Labatt's Streamlner 1947 model

"Count Alexis De Sakhnoffsky (1901 - 1964) was a prominent industrial designer who had a long association with the White Motor Company. As an assignee for the company he was responsible for designing streamlined tankers based on conventional and coe trucks [6-8]. The design for the first generation of streamliners for John Labatt Limited was patented by de Sakhnoffsky in 1938 [9]. Apparently related to Labatt's streamliners were designs of a trailer patented in 1937 [11] and a tractor in 1938 [11]. However, Labatt's was not the only brewery that operated streamlined vehicles at that time [12].

Four generations of streamliners were built for Labatt's [1,13]. These included semis and vans of similar design. All the designs were drawn by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. The streamliners were built by the Smith Brothers Motor Works of Toronto. The coachbuilder used Canadian-built White tractors and Canadian-built Fruehauf drop-frame trailers to construct the vehicles [1,13]. The bodies for the units were hand-built of aluminum sheets pined over the wooden frame of white oak and ash [1,13,14].

Labatt's initial order for the forth generation of streamliners was placed in 1941. Original plan included 15 units for Labatt's and one unit for Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, as a vehicle for transporting ponies. Manufacturing was however disturbed by World War II and the work resumed only in 1946. Eventually eleven units were built, ten for Labatt's and one for Princess Juliana [1].

The 1947 Labatt's streamliner was different its predecessors, the trailer was set lower and was rounded at the front and the rear, it also sported a decorative stainless steel dorsal fin. The tractor had a longer 121" wheelbase. The specifications of the streamliner are given in Table I. The vehicle was painted red with distinctive stripes and lettering in golden leaf; the two tone (red/dark blue) paintjob characteristic for the previous generations of streamliners was dropped [13].

Overall dimensions
Length - 36 ft., 10 in.
Wheelbase of unit - 28 ft., 5 in.
Wheelbase of tractor - 121 in.
Height - 9 ft., 8 in.
Width 8 ft., 5 in. Tractor
White Model W.A. 122
Engine - Super Power Model 140A
Displacement - 362 cu. in.
Transmission model 501B, 5 speeds ahead
Rear end ratio 29
Smith Bros. streamlined tilt cab
Air windshield wipers and horn (air)
Anti-jacknife equipment on fifth wheel Trailer
Overall length of semi - 28 ft.
Inside capacity of trailer - 825 cu. ft. (approx)
Fruehauf Drop Frame Chassis
Smith Bros. Custom Built body....."
source:Crane Larry. Streamlines. Automobile Magazine. 1999(July):122-126
Dorchester Rod and Custom Show
Dorchester Ontario July 25 2010