigured with a much larger boom and auger system and hydraulic rear outriggers which could handle much larger poles.
My nephew just emailed me this link. My father is going to love this!
The McCarthy family were great customers and friends of my dad’s for years.
Pete was a great guy. Thank you for posting this.