ca. 1968 REO COE/SLEEPER, DARLING FREIGHT Grand Rapids, MI 8x10 B&W Glossy Photo

Description

This photo is an excellent high quality new 8” x 10” glossy black & white photo reproduction of a late 1960’s REO Tandem-Axle Diesel powered tilt-cab tractor with sleeper compartment, pulling a COPCO long wide-spread tandem-axle tarped flatbed, operated by DARLING FREIGHT, INC. of Grand Rapids, MI.
”SAMPLE” will not appear on your photo, it is only on the scanned image.
DESCRIPTION:  This REO tandem-axle diesel tractor was very similar to the DIAMOND T Model 931CN, most likely just before the REO and DIAMOND T models were combined in May 1967 under the name of DIAMOND REO. Power could have been either Cummins or Detroit Diesel. REO and DIAMOND T sheet metal were identical at this time, same cab, same grille, same headlights.
HISTORY OF REO:  Having left Oldsmobile with a difference of philosophy, Ransome Eli Olds, started building a new company within a year of leaving and produced his first car by 1904. In 1910, a sister company, the REO Motor Truck Co. was established, and produced trucks into 1967. The REO “Speedwagon” was a popular truck in the 1920s and into the 1930s. Ransome Olds resigned in 1937 and died in 1950. In 1950, REO introduced their E Series of trucks. From information I have, REO started building an integral sleeper cab in 1954. REO was bought by Bohn Aluminum & Brass Co. in 1954, and then by White Motors in 1957. By 1958 White consolidated its Diamond T and Reo lines in the Reo factory in Lansing, MI, producing many similar models. In 1967 the two makes were further consolidated into Diamond Reo.
DARLING FREIGHT INC.: Dallas L. Darling got his driving & mechanical experience in the U.S.Army in WWI, and shortly purchased his first new truck in 1919. Initial service was from Fremont to/from Muskegon. By 1935 he had an 8 state operating authority. Darling Freight, Inc. became known as the “Key Line”, growing to 32 terminals throughout its system, plus two steel divisions on Michigan and Illinois. By 1954 Darling’s Grand Rapids terminal was the largest in Michigan. At its peak, Darling operated 262 tractors & 484 trailers. Dallas Darling continued to operate his freight services for 50 years, before selling the business to his son Dan Darling in 1969, with not one year in the red. In 1967 Darling Freight was the 159th trucking company in America, with revenues of ,911,000. Dan Darling would operate the company for 8 more years, with 1974 revenues over million. In 1977  Darling Freight was sold to Roadway Express.
CONDITION: This outstanding black & white glossy photo is a newly reproduced photo from a photo in my personal lifetime collection.  This photo has been printed on archival quality HP Premium Plus High Gloss Photo Paper using Original HP 64 Inks, producing a professional quality photo that resists fading over 100 years ... the best money can buy.  This 8x10 photo has a white border around the photo.
For your information, the description and documentation of this photo will be loosely taped to the back side of this photo. I try to ad some “added value” to my photos by researching each one, adding some history and information that you may not know. If I get something incorrect, please let me know … thanks!
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