Brockway Motor Company in World War Two

Brockway Motor Company in World War Two
Cortland, NY
1875-1977
Rest in Peace

This page updated 11-11-2023.

Brockway Motor Company was founded in 1875 by William Brockway, for the manufacturer of horse carriages. The original name for the firm was the Brockway Carriage Works. William Brockway's son George changed the course for the company in 1909 by going into the production of trucks. In 1956, Mack purchased Brockway Motor Company and ran it as a separate division until it closed the Cortland, NY operation in 1977.

World War One: Brockway was one of fifteen companies that made 9,364 standardized 4x2 Liberty trucks for the U.S. Army from 1917-1918. Brockway built 589 trucks. The company also produced a number of fire engines for the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps.

This image shows that Brockway built at least five fire trucks for the U.S. Army during World War One. Photo courtesy of the National Archives via Jeff Lakaszcyck added 11-11-2023..

The two pages below are from the March 1918 issue of "The Motor Truck." This provides invaluable information that reveals the types, numbers, and suppliers of motor vehicles and components that the U.S. Army Quartermaster contracted for in World War One. The document shows that Brockway was originally contracted for 500 Liberty trucks. However, by the end of the war in November 1919, Brockway had actually built 589 units.

Document courtesy of Warren Richardson added 11-11-2023.

Brockway is listed in the left column about three quarters of the way down the page. Document courtesy of Warren Richardson added 11-11-2023.

At least 28 Brockway-built Liberty trucks are shown in this posed photo. These trucks are of the first series because they have electrical lighting. Wires for the electrical current have been routed from holes below the headlights. The second series eliminated the electrical lighting and the associated battery, distributor, and generator. Photo courtesy of the National Archives via Jeff Lakaszcyck added 11-11-2023.

In 2015 this World War One Liberty truck chassis and drive train were undergoing restoration at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL. This restoration is not specifically associated with any of the fifteen companies that built the Liberty truck because the parts are from various sources. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This completed Standard B Liberty truck is of the second series as photographed in 2019. The electrical headlights have been replaced with oil wick lamps. A carbide gas spot light used as a driving light is mounted on the top of the firewall. This vehicle has been restored to operating condition and is driven around the First Division Museum complex on special occasions. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The copper tube from the gas generator for the spot light can be seen coming out of the fire wall and being routed to the light. A flexible rubber hose at the spot light allows it to be aimed by the assistant driver. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The replica data plate shows the vehicle having chassis no. 14480 and a date of 7-27-1918. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Brockway Commercial Trucks:

This 1924 Brockway 1-1/2-ton truck is on display at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This 1949 Brockway 260-XW truck is on display at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. The wooden framed doors have exterior wood trim. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Brockway Motor Company World War Two Production: Table 1 shows that during World War Two Brockway had eighteen major contracts worth $36,392,000. Table 2 shows that the U.S. Army was Brockway's largest customer during the war and had 97% of the wartime contracts. Table 3 shows that the U.S. Army accepted 2,953 trucks in the 2-1/2-ton, 6-ton, and 10-ton sizes built under wartime contracts. Brockway also built an estimated 100 trucks for the U.S. Navy and another estimated 134 trucks under U.S. Treasury contracts for the United Kingdom.

Table 1 - Brockway Motor Company's Major World War Two Contracts - Table added 11-11-2023. The information below comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was published by the Civilian Production Administration, Industrial Statistics Division.
Product - Customer	Contract Number	Contract Amount	Contract Awarded	Completion Date
Tractors Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-29L	$229,000	6-1941	8-1941
Motor Trucks - Navy	110-S-90030	$57,000	6-1941	8-1941
Trucks Gasoline Tank - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-148L	$420,000	10-1941	12-1941
Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-00206L	$171,000	12-1941	4-1942
Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-13542	$3,570,000	1-1942	5-1943
Truck Chassis - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-2709	$7,452,000	1-1942	3-1943
Trucks - Navy	140-S-97178	$78,000	2-1942	3-1942
Trucks - U.S. Treasury	TPS-27352L	$519,000	5-1942	6-1942
Trucks - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-2709	$7,556,000	5-1942	1-1945
Trucks - U.S. Treasury	TPS-17352L	$95,000	9-1942	4-1943
Trucks - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-3552	$5,788,000	3-1943	7-1944
Truck Parts - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-3686	$1,225,000	5-1943	2-1945
Tractor Trucks - Navy	NXS-36694	$320,000	10-1943	9-1944
Crane Chassis - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-312	$6,963,000	10-1943	6-1945
Trucks - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1238	$1,340,000	6-1944	10-1945
Motor Truck Parts B666 - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1330	$217,000	6-1944	5-1945
Motor Truck Parts B666 - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1331	$78,000	6-1944	5-1945
Trucks - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1919	$314,000	1-1945	12-1945
Total		$36,392,000

Table 2 - Brockway Motor Company's Major World War Two Contracts by Customer - Table added 11-11-2023.
Customer	Total Contract Value	Number of Contracts	Percentage
U.S Army	$35,323,000	13	97%
U.S. Treasury	$614,000	2	1.7%
Navy	$455,000	3	1.3%
Total	$36,392,000	18	100%

Table 3- Brockway Motor Company World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945." Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.
Type	Brockway Model	Purchase Order Number	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Total
2 1/2-ton 4x2, Chassis, for 1000 gal gas tank	?	398-QM-148		50					50
6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for the Daybrook M-II-A Bridge Erector	B-666	74-ORD-2709			384	271			655
6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for the Daybrook M-II-A Bridge Erector	B-666	74-ORD-2710				370	141		511
Total					384	641	141		1,166

6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane	C-666	74-ORD-3552				237	297		634
6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane	C-666	30115-ORD-312					312	318	630
6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane	C-666	30115-ORD-1238						148	148
Total						237	609	466	1,312

6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	B-666, F-666	740-ORD-2710					174	26	200
6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	B-666, F-666	30115-ORD-312						36	36
6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	B-666, F-666	30115-ORD-1919						34	34
Total							174	96	270

6-ton 4x2, Tank Chassis, Gas, 2000 gallons	?	398-QM-148		50					50
10-ton 6x4, Tractor	?	398-QM-29		50					50
10-ton 4x2, Hoist Dump	?	398-QM-00206L			25				25
Total				150	409	878	924	562	2,953

Author's Note and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during World War Two. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct purchases.

Table 4 below matches contract numbers with the number of trucks accepted by the U.S. Army as shown in Table 3. With this information, in most cases for the U.S. Army trucks the unit cost can be calculated. However, contracts 398-QM-13542 and 740-ORD-2710 both represent two different types of trucks, one of which can not be identified from the existing records. These will be left uncalculated.

Table 4 - Brockway Motor Company World War Two Trucks Unit Costs - Table added 11-11-2023.
Product - Customer	Contract Number	Contract Amount	Type	Quantity	Unit Cost	Comments
Tractors Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-29L	$229,000	10-ton 6x4, Tractor	50	$4,580
Motor Trucks - Navy	110-S-90030	$57,000	?	?	?
Trucks Gasoline Tank - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-148L	$420,000	6-ton 4x2, Tank Chassis, Gas, 2000 gallons and 2 1/2-ton 4x2, Chassis, for 1000 gal gas tank	50 + 50 =100	$4,200
Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-00206L	$171,000	10-ton 4x2, Hoist Dump	25	$6,840
Trucks - Army Quartermaster	398-QM-13542	$3,570,000	?			Same as 740-ORD-2710
Truck Chassis - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-2709	$7,452,000	6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for the Daybrook M-II-A Bridge Erector	655	$11,377
Trucks - Navy	140-S-97178	$78,000	?	?	?
Trucks - U.S. Treasury	TPS-27352L	$519,000	?	?	?
Trucks - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-2710	$7,556,000	6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for the Daybrook M-II-A Bridge Erector and 6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	511+ 200=711		Same as 398-QM-13542
Trucks - U.S. Treasury	TPS-17352L	$95,000	?	?	?
Trucks - Army Ordnance	740-ORD-3552	$5,788,00	6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane	634	$9,129
Tractor Trucks - Navy	NXS-36694	$320,000	?	?	?
Crane Chassis - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-312	$6,963,000	6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane and 6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	630 and 36	?
Trucks - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1238	$1,340,000	6-ton 6x6 Chassis w/w for Quickway Crane	148	$9,054
Trucks - Army Ordnance	30115-ORD-1919	$314,000	6-ton 6x6 Chassis, Fire	34	$9,325

Table 4 - Brockway Motor Company B-666 Bridge Pontoon Truck and C666 Crane Truck Partial Serial and Registration Number Listing From TM-1528 dated January 1, 1944 - Table added 1-15-2024.
Model	Brockway Serial Number	USA Registration Number	Quantity
B666	1 - 655	W-511955 - W-512609	655
B666	656 - 1075	W-519666 - W-520085	420
B666	1076 - 1132	W-544006 - W-54062	57
B666	1133 - 1366	0077176 - 0077409	234
Total B666			1,366
C666	1 - 237	0050937 - 0051173	237
C666	238 - 534	0079146 - 0079442	297
Total C666			534

There are also three U.S. Navy and two U.S. Treasury Department contracts in Table 4 for which the unit cost cannot be calculated as the trucks were not accepted by the U.S. Army. However, I have made some assumptions and made my best attempt to estimate how many trucks Brockway produced for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Treasury. With these calculations, I can then estimate the total number of trucks the Brockway Motor Company built to help win World War Two.

This 1943 photo of a Brockway indicates that the U.S. Navy purchased a number of 4x2 tractors for its use during World War Two. In this particular case, it is being used to transport sailors in the attached semi-trailer bus. While it may not appear that the bus could hold 100 sailors, I did have personal experience of riding in a similar bus during Army basic training. We called them "cattle cars," and the drill sergeants were very adept at stuffing as many recruits into one of these as possible. Historic photo courtesy of Dan Souday added 11-11-2023.

But I digress. Table 4 indicates that the U.S. Army purchased under contract 398-QM-29L fifty 10-ton 6x4 tractors for $4,580. While the U.S. Navy tractor shown in the photo has been estimated to be more in the range of a five-ton tractor, I will still use the $4,580 to estimate how many trucks Brockway built for the Navy.

The total of the three Navy contracts is $455,000. This number divided by $4,580 equals 99.34 which can be rounded up to 100.

One source indicates that Brockway built a number of 4x2 trucks that were smaller than the 6-ton 6x6 trucks it built for cranes and bridging for the United Kingdom. The U.S. Treasury did purchase equipment for foreign nations during World War Two. Once again, I will assume that these were 4x2 tractors that cost $4,580. Dividing this value into the total U.S. Treasury contract number of $614,000 gives 134 units.

While both the 100 and 134 numbers are gross estimates, they do show that the Brockway Motor Company built an estimated several hundred trucks beyond the 2,953 that the U.S. Army accepted and is normally given as what the company built during World War Two.

My analysis shows that the Brockway Motor Company built over 3,000 trucks to help win World War Two.

Bridging Trucks: Brockway is best known for its construction of 1,166 6-ton 6x6 Model B-666 Bridge Erector Trucks. The 1,166 bridge erector trucks were 40% of the trucks the company built for the U.S. Army during World War Two. The Brockway B-666 series of 6x6, 6-ton trucks was based on the Corbitt 50SD6. Brockway was one of four manufacturers of this type of vehicle. Corbitt, Ward LaFrance, and White Motor Company were the others.

Bridging equipment was extremely important to the mechanized American Army of World War Two. Water obstacles consisted of rivers, streams, drainage ditches, gullies and canals. In most cases, the retreating enemy would destroy any existing bridges as it fell back under the American advance. In Europe, rivers wider than 75-100 yards were encountered on the average of every 45 to 50 miles. Also, the tactical or strategic situation might demand a river crossing in some location where there was no existing bridge. Brockway B-666 bridging trucks were an important tool of the Army Combat Engineers in keeping the American offense moving.

This 6-ton 6x6 Brockway Model B-666 chassis with installed bridge-erecting equipment is on display at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY. B-666s had a 220-inch wheelbase and a 25,000-pound front winch. The twin-boom 4-ton hydraulic crane could lift the 45-inch wide bridge treadways directly on and off the truck. The vehicle had an oversize air brake system for filling the pontoons. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

I first published this page on Brockway in August 2018. Since that time I have been looking to find a Brockway bridging truck to personally see and photograph. The timing of my visit to the National Museum of Military Vehicles was excellent as this truck was placed on display just two months before I arrived. I had canceled several attempts to visit the museum in previous years. If I had gone through with one of my earlier trips, this vehicle would not have been on display. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The open cab on this truck indicates it was built after mid-1943. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This Brockway B-666 bridging truck is equipped with a Heil Company steel treadway bridge hydraulic crane, M-II-A. The Daybrook Hydraulic Corporation was also a supplier of the steel treadway bridge hydraulic crane. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The Brockway B-666 six-ton truck with either a Heil or Daybrook steel treadway bridge hydraulic crane was a vehicle that was unique to the Army Corps of Engineers. It was no doubt a huge asset for the engineers as they set up treadway bridges during the war. No other country had trucks and cranes to assist them like these used by the U.S. Army. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This image of the crane from the Heil technical manual shows a fully loaded vehicle. Image added 11-11-2023.

The hydraulic crane can lift two treadways out from the truck at a time. Image added 11-11-2023.

By using the crane to set the treadways in a row, army engineers could bolt them together on land and then have the truck lift them out onto the pontoons. Image added 11-11-2023.

75th D-Day Anniversary Special:
Below are two that were photographed at the 2019 D-Day activities in Normandy, France.

This is the hard cab version of the Brockway B-666. Photo added 6-19-2019 is courtesy of Pierre-Olivier Buan.

Note that there are treadway in the body of the truck just like they were shown in the technical manual photo above. There appears to be deflated pontoons at the rear. Photo added 6-19-2019 is courtesy of Pierre-Olivier Buan.

This soft top version of the B-666 has its Daybrook Bridge Erector unit in the upright position. As the unit started to rise, a pontoon located on it would slide into the water. Photo added 6-19-2019 is courtesy of Pierre-Olivier Buan.

Photo added 6-19-2019 is courtesy of Pierre-Olivier Buan.

Crane Trucks: Another important truck that the Brockway Motor Company built for use by the Army Corps of Engineers was the C-666 crane truck for the mounting of a Quick-Way crane on the body. Brockway produced 1,312 of these to help win World War Two. The 1,312 units were 44% of the total trucks Brockway produced during World War Two for the U.S. Army.

This is a Brockway C-666 6-ton 6x6 Chassis with/winch with a Quick-Way Crane. Quick-Way Power Shovel was located in Denver, CO. It is unknown whether the truck chassis were shipped to Denver, or the cranes were shipped to Cortland, NY for final assembly.

It turns out that this "Quick-Way" Model E on a Brockway chassis is located 16 miles from the World War II American Experience Museum in Gettysburg, PA. I was unaware it was there during my September 2022 trip to the area. There are several collections of World War Two vehicles in the Gettysburg, PA area. John Gott photo via Jeff Lakaszcyck.

John Gott photo via Jeff Lakaszcyck.

While I missed personally seeing the vehicle shown above while in the Gettysburg, PA area during my September 2022 trip, I was able to see the unrestored Brockway crane truck at the World War II American Experience Museum. It is my understanding that the volunteers at the museum have been able to get the truck shown below running in 2023. This is the first step in the restoration process.

This "Quick-Way" crane mounted on a Brockway chassis is awaiting restoration at the World War II American Experience Museum in Gettysburg, PA. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The standard crane length for the Model E was 25 feet. Two five-foot sections could be added for a 35-foot total length. The one at the museum has the two five-foot extensions added. There are nut plates on the boom where the sections join together. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This Brockway chassis is equipped with a Heil 12,000 pound front winch. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This image shows the right hand side of the Hercules 202HP HXD engine. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

This view shows the left hand side of the engine. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

The Brockway bridging truck had a half cab which allowed the crane to rest where the assistant driver would normally sit. Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Author's photo added 11-11-2023.

Class 155 Fire Trucks: In late 1943 the Army Corps of Engineers had redesigned the Class 155 Fire Truck. Contracts were secured with Kenworth and Brockway. Both Mack and American LaFrance produced the bodies for these vehicles. Each fire truck had a 1,000-gallon water tank and two high pressure turrets on the top of the body. Brockway built 270 fire trucks which was 9% of the vehicles it built for the U.S. Army.

Brockway B-666 or F-666 Chassis with an American LaFrance body in 1944. American LaFrance installed a model 155, 2-stage high speed centrifugal pump rated at 250 gallons per minute at 600 psi that was powered by an American LaFrance 12-cylinder engine.

Only the Brockway B-666 Chassis was built with the Mack body. They came with Hale Model ZEY, 325 gallon per minute, 600 psi high pressure pumps. Power for the pump was provided by a Continental 6-cyliner engine.

The Brockway Motor Company Factory: The Brockway Motor Company factory continued to operate in Cortland, NY under Mack ownership until 1977. Currently, the former truck plant in Cortland is still in use by new owners.

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Image courtesy of Google Maps added 11-11-2023.

This image is looking east along Court Street. Like many older factories, the outside walls have been recovered with sheet metal which gives the plant a modern looking exterior. Image courtesy of Google Maps added 11-11-2023.

1924 LaFrance Brockway Torpedo Fire Truck: I photographed the vehicle shown below in August 2018 at Vic's Antiques and Uniques in Edinburgh, IN. This was one of four pieces of equipment that were not at the store in March 2018 when I was there last. It is really a shame to display this piece outside in the elements, when it should be stored inside.

11-11-2018 Update: As of this date, this vehicle is no longer outside in the elements at Vic's. Hopefully the vehicle was purchased.

The LaFrance Brockway Torpedo was built between 1920 and 1924. It was targeted at small, volunteer fire departments with limited budgets. American LaFrance and Brockway would team up again in World War Two to produce Class 155 fire trucks for the U.S. Army. Author's photo.

Author's photo.