New deliveries, coach dealer inventory ads

[Steve Loftin]

The intent of this thread was to share "new delivery" features from old funeral and ambulance service periodicals, as well as dealer inventory ads. Photographs and postcards, while always interesting, fall into any number of other categories.

These are from the May, July, and November, 1973 issues of the THE SOUTHERN FUNERAL DIRECTOR. Pat Mace (Central, Tulsa) bought several of the 1971 limousines:

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Growing up around the funeral home, I was able to save quite a bit of professional car material. We received this ad from Miller-Meteor Sales of Minneapolis ca. 1978. The four gentlemen listed were all friends of mine, despite my young age. Shelby Luwe is the only one still living.

 

[Steve Loftin]

Tom Norton ad - SFD 11/69
Crain ad - SFD 3/61 (note the four '59 Cadillac combinations listed!)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Tom Norton ad - 2/72

 

[Steve Loftin]

Shields ad - 7/73 SFD
Norton ad - 1/75 SFD (note the matched Eterna combinations)

 

[Steve Loftin]

I always liked the Norton ads because there were usually lots of pictures. Norton's had a good reputation and did a good business for S&S.

In the 11/68 ad, the '61 Royale Limousine combination is my favorite.

Note the piped oxygen mentioned in the 10/69 ad. This was a fairly common option in S&S cars in this area and in that era. An "H" (large) bottle was stored below the front of the rear floor or behind the front seat. This was safer (in case of accident) than having "E" bottles in brackets on the rear floor. The outlets were usually at the front of the wheelhouses, but could be mounted wherever the customer wanted.

 

[Mike McDonald]

Non-Ambulance Use

I noticed in a number of the ads for combinations.... they highlight that it was NEVER used as an Ambulance that I am sure was quite a selling point for lessening the possibility of one being driven hard and put away wet. MM

 

[Steve Loftin]

Gordon K. Allen flyer - July, 1972

I'll take #7, #12, #20, and so forth! Oh, what fun I used to have visiting the funeral car dealerships (St. Louis, Atlanta, and especially Dallas) back in the '70s and '80s. I still go by when I can, but there just aren't any older cars on these lots anymore.

Calvin Baxter (shown below) eventually bought the company, then later sold it to the Monroe brothers (Charlie, Al, and Bill) who ran it as Superior Southwest. It was later purchased by Bill Meyers (of Modular Ambulance Corp. fame) and is still in business today: http://www.spvinc.com/

 

[Mike McDonald]

Eisenhower Stamp

I like the Eisenhower 8-Cent Stamp in 1972....they probably made money on that then too? MM

 

[Larri Dirks]

Here's a couple of brand new 62 Eureka's

Larri

 

[Steve Loftin]

Here's a sales postcard that was published in about 1959, when Wolfington's was still in Philadelphia. Walt used it in TPC a few years ago, but I wanted to share it for the "younger" members. Check out the Chrysler hightop and the stretched Ford on the back row...neat!. Other cars of interest are the hightop '52 Henney and '53 Miller.

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Speaking of Wolfington's...

Many of you have already seen this Wolfington's postcard from 1971; it, too, was in TPC a few years ago. It was taken in Wolfington's then-new shop in Exton, PA, out of which they still operate. This shot features nine new '71s: Two Suburbans (what appears to be a Yankee and a MAC Zephyr), a Superior/Ford van, a Chevy Modulance, and five Superior/Cadillacs of various headroom heights. It also features at least 17 other Cadillac, Olds, and Pontiac ambulances from the late 1960s. I would love to have seen what was sitting outside on the "older" lot!

(SL collection)

 

[Steve Loftin]

Road Rescue's trade-in lot - February, 1980

Okay, I'm ready to make an offer on that '71 Indian...no, wait...maybe one of those Volunteers, instead!

 

[Brendan Martin]

Many of you have already seen this Wolfington's postcard from 1971; it, too, was in TPC a few years ago. It was taken in Wolfington's then-new shop in Exton, PA, out of which they still operate. This shot features nine new '71s: Two Suburbans (what appears to be a Yankee and a MAC Zephyr), a Superior/Ford van, a Chevy Modulance, and five Superior/Cadillacs of various headroom heights. It also features at least 17 other Cadillac, Olds, and Pontiac ambulances from the late 1960s. I would love to have seen what was sitting outside on the "older" lot!

(SL collection)

Wow, WOW, WOW, what a showroom!!! Too bad about those suits though!!!

 

[Jonathan Murphy]

Many of you have already seen this Wolfington's postcard from 1971; it, too, was in TPC a few years ago. It was taken in Wolfington's then-new shop in Exton, PA, out of which they still operate. This shot features nine new '71s: Two Suburbans (what appears to be a Yankee and a MAC Zephyr), a Superior/Ford van, a Chevy Modulance, and five Superior/Cadillacs of various headroom heights. It also features at least 17 other Cadillac, Olds, and Pontiac ambulances from the late 1960s. I would love to have seen what was sitting outside on the "older" lot!

(SL collection)

Slap "Mayfair" and a Mars 888 light on that Chevy back there, and its off to the set of "Emergency!"

 

[John ED Renstrom]

Wow, WOW, WOW, what a showroom!!! Too bad about those suits though!!!

hay I got one of them. you keep talking like that and I'll bring it to Ohio

 

[Tony Karsnia - Deceased - 1971-2020]

Memories

I remember visiting Miller-Meteor Sales of Minneapolis beginning ca. 1978 when, with the exception of one or two 1977-78 vintage coaches, the stock was all pre-1977. They never had as many ambulances at one time as seen in the Wolfington photo, but the garage and lot inventories were fascinating!

 

[Steve Loftin]

Apparently, Wolfington's sold Siebert as well as Superior products at one time:

1948 Siebert/Mercury ambulance
1948 Superior/Pontiac hearse

(SL collection)

 

[Jim Jordan]

Any of you guys have a delivery shot of a 1956 Superior Beau Monde Combination being delivered to the Rector Funeral Home in Greencastle, IN by chance?

 

[Paul Cichon]

Delivery photos Sept. 26, 1995

Here are a couple of delivery photos taken at the funeral home when I received our 1995 S&S Victoria from Tammy Parks (Parks Superior Sales, Somers, CT.). My 1949 Superior was brought in for the day. I traded in the 1980 Superior Regal. Hope these are of interest!