Classic Refuse trucks S. VINCEN BOWLES

BOWLES FRONT LOADERS OF THE 1960s and 1970s

The more predictable paved surfaces of transfer stations made the short-wheel base cabover more popular with tilt-to-dump front loaders. The White Compact, introduced in 1961 was to become a popular choice amongst California haulers. Shown here is an early model with a Bowles pull-back packer body.

The International Harvester CO series was also to become a SoCal favorite, until it was discontinued in the early 1970s.
This early 60s model (with quad headlamps) wears the Bowles push-type packer body.

Here's an International CO Loadstar (later renamed Cargostar), which was introduced in 1963, and would eventually replace the CO series.
The Bowles pull-back body has a high-lift telescopic hoist and side forks.

Pull-back body on a sixties GMC. General Motors Corporation introduced their steel tilt-cab in 1960, for both the Chevrolet and GMC truck divisions.

    For the bigger bodies, like this 22-foot push-packer, the heavy-duty International DCO (Diesel Cab Over) was often specified. Diesel engines of this period were notoriously 'sooty', and here we see a special high-rise exhaust stack to carry the noxious exhaust away from the crew, as well as nearby pedestrians and cars. This truck is equipped with a liquid-cooled auxiliary engine to run the hydraulic system.

    This heavy-duty Diamond T's resemblance to the International CO is no accident: International Harvester supplied their cab to Diamond T, as well as another Chicago truck manufacturer named Hendrickson.

    The Bowles push packer shown here was built for American Container Service, of Dallas, Texas. It is equipped with side forks, a washout tank, and automatic hopper doors. According to Duane Bowles, American would operate their trucks literally 24 hours per day, seven days per week. When a driver would end his shift, maintenance crews would service the truck and then immediately send it back out again. Under these conditions, the trucks would typically last about two or three years before they were worn out. American has since been absorbed by Waste Management.

International CO with push-packer, side forks and a one-piece hopper door

A Bowles full-pack built for the U.S. Navy, looking very much like the models sold under the Converto-Bowles badge

Another full-pack, mated to a later 1960s International Cargostar

A large capacity full-pack. Photo was notated "Chester Otting".

Following Bausenbach's successful counter-suit against Dempster, Bowles over-the-cab (OTC) lift arms were once again available

Big push packer with OTC arms on the Peterbilt 310 cabover series, a popular west coast combo

This 1967 Bowles top-pack front loader is still in limited service for Southern California Disposal (SCD) of Santa Monica. This may possibly be a one-of-a-kind custom model, but given the wide variety of equipment that emerged from Sun Valley, it isn't surprising to see.

CRT contributor Bill Tetreault documented this truck in pictures and video, and a separate page for it may be found in the SCD Classics Album at Classic Refuse Trucks

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