Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars
By tim b on November 5, 2017
Format: Hardcover

I bought this book to learn about the business, as I knew next to nothing about it. It was a very good read for that purpose and I learned a lot along the way. I agree that it gets a bit starchy in places – too many names/ventures to keep straight, and surprisingly the authors’ own accomplishments in the industry, while dating back to the 1920’s was downplayed. To his credit, he did an excellent job of continuing on the written/documented history for future generations. I found aspects of what these pioneers attempted to do interesting in the fact that they actually shared information amongst their regional or national competitors, but in the light of making it a better/safer industry. From designing vehicles to innovations in securing receipts, processes and procedures that endure to today’s practices in part. I appreciate that Mr. Dunbar also chose to try and capture the history for personal reasons – securing his father’s first armored car from a larger competitor, restoring it and putting it on display at their corporate headquarters. Politics, mobsters, unions and even presidents played their parts in this reading. It speaks to the Mom & Pop roots of this business and also to the David & Goliath aspects. Several attempts and ensuing owner organizations evolved to set the tone of security aspects, safety issues, and organizational and logistical strides along the way. Well worth the read if you like history and are at all interested in what lies behind those big bulky trucks we all see everyday! I enjoyed it right from the beginning until the very end.

© Copyright 2017, tim boehlert