Richard Peskett

I quite agree with you Sean, Lacre's interest in municipal vehicles etc., the additions could well be to do with that aspect. Unfortunately its one of the few chassis makes I have little on. Richard Peskett.

A chance purchase at the recent Beaulieu autojumble may cause some head scratching ! . Taken in a assembly workshop with lots of fitters benches in background ( plus 2 solid tyre front wheels). Conventional four spoke steering wheel, ignition switch, fuel tank, cone clutch and track rod behind axle. Unusual points - channel section chassis with angle iron added underneath, oddly appears to reduced in depth under scuttle area , large attached dumb irons at extreme front, what appears to be a reduction box added worked from lever left of centre, large central clutch pedal below steering column, possibly chain drive, reasonable sure its English, both gear and brake levers are very similar ( eg no clasp on brake lever , therefore not a Subsidy design),there are some design similarities to Albion but I am sure it not is. Unfortunately both the plate on the scuttle and name on pedals ( Lalys ??) cannot be read. If it was a conversion for railway use the steering would not be connected . The more you look the more unusual it is !. Richard Peskett.

I have numerous original pages from the AEC Maintenance Gazette, ( contemporary) by reading there was obviously confusion from day one . There is about 10 pages of text and listing ,too much to put on here but anybody who would like a copy contact me via this site and I will send a pdf file . Richard Peskett.

According to my listings 'Y' type chassis number ended at about 16264 in late 1920 although sales no doubt drifted on sometime after that although competing with war surplus examples. Probably either a 'YC' - 45 hp Tylor engine, pressed steel frame, David brown worm drive, spur box or a 'YD' same but Lanchester worm drive. Following was the 5 type model 501 with AEC engine. Richard Peskett.

Further thoughts on this for sources of information are : 'Commercial Motor Index 1913 -1924', pub. Autopress, Brighton 1964. ( very useful and comprehensive on all makes and models giving all specifications etc. probably available from ABE Books ) 'The Motor, Marine and Aircraft Red Book' , contemporary to WW1, published annually. This will be considerably more expensive if you can find copies. Richard Peskett.

From my own library several years ago I made various indexes for WW.1 material of general interest. Lists herewith, if you cannot find any of this on 'on-line' sources I can probably help out. Richard Peskett.

A fleet of about 65 such vehicles were operated in London by the Metropolitan Steam Omnibus Company in 1908. Richard Peskett.

Sorry, this is the file that should be attached reference war surplus reconditioned Albions. Richard Peskett.

Definitely war surplus, the Glasgow registration I think is 1919, would appear to be a later cab fitted after the war. Albion like Leyland bought back reasonable quantities of their products after November 1918 and reconditioned them. No doubt Albion records will reveal all in due course !. It is possibly one of several lorries in the Sword collection being sold at auction following the death of John Sword in 1960. Richard Peskett. Scan0268.pdf

Didn't take too long for this one to return across the channel ! . Cheffins sale , lot 369 at Knowle Hill .the De Dion , lot 360 is safely at my workshop. Possibly one of the most original complete pre WW1 lorries . Richard Peskett.

An interesting advertisement from C.M. for the war surplus Heavy Aviation lorry. By this time ( late 1925) prices of virtually all W.W. 1 surplus lorries had dropped below £300. Peerless Trading, Slough were offering A.E.C and Thornycroft at £295 and Peerless 4 ton at £225. Richard Peskett.

Tim, you are correct, the one we restored now resides at Bridgnorth, will be making its first public appearance under new ownership at Beamish in April. Richard Peskett.

Herewith image of an advertising card for the Thresher Disinfector Co. Silver Thimble no .4' mounted on a Foden steam wagon. Richard Peskett.

The 'new' Liberty' looks good, a very interesting design concept with some 163 companies being involved in production of parts and other well known manufacturers such as Pierce-Arrow only assembling them. From drawing board to a running truck in four months, quite an achievement, close on 10000 being produced by November 1918. Well advanced in design with detachable cylinder heads, provision for electric start ( although not fitted as standard) ,central gear change etc. ( at the time Austin were still producing a lorry with separate cylinders and T head valve arrangement!) .Also an engine of about 58 hp was a good 50% up on most British built WW1 lorries. I believe the mark 1 had wooden wheels and electric lighting whereas the mark 2 had cast steel wheel and oil lights. apparently there was a problem with the electric lights in the black out !. Picture herewith of one we restored for a customer several years ago and a contemporary advertisement for war surplus trucks etc. Compared with other trucks few were sold here as war surplus but some found a much extended working life in the travelling fun fair business. Richard Peskett.

Good to see that the 'B' type made it to Brighton successfully and won first prize in the military class. It was of course restored in our workshop on behalf of London Transport Museum and proved to be a considerable challenge with only 12 months to complete a total rebuild , the engine , gearbox and back axle had previously been sourced in Australia ,a survivor of some 40 chassis shipped reconditioned second hand in 1921/2. The lower saloon of the original body had survived on the chassis on an Essex small holding and with evidence of its serial number still visible on the chassis frame it enabled us to positively identify the actual vehicle. We managed to complete in 10 months, first finished as a service bus of the summer of 1914 and then last September , almost 100 years ago to the day we re-finished it into the troop carrying khaki as now seen. The bus has since successfully completed a tour of Belgium and France as well as attending numerous events here. The 'Grundon' Pierce-Arrow was also many years ago mostly rebuilt in our workshop , It was bought by the family as an 80th birthday present for Mr. Steve Grundon whose father had started the company after WW1 with war surplus Peerless and Pierce-Arrow lorries bought from the Slough dump. It had survived near Arles in France along with a Riker/Locomobile ( I do not know what happen to that ) and had started life with the French army. It is good to see that some 20 years on the family still take an interest in the lorry and the run. I do not know anything about the new addition in the back !. Richard Peskett.

Some mobile cranes had this type of wide ,grooved, detachable solid tyre wheels .I think we had a Ransomes Rapier with these fitted many years ago. Richard Peskett.

I think the chassis on offer in Australia is in fact an LGOC ( AEC) B type , almost certainly one of the 40 plus exported second hand to Australia 1921/2. I do not think any K types made it to Australia. Richard Peskett.

Fantastic letter confirming its history , amazing what turns up !, anyhow herewith 'Buy now while stocks last' . Richard Peskett.

If you go on line to ONB/ANNO AustriaN Newspaper Online - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung you will find free the complete run of this magazine from 1900 onwards which contains much info. on cars and commercial vehicles including Austrian / German WW1 period. Very worthwhile taking a look and quite easy to find your way around. Richard Peskett.

We have used Morris's 250 SAE in back axles and gearboxes and 30 or 40 SAE in engines since the 1970s both in my own and customers vehicles. We have never had a problem, do not use multi-grade ,EP oils etc. as they have a distinctive dislike to white metal and yellow metals as previously mentioned. A point not previously mentioned is that in the early days thick oil was used in axles and gearboxes as much as to keep it in the casing rather than its lubrication properties, grease was also used, remember not much in the way of seals in those days. In London, the City of London and MET police made life very difficult for the bus operators 1905 /7 in applying frequent fines for dropping oil onto the road, subsequently the LGOC introduced cast aluminium trays integral with the sumps etc. to retain this oil. Richard Peskett.

The 1924 Miller lamps are not that un-common, most Beaulieu autojumbles have at least one if not two pairs on offer at greatly varying prices !. many are probably un-used and must have been from a large order placed at the time. Miller also supplied oil side and tail lamps also suitably stamped. Richard Peskett.

Herewith an image of a Cohendet lorry, very similar to the one in this country. Richard Peskett.

I can confirm that there is one in existence here ,its very original except now fitted with a WW1 Buda TM4 engine from a Nash Quad. I bought the lorry in the 1980s and sold it to a friend of mine who still owns it. It is with out doubt the oldest ( c1906) full size commercial vehicle in this country in original condition.Contact me through this email system and I will provide more information. Richard Peskett.

Recent references made to the availability of this kind of material I thought it best to start a separate thread . I my opinion the best information which includes drawings is in the 'Automobile Engineer' and 'The Engineer', these being in A3 format. Other publications which deal more generally are Commercial Motor, Motor Traction, Industrial Motor Review. Commercial Motor ran four series of interest - 'Our Dispatches from the Front', 'How to keep your lorry fit', 'Chariots of War I have driven' and 'Overhauling' in addition there are numerous articles on makes etc. Industrial Motor Review is extremely rare being published 1904/08 and I only have two volumes. Commercial Motor is also extremely rare 1915/18 other than on line. Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung from Austria is good, available on line to see what was going on on the other side of the channel - I have indexed the UK content in this. From my own library I have indexed much of this material for the period early 1900s to the 1920s. ,publishers indexes can be somewhat unreliable !. There is far too much to publish here but if anybody is interested through this system contact me by email with your email address and I will be pleased to forward copies of my indexes for much of the above mentioned. Richard Peskett.

Further to mention of UBAS steels herewith is an advertisement for same from the 1925 Commercial Motor show catalogue. Richard Peskett.