1926 FWD TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF TRUCKING

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum annually celebrates a truck in the collection that is turning 100 years old during the Walcott Truckers Jamboree. This year, the Museum is celebrating the 1926 FWD on Friday, July 10th at 2:30 PM. The event will occur in the main lobby of the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and will feature cake and a special talk from museum curator, Dave Meier, about the truck’s history.

According to Meier, this truck is in incredibly good condition for its age. It still has the original tires, and the truck and auger still work. Like many of this model, this truck was purchased to drill holes for electrical poles. The auger has interchangeable bits, and only uses power on the way up; it relies on gravity and its own weight to push the drill bit into the ground. With this rig, you could dig 25 to 30 holes a day. By comparison, eight to ten men could dig about eight holes a day.

The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company (FWD) was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich after the development of the first four-wheel drive car, nicknamed “The Battleship.” The company supplied trucks to both the US and British armies during World War I. FDW was a popular brand for many decades because they had a simple design that was easy to operate or repair.

The 1926 FWD is currently on display at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Admission to the Museum is free, but donations are appreciated. More details about visiting the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum and other trucks on display can be found at www.iowa80truckingmuseum.com.