Featured Folks Of Interest Pop's Tow Truck

My Grandfather Fred M. Ballew ran an auto repair shop from 1916 to 1965 at 428 E. Pine Street, Stockton CA. He made a tow truck out of a 1927 Dodge 8 three window coupe. Wooden wheels, no less. Here he is dollying a wasted Model A. My Dad said it was hit by a train. It sure looks like it.


Here he is (Left) working on a tall T. White shirt and Tie under the overalls. Cl***.
I call this picture Zerolene.

Here is the shop. He built the garage.

Me by the clock at three years old.

He was in the "Home Guard" in WWI. Check out the muzzle loader rifle and 24" bayonet.

1940, with my Dad. When Dad was a kid, he straightened wooden wheels for Pop.
I am 75 years old now and wanted to share these memories.
409 Bob

 

So cool Bob!
Thanks for sharing.

 

Thank you for sharing. Very cool

 

People back then could do anything for themselves. What a great story, fifty one years in business for himself providing a valuable service for his community. No doubt he was well known.

 

Great pictures and memories! It's also fun to study what's going on in the background at that particular moment; I noticed new construction (a house or addition) going on with that picture of you at three years old.

 

Very cool, a time when you used your skills to get the job done. What happened to us since then?

 

Thanks for sharing some of your Family memories! These times supported by photos are extremely Special, Carp.

 

Thank you sir for sharing!

 

Very cool pictures, thanks for posting them.

 

Looking carefully at the clock picture, that might be a Crosley vehicle parked in front of the addition being built.

 

Enjoyed, thank you very much Bob

 

I just found an even earlier sign. 1933. That's my grandmother (what a Babe!) and my Uncle.

 

Very cool stuff!

While that rifle still used black powder it's a breech-loading 1873 Trapdoor Springfield. Completely obsolete by WWI, but you do what you have too...

 

Cool
Thanks
Dan

 

My great uncle got the first Standard Oil of Indiana franchise in 1918 as an 18 year old and my great grandmother was his partner. He closed it in 1974, I’m still pissed I never got to work there. Only hang around as a little kid as it was down the street from our house a few blocks. I’d kill for a picture of it!

 

You like old bikes? Here is my Uncle under the Lodi Arch, on his 1913 Harley.

Here is an earlier shot of my Dad in his baseball outfit. I can't make out what kind of wagon that is. Is that "Piggly Wiggly Coaster"? Made of wood? Another Dodge?

 

More Great memories, Thanks!

 

The pictures are indeed very cool, my favorite is the one with the cl***ic clock!
You just never see that type of well thought out electrified signage anymore that was specific to an individual’s business and trade!
Your grandfather obviously was a very unique person!

 

Still another sign, My Uncle & Dad. Hey, it pays to advertise.


Here are the two hoodlums boosting a car! My Dad makes that outfit look good.

While we are at it, Here they are a few years before! Are these car guys, or what?

 

That photo of you standing under the clock is so cool, is the clock sign still around? HRP

 

Thank you for all the wonderful replies. Sorry, but I don't have anything of Pop's except his giant 1927 Weaver Motor Service press and some old tools. (And hundreds of pictures). He p***ed on in 1985 (at 90) and my Uncle and Dad sold the place. I think the old clock/sign had been gone for a long time by then.


The bronze name plate. (Somebody on here was posting about 'Motor or Engine', well they say motor service. I guess that maybe if you are driving, you are a motorist).

The whole thing. That big bruiser managed to BREAK this press! See the giant braze job all the way around?


How's this for an old drill?

 

Thanks for posting all those Great pictures. I enjoyed them, when my parents p***ed on my sister took every old picture there was without letting me have any of them. She was always good at sharing No! We had a lot of pictures of cars, road signs and scenic places and general Americana.

 

Great family history there! Thank you for sharing it with us.

 

LOVE IT!!!!!! I grew up around my older uncles shop/machineshop/parts house...didnt get paid hardly anything but still today making an extra buck from those years of knowledge he left us...for my playtoys.....