San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-03

Carpenters, blacksmiths, upholsterers,
machinists, painters and planning mill
workers are employed in the Judge
Body Company's plant at Burnet and
Mesquite streets. Despite its short term
OF business. which is but two months,
the Judge Body Company, manufactur-
er of truck and automobile bodies, prob
ably is one of the largest factories of
its kind in Texas. As far as its man.
ager knows the factory is the only one
here to build and ship an entire car
load of truck bodies. Ice and bread
boxes also are manufactured.
1t takes six different kinds of me-
chanics skilled in their trades to build
one of the Judge bodies, according to
Fl. Judge, manager and owner Of the
Judge Body Company, which occupies
the old Blumberg Motor Company's
plant. In this plant there are the
same number of shops which are kept
busy constantly in order to manufac
ture enough bodies to supply the de-
NulCh mas DtNh up III WV
months. There are seventeen men en-
ployed in this plant, which covers more
than 25,00O feet of floor space, every
foot of which is occupied by the ma
chinery of the several different kinds
Of shops necessary to construct Judge
body.
Has Experienced Manager. =.
Mr.. Judge is an experienced body
than Gi ntbG no
was connected with the San Antonio
Body Company at 100 West Houston
street. He organized that company, be
says, and owned an interest in it when
he started the business ct Mesquite
and Burnet streets. Before coming 10
San Antonio he was president of the
American Body Company of Dallas for
two years.
Mr.. Judge organized the Judge Body
Company only two months ago, but to-
day it probably is one of the largest
factories of its kind in Texas. All kinds
of automobile and truck bodies are
manufactured at this plant, Mr.. Judge
says, including a green 3 in l" body
which is one of the company's own de-
signs and makes. 1t sells for only $40
and is constructed especially for farm
use. 1t is constructed so as to be easily
converted into three different types Of
trucks. BY removing the cattle sides, >
Mr.. Judge says, it may be converted
into an express truck, and by removing
the express Sides" platform remains.
The green in 1" has proved useful
to farmers, who recommend it highly
and say that they can haul hogs, sheep
or cattle in it one day and haul feed
.Or move the household goods the next.
Uses Southern Oak Wood.
Southern oak wood is used in the
construction of Judge bodies, Mr.. Judge
says. 1t comes from the forests of
East Texas and Louisiana. he say, and
is some of the toughest wood available.
The southern oak does not have as fine
a grain and does not finish as at
tractively as some other oak woods,
but has q long fiber which, Mr.. Judge
says, is responsible for its tOughness.
The Judge Body Company ships its
truck bodies as far north as Waco and
south to many towns in the Rio GrandC
valley, including Rio Grande City, Mis-
sion and Donna. An entire carload OF
bodies was shipped TO Cuero recently.
Mr.. Judge says. and as far as he knows
is the only carload of bodies ever made
in and shipped from San Antonio.
Build Bread and Ice Boxes.
Not only does the Judge Body Com
pany manufacture hundreds of automO-
bile and truck bodies but builds bread
and ice boxes. The bread boxes made
in this plant are purchased by bakers.
who place them in front of grocery
stores and fill them according to the
grocers orders. Most of the ice boxes
are made for merchants who handle
cold drinks in bottles. These boxes
are made with magnolia and poplar
woods, which also come from forests Of