Way back in 2010 I posted about a couple pair of trucks of mystery that had recently been purchased. Unknown maker, and still unknown (to me) now.

Fast forward, this rudimentary reefer arrived not long ago with one of the same type of trucks.

To the car first, the body is a solid block of wood, and the lettering was done with a rubber stamp! It’s pretty rough, I’m thinking scratchbuilt.

The truck is sand cast bronze. Only one of the side frames and both bolsters are present. As I’ve found this truck before, I’m inclined to say it is commercial but by a very early, low production maker. Also note the thick end casting with the polling pockets.

The casting is soft metal and appears as well to be commercial, probably die cast. It is clunky looking but would have been fine in the early days.

The couplers are Nason and in that final photo you can see the end grain of the block of wood the car was made from.

I doubt I’ll rebuild this model, but you might look out for this early, bronze leaf spring truck by a mystery maker. It is nicely cast, and the complete pair I have I put on a vintage, scratchbuilt caboose.