Customer service one-hundred years ago used to be so much different than it is today, as back then a purchase usually included free delivery if needed. The crew of the F.E. Merrill Grocery and Hardware Store store in Hillsborough, New Hampshire above, is seen posing with its circa 1912 or 1913 Chase delivery truck that was built by the Chase Motor Truck Co. of Syracuse, New York.



1909 Chase three cylinder, two-cycle, air-cooled engine

The truck maker first started in the motor vehicle business in 1907 with a dual purpose passenger car that could be quickly converted into a light delivery truck. The early cars and the many different sizes of trucks offered, used two, three and four cylinder, two-cycle air-cooled engines. In 1912, Chase moved to producing only trucks and remained in business until 1919.

Much more can be learned about the Chase Motor Truck Co. here. The photo is courtesy of the Hillsborough Historical Society, and you can view more of their interesting photos here. The advertisement below is from The Horseless Age, February 2, 1913 issue. If memory serves me correctly, I believe this F.E. Merrill truck has survived to the present day in good unrestored condition.