Tony Lawrence Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Just to keep the Surrey trailer trash club going, I have just bought an airborne compressor trailer at the Durrant auction. John Corden and I have just towed it 145 miles home without any wheels falling off (admittedly we did change one wheel for a spare we brought with us as the tyre was U/S). It appears fairly complete but needs taking apart and a lot of TLC applied. Any comments or offers of parts or power tools that would have been part of the equipment would be appreciated. Photos of original or restored examples would also not go amiss. I hope to start this project in the next few months but in the meantime here are a few photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffo Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 That's a beauty, can't wait to see the restoration stages! Your not short of people who can help with parts down your way!! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B. Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Morning Tony, Please let me know when you finish this as I was hoping you could "drop in" and help with some driveway repairs. Seriously though,what a lovely thing. There will soon not be enough airborne jeeps to tow all these trailers ! Best wishes, David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Morning Tony, Please let me know when you finish this as I was hoping you could "drop in" and help with some driveway repairs. Seriously though,what a lovely thing. There will soon not be enough airborne jeeps to tow all these trailers ! Best wishes, David. Hi David, This was at the Beccles auction on Saturday and I spotted it in their catalogue. Then succeeded in: 1. Persuaidng Tony that he needed another trailer it, and 2. won the bidding for it on behalf of Mr Lawrence It is good to have saved another rare trailer, because I was asked imediately after the sale if I was going to "break" for the engine! We are looking for a suitable 1940's pneumatic drill for road repairs....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Anthony, Link to thread as discussed: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?27455-British-WWII-REME-Lightweight-Electrical-Repair-Trailer-Restoration-Project Will post some more photos later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gas 44 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 That looks a nice piece of kit in there somewhere, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 For some inspiration.....this was for sale in 2013 for £2500. Contract number shows it was a Mk3. Several post-war fittings: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 This one was in the Netherlands. Photographed at Ginkel Heath in Sept 2004, another useful reference. Although can be seen to have missing righthand rear storage box: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 (edited) Contemporary WWII photo (incorrectly annotated): Edited March 26, 2015 by cordenj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 (edited) .............. Edited March 26, 2015 by cordenj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 This one was in the Netherlands. Photographed at Ginkel Heath in Sept 2004, another useful reference. Although can be seen to have missing righthand rear storage box: John, I think those are my pictures. I might have some more of the same trailer if they are of any use (?) Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_bish Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 great to see this saved by someone who will restore it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 John, I think those are my pictures. I might have some more of the same trailer if they are of any use (?) Alex Alex, Yes please, the more information I can gather so much the better. Do you have any documentation as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 (edited) John, I think those are my pictures. I might have some more of the same trailer if they are of any use (?) Alex Hi Alex, I think I found them on the web somewhere, so am sure you are right. Hope you don't mind me posting them on here? I'm certain any more photos you have would be much appreciated. Thanks Edited March 28, 2015 by cordenj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Here are some more photos of the Austin engine and air compressor. Interesting that they had used copper pipe for the exhaust. I never considered that when I made the exhaust for my Austin powered Murex Welding trailer. There is also a different type of mechanical governor used on this trailer, but the distributor with integral magneto looks the same as on the welder. Rear trailer socket still in place, and suspect two small angle brackets is for the T-plate (Anthony you've been waiting to use your NOS one) As the starting handle was missing on my Murex trailer, I had to find something similar. But we found that the flimsy Landrover starting handle I shortened to fit bent when turned with some force. the original handle was with this trailer, and it was built to withstand some enthusiastic starting procedures: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Yes please, the more information I can gather so much the better. Do you have any documentation as well? Tony, John, I had to dig deep to find the pics on the computer, but here they are. No real detail pics I'm afraid! I have no documentation on the trailer sadly, but I have an email-address of the owner (ex-owner?) of the trailer in the pics. I will send it by PM. Hi Alex, I think I found them on the web somewhere, so am sure you are right. Hope you don't mind me posting them on here? Don't worry John! No problem here. I think I posted them on MLU at the time. I can send you the full size images by email, if you send your email-address by PM regards, Alex Edited March 29, 2015 by Alex van de Wetering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artifficer Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Hi John Another choice trailer find for Tony, I bet Nettie is pleased. So one was sold in 2013, £2500 for a compressor trailer, thats inflation for you. Regards Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Hi JohnAnother choice trailer find for Tony, I bet Nettie is pleased. So one was sold in 2013, £2500 for a compressor trailer, thats inflation for you. Regards Rob Evening Rob, One was for sale for £2500.......I don't know what it sold for. But its not an unreasonable price given their rarity. (Netti is truly delighted :-D) Edited March 29, 2015 by cordenj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfy Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I bid on this but it shot up and I left it, well done on your purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 At long last I have taken the plunge and begun the strip down of the airborne compressor trailer. It has been sitting outside my garage waiting for space and it required the help of several people to manoeuver it into place - lightweight it is not!! I took the roof off the other day and John Corden assembled his engine hoist for me this morning. I thought I would tinker with the trailer and got carried away. I WD40'd all bolts that I could see and then started undoing them. To my surprise all except one trailer stand bolt undid with no problem at all and so I am almost in the position to summon the nice and kind Mr. Corden to help me remove the engine and compressor. The cylindrical air tank is seriously heavy being made of 1/4" rolled plate. The following photos show progress so far While I was waiting for these pictures to download I have just removed the support plate/bracket for the air tank - four nuts undid with no effort it was also one side of the compressor crank case and in the sump the oil was as clear as thin treacle - a pity that the piston appears seized at the moment. This whole process so far makes restoration fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 A final few photos - every time I go to the garage now the radiator looks very tempting. You never know it might be out by the end of the day and then it's engine time. hello John, fancy coming round for a play and a beer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 I couldn't resist it - the radiator is now out. I forgot to drain it in my excitement and so I now have a lot of water/antifreeze over the garage floor. Interestingly it appears that the radiator also acts as an oil cooler as there are inlet and outlet oil pipes and a matrix at the back of the radiator. Telephone the sandblaster tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Looks like very good progress since this morning. Take three times as many photos as you think you'll need from every angle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Tony, Good to see you have started on the project. Did you manage to get in toach with the (ex?) owner of the other trailer? Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted July 2, 2015 Author Share Posted July 2, 2015 Tony, Good to see you have started on the project. Did you manage to get in toach with the (ex?) owner of the other trailer? Alex Unfortunately the e-mail bounced back. First lot of bits are now with the sandblaster and today I have taken delivery of two new 6.00 x 16 tourist tyres. Engine and compressor should be out by the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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