Master truck company

[brucegodlesky]

Anyone familiar with these? I was in N Ohio last week and saw one belonging to a relative of my wife. The owner said the only background he could find was it came from Chicago and was 1917-1919. Purred like a cat.

[Bud Tierney]

Per Mroz's book (Illus Ency of American Trucks and Commercial Veh, Albert Mroz) Master ran from 1917 to 29; located in Chicago, they built from 11/4 to 6Ton models. The typical assembled truck, the book says a few of the later trucks had Jackson engines, which is a new one on me. Sorry, no dig cam/scanner to send copy.
A 1930 McCord catalog shows five models, with a couple additional variations, a bus and a small tractor, powered by Wendels "...(rats! lost his quote-something about ever-present or always reliable or similar) LeRoi 2C.
There was another later Master, 1972-85, a specialty unit for refuse collecttion bodies.
I can't praise Mroz's book enough: 430 pgs, lots of old illus, and still available (occasionally) on EBay for around $10; a nice gift, and fascinating to own for any old truck enthusiast/obsessive.

[Bud Tierney]

Bruce: Forgot to add that if that's by any chance a 1919 or 1920 model, I may be able to tell him what some of the mechanical components were when it came from the factory (except for the engine, just mfr, not type #, unfortunately). For other years have some old parts catalogs that list them with original engine ID; if you can get a model # (looks like some have letters and some have numbers) will see if I have a listing.

[brucegodlesky]

Thanks Bud, I'll forward this to Frank. I'm sure he will want to talk with you. bruce

[brucegodlesky]

Bud, there is no serial number in the prerscribed place. Only ID on it is the Master on the rad casting and a plate on either side of the hood.

[Bud Tierney]

Bruce: Have no idea where to look for any stamped numbers/letters; old parts catalog listings are a bit confusing (they often are) but it appears Master used letters up until 22-23, when they switched to numbers.
Letter models included A,AE,AEL,AT,B,D,DD,DL,DWL,E,EL,F,FL, JD,JI,JW,M, W and WL, and maybe others;
Number models were 11,21,30 (Bus), 41,45,51,55,61 and 64.
The letter models jumped around as to tonnage but the numbers followed tonnage ( 11 being 11/4T to 64 which was 6T).
Pass these along in case they eventually find some stampings. Everything I saw used various Buda engines, and if there's a stamping or casting on the engine may ID the truck by the engine (models like ATU,ETU, EBUI etc).
With sympathy, Bud

[brucegodlesky]

Frank showed me a spot on top of the left frame rail , to the rear of the radiator, where the seriasl # was to be. His has none. Thanks.