TheSamba.com :: View topic - Old photo of Barndoor bus in Superior, WI

Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:46 pm

Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:05 pm

very cool- BD for sure and you can see the semaphores too- am no BD expert but think it is prob 54' or 55' given the pressed bumper on the back

Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:46 pm

That is a NICE photo.

velvetgreen wrote: very cool- BD for sure and you can see the semaphores too- am no BD expert but think it is prob 54' or 55' given the pressed bumper on the back
I think that is a good guess too.
Rear bumper, "late" Barndoor vent wings

I like the matching yellow front emblem too and a really nice logo design to match the store colors

Wed Jan 06, 2021 5:07 am

Great photo and story, thx for sharing!

Isn't it totally interesting how utterly modern the panel van looks in comparison to that late 40s Chrysler/Desoto ? That car was probably only about 5-7 yrs old when this pic was taken but the VW bus seems to have just come in from another world really! The lettering and store front are very tasteful and pretty, imho !

Wed Jan 06, 2021 11:37 am

Can not imagine how cold that Bus was to drive in Northern Mn. I found some Buses up north of Duluth, between Makinen and Markham, no Barndoors though.

Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:20 am

I love the logo colors, and what a great color photo in itself. It would be great if she has more photos and you never know maybe trace the history and see where it is now. It's an amazing color photo.

Dubbin68 wrote: Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:53 am

LAGrunthaner wrote: I love the logo colors, and what a great color photo in itself. It would be great if she has more photos and you never know maybe trace the history and see where it is now. It's an amazing color photo.

Dubbin68 wrote: Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

These scans from what were probably old Kodachrome slides really come out amazing.
Click on the image to see it in its high resolution glory.
Looks like the bus has a crazy long custom roof rack.

"Rent A TV For A Sick Friend"

Its like looking back through a time machine portal.

Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:55 pm

Wow j.pickens, looks cool enlarged. Good eye on the sign.
Do you think it's a dove blue bus?

j.pickens wrote: LAGrunthaner wrote: I love the logo colors, and what a great color photo in itself. It would be great if she has more photos and you never know maybe trace the history and see where it is now. It's an amazing color photo.

Dubbin68 wrote: Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

These scans from what were probably old Kodachrome slides really come out amazing.
Click on the image to see it in its high resolution glory.
Looks like the bus has a crazy long custom roof rack.

"Rent A TV For A Sick Friend"

Its like looking back through a time machine portal.

Thu Jan 14, 2021 7:36 pm

Looks like Bob was a popular trades name :)

Thu Jan 14, 2021 9:15 pm

What about Bob? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:13 pm

Looks like Dove Blue to me. And they painted the front VW logo to match the font color.
It might even be a company monogram, doesn't look like "VW" from this angle. More rounded.

LAGrunthaner wrote: Wow j.pickens, looks cool enlarged. Good eye on the sign.
Do you think it's a dove blue bus?

j.pickens wrote: LAGrunthaner wrote: I love the logo colors, and what a great color photo in itself. It would be great if she has more photos and you never know maybe trace the history and see where it is now. It's an amazing color photo.

Dubbin68 wrote: Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

These scans from what were probably old Kodachrome slides really come out amazing.
Click on the image to see it in its high resolution glory.
Looks like the bus has a crazy long custom roof rack.

"Rent A TV For A Sick Friend"

Its like looking back through a time machine portal.

Fri Jan 15, 2021 9:19 pm

Dubbin68 wrote: Someone on a history thread I follow for the Duluth, MN and Superior, WI posted this photo of her dads old VW bus he used for his business. At first I missed it, but it definitely looks like a Barndoor bus with original sign writing! I messaged her to see if she had more info on it, as I’d love to see more pictures. Just thought I’d share my “find” here

any relation? https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-eckman-81090032/

Thu May 20, 2021 10:59 pm

The building is still there, but Bob's TV store is part of the antique store next door. The shop is the three windows to the right of Hucklebeary's.

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.7880662,-92.096776...6656?hl=en