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Diamond T Trucks


Brocky

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Diamond T was started in 1911 by Charles Tilt and named after is father's shoe business which used the diamond as a sign of quality and T for Tilt. Reo was started in1904 by Ransome E Olds after selling Oldsmobile to GM. Both companies were purchased by White and combined into Diamond Reo in the 1960's. Mike

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Ken

To add to Mikes correct answer: After White bought both REO and DT in the late 50's they closed the DT plant is Chicago and moved production to the REO plant in Lansing MI. White then built DT's, REO's, and special order heavy duty Whites all on the same line with a mix and match of sheet metal and Badges. On May 1st, 1967 White combined the two makes and created the name Diamond REO.

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Brocky

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We have a lot of Diamond T's at the Museum,I will do a few each week. Got an E-Mail today that Diamond T Classics was back on line. Some of these have been on it Other Trucks, but I will put here. Today a 55 and my first Wrecker when I started in Trucking.

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Was Diamond Reo spun off later because i remember somedody building them in the harrisburg area in the 90s. Or was this still part of white (volvo)?

A local bodyshop in CT and R.J. Guerrera (golden age of trucking) took over the patent at the end and were building them for export only. THey couldnt get the crash testing so they weren't allowed in the U.S.

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Matt

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Brocky did you sell the cabover?

That deal fell thru.. Give me a shout after Labor Day. 864-677-3453

Was Diamond Reo spun off later because i remember somedody building them in the harrisburg area in the 90s. Or was this still part of white (volvo)?

In the very late 70's / early 80's the Osterman Group of Carlisle PA bought the dies and all the necessary parts and built Built the Diamond REO Giant untiol the mid 90's. They had to add the word Giant to them because Volvo tried to sue them. Osterman also used the air cooled Deutz diesel which had a very sloped down nose.

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Brocky

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