Classic Refuse Trucks WESTERN

Western Body & Hoist Company
Los Angeles, California

Pictured above is the earliest known refuse truck built by Western Body and Hoist of Maywood, California. The non-compacting, open-top front loader was delivered to a private contractor serving the city of Lakewood in 1956. This style of refuse body was popular in residential collection in southern California in the 1950's, an adaptation of a power loading bucket to the old high-sided, hand loaded bodies. Prior to these designs, one or two men would typically have to ride in the body and empty barrels that were tossed up from the ground crew. These self-loading trucks eliminated this dangerous and back-breaking method of refuse collection. These locally produced bodies were simpler, and thus a less expensive alternative to rear load packers which were gaining popularity at the time. This early truck features straight arms, which restricted the trucks steering range when lowered. Underbody lift arm cylinders did the raising and lowering, and the attached refuse bucket appears to by dumped by means of rotary hydraulic motor, though that can not be confirmed at this time.

These next two photos (above) show another Lakewood contractor truck belonging to B-Z Disposal Service. This was quite possibly built by Western, as it shares the straight lift arms and fixed, rotary bucket as seen on the 1956 truck. The body work, however, differs in that it has extensions on the the front sides, probably to reduce wind-blowing, which was a common problem with open top trucks.

Here's a precursor to the Rapid Rail and ASL systems of the 1970's. Yet another Lakewood contractor, J & S Disposal Service took delivery of this side loader in 1956. Like the B-Z truck above, it is believed to have been built by Western, as it is has similar body work. However, this can be misleading as companies such as Bowles, Gaskin, or any of the small body shops in the area frequently used similar, if not identical sheet metal for their bodies.

Fresh off the shop floor, circa 1957, this front loader is ready to go in service. Note the "Daybrook" sign in the background. Daybrook was at this time a major supplier of truck hoists and hydraulic equipment, and would themselves begin manufacture of refuse bodies that year. Western undoubtedly used these hoists as the platform for their tilt-to-dump bodies. Though the body work and straight lift arms are similar to the previous examples, note the addition of bottom-slot forks mounted to a Harbers-type rock shaft. The detachable container era was dawning, and Western was gearing up to become a major player in the industry.

4/6/08