@CAPPilot posted:The REA diamond existed at least from 1929, but only on trucks.
It looks like the diamond was first used on trucks used by American Railway Express as far back as 1919 (oldest photo I have found). It was adopted by REA for their trucks when it acquired ARE in 1929. REA trucks were moving billboards at least through the 50s with a large paper ad in the center of the truck (one source says it was changed monthly), two small REA diamonds with one on each side of the ad, and "Railroad Express Agency" across the bottom. For semis, there also was a large diamond on the door of the tractor. I don't have any public pictures of these to post.
There are many photos showing the trucks without the ad, especially going into the 40s, just a large open area where it is suppose to be. Probably couldn't find any advertisers.
Ron where did you find this info on the REA logo use?
And yes the US Government "created" the American Railway Express Agency in July 1918 then in March 1929 transferred the assets to the Railway Express Agency.
Now my REA reference book has two photos of wood refers with the large Railway Express Agency red diamonds. One photo looking rather weathered. Unfortunately not dated but I would have thought these wood sided refers would have been long gone by 1953.
Ron
