Classic Refuse Trucks STANDARD CARRIAGE WORKS

Standard Carriage Works
Vernon, California
By Eric Voytko

This is the only known image of a SCW front loader, with it's distinctive X-brace pattern on the hopper side walls. Scott Blake believes this was owned by Best Barrel Disposal, and tentatively identifies the persons as owner Les Somerville (loading) with his wife at the wheel. Photo courtesy of Walter Lewellen

    Of all the small companies that produced refuse bodies in the Los Angeles area, Standard Carriage Works has proved elusive to document until recently. Scott Blake believes that the truck pictured here is the same one he saw in the 1970s, and that the man pictured is Les Somerville of Best Barrel Disposal. "The truck pictured still had its original white paint when I first examined it, and I don't remember any nomenclature plates on the body. It was Somerville that first mentioned that the body was "Standard Carriage Works". I never knew what the hooks or whatever on the canopy were for, but the thing still had them as it sat waiting to be scrapped."

    According to the website Coachbuilt.com, Standard Carriage Works (1895-1985) was a longtime Los Angeles body builder, having built tram cars and some Hollywood projects which received much press coverage. In 1955, the company moved to the suburb of Vernon, and in 1959 was sold to Standard Truck and Trailer (although the name Standard Carriage Works was retained). It is unknown what years the company produced refuse bodies, and if any were made prior to 1959.

    Ironically, Best Barrel also had a full-pack that appears to have been made by Standard Auto Body Company (1928-1979), a Hercules-Galion distributor which was also located in Vernon, California. SABC also produced their own line of truck bodies. Blake recalls the other Best Barrel truck having a "Perfection/Galion" ID plate under many coats of paint, and notes "It was not a Western body, cause it had the tapered side carlins a-la Hydro [E-Z Pack]. Possibly another add-the-arms-to jobs." The SABC was purchased outright by Hercules-Galion in 1967, and ultimately became a division of the Peabody Solid Wastes Management Group. This leaves us with two companies located in Vernon, both named "Standard" and both making refuse bodies in the 1960s!

    Blake recalled at least one other truck he saw in the Valley, "..a Standard F/L on a 63-ish 1500 single axle, and that body had the plate and the design was still half pack by means of centered cylinder, but without the "X". Another cross between S.Vincen and Western."

    A seperate entry for Standard Auto Body is pending further information or photographs, which may exist somewhere in records made by E-Z Pack.

REFERENCES

Coachbuilt.com: Standard Carriage Works by Mark Theobald

11/24/18