Well-Traveled Truck

A White Truck Well Traveled

Barry W. Hollritt, 2005

Of all the Cleveland-based auto manufacturers, the longest-lived company was White Motor, which got its start with steam-powered cars, but became one of the main truck manufacturers in America. But the company did not start by producing automobiles, but instead got its start by making sewing machines. The company had been started by Thomas White in Massachusetts, though he moved to Cleveland in 1876, where new markets were opening up for his sewing machines, and the central location of the city made it easy to distribute his products all over the country. By the 1890s, the company was well-entrenched as a major sewing machine company with nationwide sales, but White soon introduced a new product, the bicycle. Right after the bicycling craze of the 1890s, the automobile began making an appearance. This new mode of transportation fascinated Thomas White's sons, who were helping their father run the company. Brothers Windsor and Rollin White convinced their father that automobiles were something that would gain in popularity, and he allowed them to start developing an automobile at the White plant.
During World War 2 the company employed over 4000 people! The history of the company goes well into the 1990’s when it was no longer in existence. I found this wonderful relic of a White Super Truck in the Sonoma wine country on a brilliant May afternoon as I was attempting vineyard images! After some research, I ascertain that this old White truck is vintage 1940’s and may have at one time been used for logging or possibly vineyard work in Oregon or California. Either way, I thought a few minutes with the vehicle would produce a variation on my work that is enjoyable.

Barry W. Hollritt

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