I remember having one of those green milk truck banks! I don't remember if it was marked for Menzie Dairy.
@jimmy six “The Henry Ford Plant was an assembly plant more than a factory opening in 1930. Millions of parts were delivered by rail. Power to the plant was supplied by so cal edison that had a steam generation station on the east end of terminal island across the bridge. I believe it opened in 1909. The generator building for 1-6 units was torn down by 1967 when I worked there; the roof was copper. Units 10 and 11 ran during late December every year for testing. They were installed in the late 30’s.” “Generator #7 was removed during ww ii and sent to russia but sunk in the black sea trying to get there. It was replaced by a hydrogen cooled generator, SCE’s first one.” “My parents first new car, a mountain green 55 Ford Sunliner, and the current 56 Ford Victoria I own were both assembled at that Ford Plant.” “I believe 1958 was the last year it was used for Ford cars closing in March of 1959. A lot of oil had been removed under Long Beach, Terminal Island, and Signal Hill causing unstable ground amongst other factors. I believe Ford built an assembly plant in Pico Rivera in 1957.” “In the 70-80’s you could see large sail boat masts inside thru the windows as you drove by.” Hello J6, Yes, that Ford Factory was a school field trip destination from the local Long Beach School District. A bunch of elementary school age kids (us) were allowed to walk in between the long work stations, parts and bench/table tops to get close to the moving assembly line of cars and station wagons. We were closely watched by the tour person and a series of men following along to make sure we did not cross the line up of assembly line folks doing their jobs. It was like a tour guide and her cohorts guiding us along between the factory workers. Even though the girls had absolutely no interest in skeleton frame moving parts on wheels, on a track, (unless one of their dads was an assembly line workers, we were only a few miles away from our school and walking distance homes...) The boys did enjoy the mechanics of the whole assembly line showings. But, as inquisitive as we were, they would not allow us to touch and feel parts or the moving cars. As a different droning voice was explaining the ins and outs of the assembly line to mostly teachers and our bus drivers, we were turning around looking at the whole complex for other interesting things. (How the parts were hung above us and met the assembly line below, how everyone knew what to do as the empty frame or part came down the line.) Jnaki The best part of the tour was when I wandered over to a trash can and picked up a piece of funny looking wood. It missed the container and was on the floor. So, I picked it up and wandered back. While I was standing around with my discovery, the worker at that station asked me if I knew what that was. Well, I could see the whole side of a station wagon on the assembly line with this stuff plastered on the sides. So, I assumed it was a new kind of wood. The worker smiled and said yes, it is a different kind of wood. And, he showed me more of the stuff. Now, this conversation was gathering steam when I showed my friends the discovery piece of flexible wood. So, more kids wandered over and the assembly line worker had to give small scraps from his supply to each student as a memento of the factory tour. Note: I was given a warning from the tour guide and one of the teachers to "stay with the group" and not wander off. But, the place was so interesting... How could one little inquisitive kid not wander off and discover a new kind of wood? All within 5 miles from our school and family homes... YRMV The Long Beach Ford Plant in the 1950's, looking SSW in direction. Henry Ford Avenue and the Henry Ford Bridge are on the right and center, next to the tall Schuyler Heim Bridge. The Terminal Island proper is on the other side of the large Heim Bridge. The actual Ford Plant is/was located on the Long Beach side of the bridge and channel. (RED ARROW) The Terminal Island Freeway, as it was named, due to it leading and ending up on Terminal Island. Coming from the island, it ended up right behind our old Craftsman House in the far Western portion of Long Beach. For us young teenage hot rod kids, since we knew the end result of the Terminal Island Freeway near our house, with the exact exits where they were, it was a nice high performance drive late at night... Terminal Island Freeway acceleration
The Jalopy Journal
