A concrete and brick colossus in the town center nearby my place, with four classic trucks in a supporting role. When I came across this photo on a regional website for truck enthusiasts, I immediately recognized the industrial building. The Trio furniture factory and showroom opened in 1971, given the truck models I’d say the picture was taken shortly after the opening or somewhat later in the early seventies.
Once upon a time, these three gentlemen joined forces and came up with the company name Trio. Splendid idea! They’re posing in front of the side entrance of the newly built facilities (courtesy of Loof, scroll down for a timeline).
In the post-war decades, the mass production of furniture was a major industry in my neck of the woods, the southern part of the Dutch river delta. Those days are definitely over, but there’s still a good number of small companies and craftsmen in business, aiming at the tailor-made furniture and kitchen market.
The current situation, literally down the same street, as caught on camera ten years ago. Quite a transformation.
Well of course, we must have a look at the classic 4×2 trucks too. In the foreground, a British Ford D-series, very common in the Netherlands (just like the contemporary and comparable Bedford TK-series). Then, in the center, a duo of ‘frog-DAFs’ from the sixties. On the left we see the tilt cab of a DAF F218-series, introduced at the end of 1969 and replacing the archaic frog models. Trio’s furniture hauler must be an F1600.
For those who like to view streets in Google Maps, you’ll find the former Trio loading docks from the top picture in the (small) town of Druten, where the Markt meets the Molenstraat.
Thanx for the good photos, I wish there was more info on the Ford medium duty trucks .
-Nate
Ford D-series, the beginning:
https://cvcmag.com/guides/60-years-of-the-ford-d-series
Thank you for this! That’s a remarkable transformation of a brutal-looking industrial scene to rather homey residential building. Assuming it’s the same structure in the modern scene (it’s somewhat hard to tell), it looks like the original building was mostly concrete, and then a brick facade was placed over the concrete on the street side to give it more visual appeal – I’ve never seen that done elsewhere. Also interesting how the residential units have exterior entrances from the parking lot side (like a motel), but balconies on the street side. I love this kind of stuff, so thanks for the writeup, and also providing the location.
And the trucks! There’s nothing like vintage shots of fleet vehicles. I was curious about the color of those Trio trucks, and I did find a color shot online (below). And I presume this photo was earlier than the black & white photo of the Trio trio, since the building itself was natural brick, as opposed to painted white.
Interesting stuff – thanks!
Great find Eric, that’s a Bedford TK (mentioned in the article as a Ford D-series competitor), the livery and color scheme seem to be exactly the same as on the DAFs and Ford in the pictures.
The street side part -where the three managing directors are standing- is all brick for sure, not a facade. Prior to the Trio office/showroom/factory there used to be a ‘craft school’ at that location. What I don’t know is whether the whole brick section was a part of the former school building, then renovated, or newly built, like the concrete construction down the street.
I wasn’t sure if you’d seen that photo before, but if not, there are three other Trio truck photos at this site:
https://hgvmaasenwaal.weebly.com/druten.html
The website itself is a collection a historical vehicle photos from the Land of Maas and Waal – the above link goes to the Druten page. The Trio pictures are near the bottom, and of you click “Play” or click the arrows on the photo, it’ll cycle through to the other three. Lots of good truck photos on that site.
I’ve learned of that website only recently, it’s loaded with pictures of classic trucks from the Country of Maas and Waal. I was planning to send them an email for future use of their pictures here. They’ve posted way too many fantastic pictures on that site for regional viewing alone. It doesn’t surprise me at all you also found them! 🙂
I figured you’d like that site. I find it terrific, and I’ve never even been to the Netherlands!
My favorites are the JWL Croonen then-and-now comparison shots in the Druten page.
Trio immediately made me think of the German band, famous for Da Da Da. On the truck note I have two Matchbox models of a DAF F218 flatbed that came with a load of plastic I beams that could be connected into a structure.
This one Joe? That looks like a DAF 2600-series to me, the non-tilt cab heavy DAF model, introduced in 1962. It was superseded by the 1973 DAF 2800-series (with the F241 tilt cab).
An incredibly modern-looking cab design for 1962. My respect!
One of my earliest articles here, back in 2014:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/truckstop-classic-daf-2600-series-the-mother-of-international-road-haulage-in-europe/
yes that’s the one, I also have a green Mercedes cabover that originally had an orang load are cover and a trailer
I guess your childhood trucking days go back to circa 1970?
Actually a bit before that, I have a Matchbox Dennis garbage truck and Foden dump truck that are so old they don’t have windows or interiors
Great article about trucks and business and facilities’ transformation. I am looking at the article again.