Classic Refuse Trucks RITE WAY

Rite Way Manufacturing
Downey, California

    Rite Way was a short-lived company that built a rail-type front loader with a unique carriage lock mechanism in which a lip at the receiving side of the container was engaged for lifting, and a horizontal locking bar mechanism retained the can during inversion. The creation of Eugene A. Puckett of Lakewood, the patent was applied for in 1968, and assigned to Rite Way. It appears that Rite Way was purchased by local refuse hauler Cal San Inc. (along with the rights to the invention), since the latter occupied Rite Way's physical location at 9821 Norwalk Road in Downey. The only known user, it became known as the "Cal San Carriage", and had the added benefit of being incompatible with fork-type systems, and the containers were less likely to be stolen.

    The quantity of trucks made by Rite Way is unknown, as is whether the company produced the complete packer unit (a full-pack type), or just the carriage. Cal San owner Morrie Adnoff contracted with C&O Manufacturing in the 1970s to build three identical units, which would seem to indicate that Rite Way was acquired solely for the patent rights to the system. Cal San (now known as Cal Met) has adapted their carriage to be mounted on more conventional front loaders with lift arms instead of rails.

    Shown below are the only known photos of a Rite Way front loader, from the personal collection of Morrie Adnoff, courtesy of Refuse Truck Media and Consulting.

SELECTED PATENTS

Patent #	Description	Inventor	Assignee	Date
US3520428A	Detachable container handling and material hauling apparatus	Puckett	Rite-Way Mfg.	June 13, 1968

REFERENCES

Refuse Truck Media and Consulting: C & O Rail Arm FL by Zachary Geroux

(Includes details and photos of the system in action)

11/23/18