Winross

Winross is a diecast model truck producer based in Churchville, New York, just west of Rochester. The company pioneered 1/64 scale promotional model semi-tractor-trailer trucks in the early 1960s. The trucks were known for their wide variety of logos and ads on the side of the trucks. Over time trucks have become more sophisticated and the company has moved into silk screen printing for a variety of products.
An Early Promoter
Through the 1970s, Winross trucks were not known for their intricate detail and many later diecast producers, like Ertl outdid Winross in many ways. Winross' recipe were (usually) semi trucks invariably in 1:64 scale (about 9 inches long), offered as promotionals to companies. Since the 1960s, Winross' "American Highway Series" celebrated a few basic truck cab makes with a variety of liveries - which were offered for retail sale. These liveries were what made Winross famous (Sinclairs 1974, 9).
Winross then, was unique in a couple of ways: it continued miniature diecast models in the United States when most others had long since ceased production, and it focused on commercial promotional models in diecast.
Diecast Details
Through the 1970s, cabs could be described as rather quaint; they were simple castings with no windows, interiors, or much decor. Models were brittle and the metal broke easily. Only three our four different cab manufacturers were originally represented. Wheels were diecast as well and tires were rubber. Trailers were a diecast frame with flat soft metal pieces which were inserted into the sides of the truck after different company liveries were applied. Dual rear trailer doors opened. Original trucks consisted of about 40 parts.
As of 2010, however, models have become gradually more sophisticated. Models circa 2010 have about 100 pieces. There are twelve different cabs now available with more chrome and exterior lighting details. In one homage to Winross' past, cabs still do not have windows. Among Freightliner, International, Kenworth and Ford, though, there is still the Winross cab-over, a generic design that has been offered for thirty years.
Offerings
Many different companies' names appeared silk-screened on the sides of the trucks through the 1970s; decals were never used. Examples were Ryder, McLean Trucking, Roadway, Coca-Cola, Caterpillar, Arkansas Best Freight, Quaker Oats, and Goodyear. Sometimes the individual factory or plant was identified on the truck as well.
In 1973, Sinclair's Auto Miniatures of Erie, Pennsylvania, spiced up the collectible offerings by commissioning new liveries in limited numbers in one-time offerings. Some of these were: Epstein Department Stores, Dannon Yogurt, Campbell Express with their 'Snortin' Norton' Camel who was 'humpin' to please', and Meadow Gold Milk, among others (Sinclair's 1974, 8-9).
By 2010 many new liveries had been produced, according to clients specifications. Examples are Allied Van Lines, Price Chopper, Kelly Tires, Sorrento, RPS, Ashland Oil, and Clover Farms Milk. Whereas one generic box trailer type was available in the 1970s, at least 16 different trailer and truck types are now manufactured by Winross, including package haulers, beverage haulers, dairy, oil, cryogenic, and propane tankers, a flatbed trailer, moving van trailer, drop pup, double pup, and triple pups, and a couple of straight frame non-articulated trucks. Occasionally, special models have been made, like the special late 1950s Sunoco trailer, or the Charles' Chips delivery van.
Company Directions
The official website reports that the company abandoned all retail sales to focus purely on corporate accounts in 1978, though the company is openly pleased by collector activities and formed a branch called 'Winross by Mail'. It happily notes that the Winross Collectors Club, formed in 1988, is still headquartered in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.
Winross merged with AMA screening in 2005 and moves forward with promotional activities which now are not limited only to trucks but to print screening ads on a variety of products.
References Cited
R. F. Levine. 2009. David Sinclair in the Driver's Seat. Lake Erie LifeStyle, web published December 1.
Sinclair's Auto Miniatures, Inc. 1974. Exact Scale. Collector's magazine and sales guide. Erie, Pennsylvania.
(Note: Dave Sinclair is a well-known collector and vendor of diecast and other automobilia. He started selling diecast vehicles in 1964. Sinclair nearly single-handedly brought specialty European diecast to the U.S. during the 1970s. Information from his newsletters and catalogs is respected period information on the subject (see Levine 2009.)
External Websites
Official website: http://www.winross.com/

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