Moreland Motor Truck Company facts for kids
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| Truck Company | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Watt L. Moreland |
| Defunct | 1940 |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, US |
| Products | Trucks |
The Moreland Motor Truck Company was a company that built trucks. It started in Los Angeles, California, but later moved to Burbank, California. Moreland trucks were sold all over the world!
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Building Moreland Trucks
In 1917, the company's founder, Watt L. Moreland, wanted to move his business. He was thinking about moving to Alhambra, California.
However, officials from the city of Burbank heard about his plans. They offered Moreland a special deal. They gave him 25 acres (about 100,000 square meters) of land for free! This land was located at San Fernando Blvd. and Alameda Ave.
The city of Burbank raised $25,000 to pay for the land. New buildings were quickly built, and the truck company moved in. Even with the new factory, the area around it was still mostly farms.
Opening the New Factory
The new factory officially opened in 1920. Watt Moreland wrote a special message at the time. He remembered how the first Moreland trucks were built in a "little old shack."
He said that the company's success was thanks to everyone working together. He thanked all the people who helped the company grow with their encouragement and hard work.
Where Moreland Trucks Were Sold
The Moreland Motor Truck Company had many branches. These were like smaller offices or dealerships. They were located in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Bakersfield.
Other branches were in Stockton, Oakland, Portland, Santa Ana, Fresno, El Centro, Sacramento, San Francisco, Spokane, and Salt Lake City.
The company had a famous slogan: "Built in the West -- for Western Work." This meant their trucks were made especially for the jobs and conditions in the western United States.
Why the Company Closed
Sadly, the Moreland Motor Truck Company had to close in 1940. This happened because of shortages during wartime. It became very hard to get the materials needed to build trucks.
After the company closed, its buildings were used for other purposes. The Vega Aircraft Corporation later used the old Moreland factory.
