Christine, Our 1941 Mack Model FP, Logging Truck At 80 Years Old

In March, 2021, our family celebrated "Christine", My Grandpa Homer's 1941 Mack FP being in our family for 80 years. To commemorate this special milestone, our daughter, Lily Hull created and composed this amazing digital short detailing the truck's 80 history hauling logs for our family. Christine is a continued part of Dad's collection and of our Family's long timber heritage.
My Granddad, Homer Hull, along with help from his brother-in-law Emmitt Nye purchased this truck brand new in March of 1941 from Mack dealership in Portland, Oregon. Granddad had the truck outfitted with brand new Pointer-Willamette bunk equipment and trailer. He was going to by a gypo-log truck hauler, hauling logs to the Hull Oakes Lumber Co. Sawmill in Dawson, Oregon. This, however, did not last long for him. He had the truck for about ten months when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He was gone for forty-four months, serving in the South Pacific theater of World War II. While he was gone his brother-in-law, Emmitt Nye, worked the truck and made the payments for him.
I discovered that four of these trucks all consecutive serial number were delivered to Portland, Oregon. The first one, Serial # FP1C-1049 was grandpa's truck and it went to him.
Christine came to Dawson, Oregon and never left and hauled logs for only our family. To the best of David Hull's knowledge he thought that when Grandpa came back from the South Pacific, starting in about 1946-47'ish. The old Mack started getting changed a lot. The truck’s original gas Mack flat head “6” was replaced with a Ford flat head V-8 and the chain drive rear-end was taken out and replaced with a Tempkin shaft driven rear-end and a three speed brownie auxiliary Also along the way the trucks radiator, shell, hood and front bumper were also replaced. Lots of wear and tear over the years.
David thought it was in the mid 1960's the truck was finally retired for good, taken out of service and parked on blocks along the creek bottom road behind the shop to "melt into the ground". Christine sat there until the winter of 1981 when Dad purchased it from Hull Oakes Lumber Co. and pulled it home to their house where it sat along their driveway at the big house.
From 1981 until the fall of 1987 Christine sat along Mom's and Dad's driveway. Originally, Dad wanted to get it restored and take to the Oregon Logging Conference in 1988 for the 50th anniversary of the conference. It did not happen, but it prompted Dad in the fall of 1987 to get it going. At the old shop down at the sawmill in Dawson, Oregon, Dad along with Jerry Collins began restoring it. Lots of body and fender work....Lots of braising, bondo and sanding. In his free time he and Jerry Collins began tearing it down and trying to getting it restored. Dad always knew he wanted to put it back on the road but life has a way of getting in the way and time goes on. David Hull states "that It was always a wish of mine to restore this truck. Starting in 1988 I began to restore Christine. I used parts from three different donor trucks to complete the restoration and I repowered it with a Ford inline 300 six cylinder gas engine. I also put a four speed spicier main transmission in it and kept the three speed brownie auxiliary." Dad found an old bus in Eugene, Orgon that had a complete front end that he purchased and used as one of the donor rigs. So by the summer of 1988 the old truck was well on its way to being put back on the road.
My Dad (David Hull) and his crew completed restoring it in August, 2000 and debuted it at our local ATHS Chapter show in Brooks, Oregon. The featured truck at the show was Mack. I have lost track over the past twenty one years of how many different National ATHS Shows, Local shows, Oregon Logging Conference Shows and local parades this truck has been to.
Unfortunately, Grandpa Homer died in 1985 and never got to see any of his logging trucks restored and put back on the road.
This video compilation was organized and put on-line by Lily Hull. Lily's high school guidance counselor at Philomath High School saw this video and was impressed with her ability to use technology to put this story together, organize the material, tell a story and be educational. Lily, who is nearing the end of her now Junior year and getting ready to start her senior year, is the president of the High Schhol's Forestry Club and getting ready to go to Oregon State University and study Forestry. With all of this in mind, the High School invited Lily to use this 8 minute compilation as the center piece of her Senior Project. Congratulations, Ms. Lily Hull. We are all so proud of you.
As always please, "SMASH" that "like button" and keep checking back for more updates. Be safe and stay healthy. "Keep on Trucking" our good friends and followers.
Over & Out. 73's,
Cody