REAL Answers Human Interest

By knocking out two windows, part of a wall and landing on a car, “Bubble Nose” became a legend, at the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga. Lyndia Thomas, director of museum operations, remembers it well. “It happened the night before our grand opening. To position this 1947 GMC in the museum, a crew had to take it up huge ramps that scaled three stories of the building. Then, the brakes failed. The man directing the driver jumped and the truck rolled through a wall.” The crew worked all night to repair the building, while local body shop technicians gave up sleep to repair the truck. Last summer, Bubble Nose got nationwide attention when his picture appeared in “Real Answers.” Now, we’ve tracked down his owners at Lanser Garage and Towing, Inc. in Belgium, Wisconsin.

Can you describe the truck’s history?
Donna Ingelse, owner of Lanser Garage and Towing: “The truck was originally owned by Pabst Brewing Company of Milwaukee .In those days, it was a fifth-wheel truck used to haul barrels of beer and water.

What did it take to restore the truck to working order?
Ingelse: “The restoration started in February, 1992. Less than two months later, we put Bubble Nose on a trailer and took it to the Wisconsin Expo in Milwaukee. Everybody here at Lanser’s helped with restoring Bubble Nose, and Dad searched everywhere for a new water pump.” Lanser: “I even sent one of our employees to Arizona to a place that specialized in old GMC parts. No luck. Finally, I found a water pump on another truck, not exactly the same but a close fit. So I got a local company to machine-cut the part for us.”

Eventually it was replaced and sold to a school bus company that had the fifth wheel removed and turned it into a tow truck. Bubble Nose worked for years towing school buses until its water pump failed and the bus company couldn’t find parts. They parked it out back, in a field.”

George Lanser, founder of Lanser Garage and Towing: “I found it in 1988 in the weeds near West Bend, about 20 miles from us. When I bought the truck, it was in such bad shape one of the front fenders fell off on the way home.”

Can you describe the unusual bumper on the truck?
Ingelse: “It’s incredibly solid, at least 5 inches thick. The original bumper was in such bad shape it had to be replaced. So Dad took my sons to a logging camp and they found an enormous plank. The wood was extremely heavy but they managed to carry it to the truck. Once they got it back home, we sanded it into the bumper that’s still on the truck today.”

Was Bubble Nose ever put to work towing for Lanser?
Ingelse: “It was used as a showpiece right from the start. We used to take Bubble Nose to towing conventions, parades, shows, expos, that kind of thing.”

How is Bubble Nose different from other tow trucks?
Ingelse: “It’s a 1947 GMC but the only way I can describe Bubble Nose is to say it’s so ugly it’s cute. It’s a very short truck, very different from other trucks. It’s also extremely tall, 114 inches high; and it weighs 11,560 pounds.” Lyndia Thomas, International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum operations director: “Bubble Nose is in perfect condition. The Lansers did an excellent restoration job, right down to the light on top. It’s also one BIG towing truck. It takes three steps to climb into the cab, and it only has about 2 inches of clearance under our enormous garage doors.”

Bubble Nose made quite a first impression at the museum. Do you remember that night?
Ingelse: “I sure do. I wasn’t at the grand opening but I got a phone call the night before. The people at the museum knew my parents were on their way so they called me. What they really wanted was the paint number. I heard a garage in Chattanooga worked all night to make repairs and repaint the truck in time for the opening.”

Last summer, we featured an article about the International Towing and Recovery Museum. We hear you got some unexpected phone calls.
Ingelse: “Apparently people saw the picture of Bubble Nose. Our Lanser Garage and Towing logo and phone number were so clear, people called to see if it was still a working number.”
Lanser: “I talked to folks in South Dakota, Montana, Alabama, even Canada. They’d seen that picture of Bubble Nose and had all sorts of questions.”

How long has Lanser Garage and Towing been around?
Lanser: “I’d driven a tank during World War II and got hit. So after I recovered, the Army put me in a wrecker and I loved it. After the war, in 1951, I opened an implement dealership, where we fixed farm tractors and fork lifts...and I wanted a tow truck. Everybody in town said, don’t do it. I’m glad I didn’t listen because I bought my first tow truck in 1958 and here we are.”
Ingelse: “My husband, Randy, and I worked with Dad for years. Then, in 1997, we bought the business from him. Towing, along with sales and service, is still our main focus although we recondition lift trucks and rent them. Dad’s still here 6 days a week and he’s real handy to have around.”

How has the business changed since those early days?
Ingelse: “The towing industry has seen a lot of change in the last 30 to 40 years. The equipment has become much more high tech. Mechanical devices have been replaced by fancy hydraulics. And the trucks have far greater capabilities. But towing has always been, and still is, an art. It takes a real pro to get the job done right.” Lanser: “Besides equipment, the biggest change is in people. Back then, we did business on a handshake, and people paid a little each week. Nowadays, there has to be paperwork.”

Ingelse: “We’re in business 24 hours a day every day of the year. That’s really the key to success. We’re always there. We try to keep at least three people working round-the-clock.The only time we ran a bit short handed was when Dad was inducted into the Hall of Fame at ceremonies in Las Vegas in 1992. Naturally, the entire family wanted to be there for him, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives.”
Lanser: “They had a special ruby ring made for me with a tow truck engraved on one side and a J-hook on the other. It has my name, the year I started in business, and the year I entered the Hall of Fame. Quite a ring. That’s a night I’ll never forget.”