Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

What is a dispatch box and exactly where was it mounted and what was its purpose.

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

I believe its purpose is to hold maps or owners manual. It's a sheetmetal "pocket" fastened to the passengers side kick panel.

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

dispatch box on 29ccpu is on both sides shoulder heigth fastened to side panel of cab,not sure of late 30

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Here you go,

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

thanks for the pictures

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

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Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

These look pretty familiar to me!

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Anyone have the dimensions of the dispatch box that they would care to share?

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

There is a good reproduction of these, EBAY, or swap meets. Sorry I can't locate mine.

Charlie Stephens

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Brattton's has them. https://www.brattons.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=34320

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Attached are a couple of pictures. This box is old, at least from 1960 since it has been in my family since then, possibly is an original box.


Front picture - Box is 7.5 inches x 8.5 inches including the mounting tabs, and is 1.75 inches high.


Back picture - spacing between the individual metal box support rivets is 5.75 inches.


Material the box is mounted to may be original, am currently research what this material is, waiting for an ordered the JS book to arrive.

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

For whatever reason (different panel material?), Ford didn't put door pockets in trucks like in passenger cars - hence the dispatch box. I think the intent was it would be used for invoices, etc for orders delivered via the truck to customers - I suspect it ended up being used for whatever the driver wanted to put in it.

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Notice that the dispatch box is mounted at a angle and not vertical!

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Yup - if it was vertical, it would be harder to put stuff in and take it out with the gas tank, GAV, etc in the way.

Re: Late 1930 pickup restoration project
 

Thanks for the info, looks like it wouldn't be hard to fabricate one.