From the Hugh Nutting Collection: Insight into the Woodies of Huntington’s J.T. Cantrell and Company
Over 40 years ago, Hugh Nutting began researching J.T. Cantrell and Company for a Boulder Colorado newspaper and, subsequently, became the Cantrell adviser to the National Woodie Club.
Hugh has agreed to share some of his insight and favorite photos of this Long Island automobile bodybuilder which was based in Huntington and then Huntington Station.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Dodge-Cantrells
This is the first design for a Dodge Bros. It fits 1916 to 1923 models. I think it is the Cantrell home behind it. I have a copy of the original press photo used to this ad. The Cantrell's had built mostly Model T hacks before getting the Dodge business
Joe Cantrell really got his big break into the Suburban market using Dodge Brother's chassis. Dodge Brothers had a package deal for dealers that was basically a cab-chassis.The LI area dealers sold them and sent them to Cantrell for wooden bodies. He had lots of advertising in the Country Life magazine.
In 1970 I went to a company picnic west of Boulder CO. It was near the Sugarloaf Mine. The kids told me they often played on an old car near the mine shaft. It was the remains of a Dodge Bros commercial car.The property caretaker was also an employee of Dow Chemical. I think I saw some of the old Dodge in the shaft.I started researching the Cantrell company then. Working for the Boulder Camera newspaper, I contacted the Huntington paper. They ran an ad and sent some news clippings. We took the photo on the 1924 ad and blew it up to about 2 feet long to use to make scale drawings.
This was a photo of a 1925 Dodge-Cantrell Hack that I restored.
The Hack shortly after I sold it in New Jersey.
A recent photo of the Dodge-Cantrell Hack.
This is one of the best restored Cantrell Dodges. It still was based on the 1924 cowl and truck windshield.
Note the doors now have wooden window frames. Another Cantrell improvement over the 1925/26 body.
Dodge started the car company mid-year and their model changes and company accounting were from July1 to the end of June. The basic DB cars like this started as 1924 1/2 models.
Oldsmobile-Cantrells
This is a 1929 Cantrell Oldsmobile in Colorado Springs which I wrote up for the Woodie Times.
From 1928 to 1931, most body construction was like this, even the Franklin.
Franklin-Cantrells
1930 Franklin-Cantrell when new.
The restored Franklin-Cantrell
Pierce Arrow Cantrells
1934 Pierce- Arrow Cantrell
1934 Pierce-Arrow Cantrell
Packard-Cantrells
This is one of last Cantrell Packards 1939. Packard started a new contract with Hercules in late 39. This car was found at Hershey in used condition. Joe Cantrell did all the body designs and tail-gate hardware engineering.
In about 1932, Cantrell switched to mahogany framing with maple or birch panels. and easy way to identify later Cantrell bodies. He did do a few 1940 Packards. This is an older photo with its original owner.
A 1939 Packard-Cantrell
Hudson-Cantrell
A 1942 Hudson-Cantrell
Studebaker-Cantrells
By 1948, the lion's share of Cantrell's business was coming from Studebaker and Chevrolet using 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck chassis. Fisher Body division of GM had taken over most of the passenger car woodie production. Mitchell Bentley was still a suppler for Pontiac and Buick bodies. Seen here, a 1947 Stubaker-Cantrell.
1949 Studebaker-Cantrell
1950 Studebaker-Cantrell
Comments
Howard,
It’s about time that Cantrell is given the recognition that it deserves. Thanks for putting Cantrell into the antique auto spotlight.
Roger
A note about Cantrell’s production. One of the reason for their survival rate is that all the wooden parts were dipped in a chemical something like ‘Woodlife’ before assembly. They bought it in 55 gal. drums, and could be smelled in the plant. Many of they woodies were the work of a single craftsman from start to finish.
Hugh Nutting,
I had a friend from back in the day with the name Hugh Nutting. I live in Longmont/Mead Colorado and he lived around Carter Lake. I’ve been trying to locate him and was wondering if you happened to be him or knew of him. if you have any information can you please shoot me an email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
I was thinking about Dad, Shailer L Bass, putting a silicone rubber roof on his St. John home with the help of Fritz Schulz, and wanted to interview Fritz about it, and Hugh Nutting about its destruction in a hurricane. I have a cousin living on the island who knows the present owners of the house.
Greetings all,
I really enjoyed the article on the Cantrell Brothers. I became aware of them when a friend showed me the header board from his 1924 Dodge Canape truck with their logo on it. Does anyone know where I could get a clear image of the logo to reproduce as a decal for his truck? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Jim Hughes
Coventry, Conn
Hugh Nutting brought home a Honda sports car from his military service in Japan and let me drive it before he was courting my sister. I would like to hear from him, now.
I found a reference to Hugh Nutting with regard to Martin Tanner’s Class H sports cars. Looking for Hugh led me here. Hugh and I were neighbors as children, and met again in the late 50s in Midland, MI, before he went to Boulder. Our interests apparently still coincide, and it would be rewarding to renew our acquaintance.
The 1925 Dodge Suburban you restored wouldn’t happen to be dark blue with light blue trim on wheels and light blue dashboard would be
I missed the origin of this thread but, since John M. reactivated it, take a gander at my Chrysler Page 5 <http://sbiii.com/chryslr5.html#powerwgn> and LI Page 3 <http://sbiii.com/longis-3.html#fultcant> re both Cantrell AND Campbell woodies. Whil(e)(st) there, please consider the term “Carryall” vs. “Suburban”, brake, van, etc. Did Dodge, itself, ever use “Suburban” as a tradename back then? Found this neat ‘49 Dodge Suburban woodie on line. Sam, III
Hello I own the blue with light blue 1925 dodge Brothers Suburban. I am
trying to find out any information you have if this the truck you restored I know the truck was in Parsipany NJ from 79 80 from a DPW parking permit in the window.Any thing about this great car would be much appreciated. Thank you John please feel free to call me 862 354 3535 after 6 pm
I STILL would like to know if Dodge, itself, ever used “Suburban” as a tradename back then? Sam, III
I brought the 1929 Oldsmobile-Cantrell to sunny Southern California from Colorado Springs. She loves the sun and the “surfer” lifestyle.
It is rumored that she worked as a depot hack for a hotel in Colorado. I have a “souvenir” painting originally sold at their gift shop. Does anyone know the name of the hotel?
i have a friend that lives there I will contact him. Beautiful car!
Some threads refuse to die and this one is now bugging me. The front roof line of the red Dodge car differs from the “classic” Cantrell line in being die-straight instead of curving downward to the top of the windshield. Was that an easier way to restore it or based on some Cantrell design of which I am unaware? Sam, III
Bob Minty, you probably know the owner of the 1929 Oldsmobile was John Koll of Colorado Springs, who passed away a few years ago. I believe it was his son who took ownership and sold the car via a classic car auction. I don’t know his first name, but I think he lives in the Colo. Springs area. The most famous hotel there is The Broadmoor.
John Lee,
Thank you for The Broadmore Hotel identity. When I acquired the car it came with all of John Koll’s research and photographs. It was quite a project. Rumor has it, “Woodie Times” published an article about the car more than 5 years ago. Hopefully, their archives person can find it for us. Thanks again.
The blue 1925 Dodge Woodie looks to be the one I found in Colorado I 1970 as a basket case, Most of the rebuilding work was done in 1971 in Boulder and Golden CO. I sold it to a friend who sold it someone in NJ. It has rare 21” wood spoke wheels.
This Dodge Bros suburban came from the David Gold Mine on Sugarloaf Mountain west of Boulder Colorado. I was told about it from a fellow staff member at the Boulder Daily News who lived about a mile South of the mine. I had an early CJ5 Jeep and was able to get to the mine. It was sitting on the tailing pile near the mine shaft maybe for over 30 years. The image with out the rainbow shows the mine location [upper right]. Lower Right you can see the chimney of the mine workers boarding house. +
Correction - the mine shaft is about where the secondary rainbow hits the ground
I did an article for the Woodie Times in about 1994 after a visit with John in Colorado Springs. Most likely I have a few photos of it somewhere.
Hugh,
The Woodie Times article would be fantastic! I would like to give John credit for the restoration, Do you have an image of him?
I don’t think I have any images of John. He was at the “First Day Cover” Woodie stamp event in Denver and at a VMCCA tour to Sun Valley ID in the early 1990s.
For years the Broadmoor used Pierce Arrow touring cars. Many were scrapped where the Air Force Academy is now. They had cast aluminum bodies that were broken up for the WW2 scrap drives. After the war most of the Broadmoor fleet was Cadillacs.
At this point I have tracked this car to Wayne NJ. No one has returned my call. If any reader knows if it I could make a positive ID with images of the dash board and one from the rear with the tail gate down. It looks like it spent the last 47 + years in NJ mostly parked outside. Thanks Hugh Nutting now in MT.
Someone asked about the name Suburban. It not exclusive to cars. Trolley companies used it in the 1800s. Jos Cantrell called his Woodie hacks Suburban’s. He never took out a copy write on the term so Chevy and GMC used it for free. Albert Cantrell’s son was a lawyer and went to work for Chrysler about 1959.
I have come across what I’m told is 1924 Cantrell bodied Dodge.
I’ve posted a couple photos. can anyone tell me ways to positively ID it?
I’ll be cleaning her up and selling her for the owner.
Where does one find values on these?
I sold a similar Ford Depot Hack for about $18,000 in similar condition.
These I think, would be a bit more rare than the Ford, but I could be wrong.
Help?
Thank you all very much in advance.
Here is a picture of my 1924 Cantrell bodied Suburban. it is mostly original and the wood is all original, except for the back seat witch was added later. I have a Question. My windshield stations do not touch the roof of the car and the top is free to move side to side. I have never seen another top like it. Was that an option ? Thanks, Mark
These windshields are taller than the roadster/touring ones. They were made for screen side trucks. There were several styles of roof header depending on the shop that built them.