Many of our dealers who started with one successful unit, have expanded into ownership of multiple fleets. In 1956, William and James Conway noted the popularity of soft-serve ice cream restaurants and figured it would be just as successful sold from mobile trucks. Rather than deny his troops ice cream, that night he ordered the truck to be painted army green. [4] Cora Burt retained the license agreement with Popsicle. [14] A vendor could be fired for not smartly saluting a customer or saying "Good Humor Ice Cream" instead of the proper "Ice Cream Good Humor" as the company regarded the “Good Humor” itself as a noun with “ice cream” being descriptive. [17] Lipton also purchased Good Humor of Baltimore/Washington from the Brimer family. [2] Starting in 1989, Unilever expanded Good Humor through its acquisition of Gold Bond Ice Cream that included the Popsicle brand. [8] Thomas J. Brimer (1900–1978) purchased the Good Humor franchise for the Detroit territory and by 1929 opened his second plant in Chicago. 1969 Ford Good Humor Ice Cream Truck A hot summer’s day only gets better after the distant tunes of an ice cream truck become apparent. This fleet of trucks was well equipped to sell ice cream and made to last. Six months after Popsicle received its patent in August 1924, Good Humor sued Popsicle Corporation, and by October 1925 the parties settled out of court. It was a fixture in American popular culture in the 1950s when the company operated up to 2,000 "sales cars". [7] Insurance costs increased because courts found ice cream vendors responsible for pedestrian accidents while crossing streets to and from the truck. [7], In January 1922, Burt applied for patents, which were not granted until October 1923 because the patent office thought Good Humors were too similar to Eskimo Pies. 1952 Chevy 1/2 ton Reproduction Ice Cream truck. We currently have 625 franchised trucks in 18 states. When the Ice Cream man got out of the truck … As one reported, "I make sure I shut off the engine when I stop now that I'm paying for the gas. The First Good Humor Ice Cream Trucks To market the Good Humor Ice Cream Bars, Mr. Burt sent out 12 trucks with sing-song bells to make deliveries neighborhood-to-neighborhood, door-to-door. There were also three major franchises: Good Humor of Baltimore/Washington (operated by the Brimer family), Burt's Good Humor (operated by Harry Burt Jr. in Tulsa, Oklahoma), and Good Humor of California. Back in 1956 soft ice cream was a big hit with the public, being sold exclusively in roadside stands and restaurants until Mister Softee took to the road with the first mobile truck unit. Contact us. [7] After the war, a Good Humor vendor took pity on a youngster who was a nickel short and accepted a new magazine in place of the missing five cents. Jobs were scarce and Good Humor found all the employees it could use, despite an 80-hour work week and paramilitary discipline. ... Comes with a New good humor Umbrella. [4] Vendors attended classes for two days at the beginning of the season[5] and the rules were spelled out in a handbook titled "Making Good at Good Humor. In addition to trucks, the company used push carts, bicycles, shoulder boxes, and even a boat. [12] In 1931, Good Humor reported a net profit of $452,105, almost as much as Meehan paid for the company. By the end of the 1920s, Good Humor settled on its signature vehicle: a gleaming white pickup truck outfitted with a refrigeration unit. "[4] While vendors were paid commissions only, it was not unusual for a driver to clear the princely sum of over $100 per week. Protected Market Area: To insure success, we ensure that each franchisee has a defined marketing area. [24], Good Humor replaced some of its older conventional trucks with large vans designed to compete with Mister Softee. As baby boomers matured, sales on many suburban routes declined. Find ice cream franchises for sale, shops & business opportunities from TCBY, Dairy Queen, Cold Stone, Carvel, Ben & Jerry's & more.Also, browse ice cream machines, commercial ice cream freezers, mobile ice cream carts, used ice cream trucks for sale, local ice cream vendors, fun ice cream facts & ice cream … [20], The Meehan family faced estate planning issues because Mrs. Elizabeth H. Meehan was advancing in years. [11], The Meehan family's Good Humor Corporation of America operated in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Detroit, and Chicago. [2] An increase in gasoline prices during the early 1970s worsened the situation. [13], Good Humor was successful because it provided customers an inexpensive diversion during the Depression. Mobile Unit: So you can go where the business is! [5] Burt outfitted twelve street vending trucks in Youngstown with rudimentary freezers and bells to sell his "Good Humor Ice Cream Suckers" in 1920. Some indicate that the ice cream truck phenomenon was started by Harry Burt, considered the creator of the Good Humor bar, during the 1920s as a clever way to sell his wares. [7] Good Humor also worked with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to equip vending trucks with school bus “stop” swing arms to reduce pedestrian accidents. Proud to be the industry leader [1] The first set was from his son's old bobsled. As a result, Good Humor-Breyers is now a large producer of branded ice cream and frozen novelties, as part of the Unilever Heartbrand. [28] It removed the Heartbrand in 2009 but brought it back as part of its logo from 2014 onwards. [19], By 1960 Good Humor expanded and included 85 different treats: sundaes in chocolate, butterscotch, and strawberry; single-serve cups in apricot and honeydew; and more. Good Humor reserved the right to manufacture these products from ice cream, frozen custard, and the like. [25], Good Humor was unable to solve its labor problems. Proud to be the industry leader Since that first Mister Softee truck started spreading smiles, the … [5] Among the specials that did not become popular were Oregon prune and California fig Good Humors. They tried out the idea in the store's hardening room, where they discovered that the stick formed a strong bond when the ice cream crystallized. [31], The company's history also includes many stories, such as one about a Good Humor vendor rushing a baby to a hospital for treatment and one about the company's helping to break up a counterfeit money operation on Long Island. [5], This article is about the ice cream brand. [7] In addition, distributors served Cleveland, Philadelphia, Albany,[1] Dallas[5] and Miami. [11] Two years later, 21-year-old Joseph A. Meehan (1917–1972) became the youngest broker with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and chairman of Good Humor Corporation, a position he held until 1961.