A
Boy and his Coach – a 1933 Twin Coach !
An
amazing story of serendipity
The
meeting place of chance and fortitude
A
twisting historical tale of a truck and
A
long forgotten dream fulfilled !
Background
Scene:
1958
… just 4 blocks south of Sunset Blvd in glorious Hollywood,
California... just around the corner from the famous Tiny Naylor's
Drive-In... and one block from United Artists - Chaplin Studios. It's late
afternoon .. 5-ish summertime – in plain view of the giant
HOLLYWOOD sign off in the hills just a few miles away – it's the 1300 block
of North Detroit street.
… toot
toot ! .. toot toot ! The Helms bakery truck is cruising slowly down
the street … sounding that unique whistle …
The
Helms man came down our street a few times a week .. mostly after
school when everyone was out playing in the front yards .. that
glorious special time after school – and before dad got home from
work (and while mom was doing mom stuff) – we kids were free
spirits of youth - wild for a few hours terrorizing our neighborhood
with games and rivalries parties and barbeques sometimes swimming at
Teddy's place, or climbing the giant tree house complex at "Terry's
and the 7 brothers" down the block.
Endless
summer games; tag,hide n seek, football, or baseball in the street
... the endless amorphous activities of youth .. but mostly just
hanging out .. but then ...
… the
Helms bakery truck would roll in … .. important business was at
hand. Donuts!
Instantly,
“time out!” was called for whatever was going on !!.
Our
ad-hoc street baseball games – consisting of a scraggle of us
neighborhood 4th and 5th graders, would
immediately dissolve into a 'Keystone Kops' scene .. as everybody
breaks for home. yelling 'Helms Man ! Time Out !' .. fleeing home to
fetch a nickle ! Chalk sign on the coach door read Donuts 5 cents,
and listed other goodies on sale or specials.
… breathless
.. “Mom Mom !!! It's the HELMS MAN – MOM !!!! .. can I get a
quarter ?? ” (ever the psychological ploy to over ask – trying
for a nickle, hopefully, with fingers crossed ! )
Allowance
money … usually an advance .. “I promise I'll mow Saturday .. but
the Helms mans here now .. hurry !! :D”
In
short order ..we were back on the street … surrounding the
Helmsman .. who stopped and waited for us to gather round .. and
then .. he would open those AMAZING drawers of treats ! Helms knew
how to tantalize and tease the crowd and just make you want more –
masters of marketing. Magic to us kids .. or so it seemed...
O
M G !
THAT AROMA !!!
Lordy,
the smell of the fresh and warm baked goods would waft out .. and
weave it's hypnotic nasal compulsion!!! … we ALL loved that moment
!! .. and it was always greeted with mmmms, ooohs, 'n ahhhs .. that
rich just baked warm yeasty goodness … and the deal was sealed !
NOW you HAD to have a donut !!!!
This
moment is sublime in memory .. I can bring it back as if it was real
… I suspect there are a few others out there who remember. After
the Helms man moved on .. we would all be in a group in a row on the
curb .. savoring our treasures … always comparing .. oh those
sprinkles look good – I'm getting chocolate next time and such ,
..
I liked that fancy stuff … but my weakness – when available
because they sold out quick – was the apple fritter! My my my ..
what memories !
Whatever
you wanted was there ! .. donuts and cookies usually for us.. but all
sorts of wonderful baked goods .. bread stacked on the shelves .. but
deeeeep drawers full of delectable donuts, cupcakes, brownies,
cookies of every stripe, coffee cakes, tea rings, apple fritters,
and Danish pastries !! Cakes and breads stacked for deliveries ..and
such fabulous pies – gloriously tempting even to the staunchest
dieter! Dear dear memories of a lost time.
Those
were the days !
* * * *
How
my dream came true – a true story !
It
started seriously after a blog story I wrote about wishing we had home
deliveries like in the old days ..and then I ended the piece with the
comment .. 'where's a Helms Truck when we need one ?'
Well
that jogged something in my memory, and I got to wondering after
posting the story – if there was any hope of really finding one –
wishfully – affordable, AND fixable within reason ?
Could
any still be running or available? Maybe if I could find just the
right one to possibly fix up as a project, I could actually have
myself a nifty old Helms truck?
Alas
.. they were few and far between, and most that I found were in
really rough shape .. and looking far too costly to bring back to
life .. especially with my slim budget.
I
looked online, researched and studied. I looked high and low for a
driveable and affordable Helms Twin Coach online – for several hours
a day during this year of covid19 sequestering, I found myself
scouring the web vigorously – this was my pandemic quarantine and
boredom smasher !
I
did find several dozen old Helms Coaches .. but all were beyond
consideration from condition or cost. I began to despair of finding
anything I could manage mechanically or handle financially.
After
several months .. and a few near misses .. I slowly realized it
likely wasn’t ever going to happen unless I won the lottery.
My
childhood memories persisted. That quiet nagging was keeping the
embers of hope alive, until I just missed out on a terrific and
restored one at auction – but it closed with a price so high, that
I got nosebleed. Light-bulb !! Deflated, I realized my mission
was hopeless, and was not ever going to happen for me!
Oh
well .. I said to myself, “ get yourself a “Consolation Prize”
! why not?” – Find a nice die cast model to put on the shelf
and enjoy – reminisce .. and that will be that .. a good memory !
Poking
around on eBay recently, I found a beautiful very accurate die cast
1:24 model of a Helms Bakery Truck - with some really super
detailing, and superb finish. I decided to get it – it was very nice. I had found my Helms Truck consolation prize!
I
was thwarted by the website check out cart – so I sent an email to
the seller, because I couldn’t complete the transaction online .
The seller called me ! I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. I
explained my difficulty in completing the PayPal check out thing ..
so we just did the old fashioned snail mail and check deal.
However
… this is the amazing bit
… I casually mentioned my difficulty in location a real Twin Coach that I
could bring to life … so my getting the model was a consolation to myself. His
next sentence changed my life !
He
said .. “I have one, ....
... but know where there is a complete one - that
might work for your budget ! would you be interested ? ”
and
continued “ .. I have one that I am keeping , but a family
recently offered a 1933 to me, but the timing wasn’t right –
I can get you in touch directly with them if you are interested?! I
think it will fit your budget if they still have it ?!”
I
was gobsmacked ! .. … I about exploded with excitement !!! “YES
!! please!!! ....”
Things
then moved very very quickly – almost in magically
mysterious ways – That was Wednesday.
A
few calls and texts and emails on Wednesday, and Thursday !
The
deal was closed, and funds exchanged the following Monday!
It
was picked up near Victorville California on Tuesday at 7 am!
I
write this 4 days later on Friday .. just as they are unloading my
wonderful old coach at the garage in Texas at 5 pm!
Through
the most surprising turn of events – confluence of the stars, and
pure luck …
I
found, bought and obtained transcontinental delivery of
a
1933 Helms bakery coach – in just a bit over a week !!
It
has actually traveled , from Victorville in the
California desert, to Houston Texas for restoration !!
I
finally have my Helms Coach !!! DREAM COME TRUE !!! WOW !!! Never
give up on your dream ! … and, I have a really great die cast model
to boot ! What a week !
Now
that is 'Serendipity' !!!
1933
Divco – Twin Coach, Kent Ohio
Helms
Bakery Coach
Where
she sat in the California sun for the last dozen years
The
story of this particular vehicle is quite fascinating … it has a
wonderful history and I am pleased to pass it into the archives for
this stalwart old 1933 Divco Twin Coach
I
purchased it from a family that had it for 55 years .. and drove it
for 45 of them !
This
one ooozes personality and charm, because the family were so
dedicated to preserving and treasuring this wonderful piece of
history !
*
* *
To
Be Continued … the Saga begins …
