The Bedford Boys

I saw one of these on a pad in Singapore at a barracks we were staying at during an exercise.

Hangers behind supposedly held other armour but we didn't get to see any of that.

Thanks for the info , Ill make some inquiries

I see a picture of a lubrication trailer.Workshop Servicing No3

Do you still have it around or have contact with new owner?

I have one the same here in New Zealand but it's missing a lot of the internals like pipework, compressor, tank and engine.

I would like to see lots of photos of the interior so I can make out what all the parts are, what type of engine runs what type of compressor , how the pipework was fitted and terminated.

My trailer had one hose rack, some grease pots, a lubrication chart file holder and a handle that allows operator to move trailer by hand but very little left of internal details

Thanks Tony, I'll look into it, but would be nice to talk to someone who has one.

11 hours ago, Tony B said:

Britsh army called thier version the Bengazi.

Thanks for that, but this is a totally different beastie

11 hours ago, Tony B said:

Britsh army called thier version the Bengazi.

Known as a speedway burner or (Chuffer) this unit is used to boil water for ablutions or kitchens and was in service with the New Zealand Army in the 1980 and 90s.

I have no information on this unit apart from the following:

Unit main body is dug into the ground up to half the units height.

Fuel tank is filled with 60 % diesel and 40 % kerosene and fits to main body via a flat iron spigot

Spigot also hold a conical hat with a hole in the centre for fuel pipe to go through, hat prevents rain water going into fuel combustion chamber

A 20 litre Stainless steel bucket is filled with water and placed in the large hole in the main body

stove pipes are fitted opposite the fuel chamber and reach to approximately 2 metres in height, may also have conical cover fitted for bad weather.

To light unit, tie a rag on to a piece of wire and soak with fuel, light it and hang it in the top of the chimney, light a second one and place it down the combustion chamber

Open filler cap or vent bung on top of fuel tank, ensure copper fuel pipe id directed over splash plate in combustion chamber.

Open fuel tap until fuel drizzles onto flaming rag, withdraw rag when flame is self sustaining, reduce fuel until a dripping is enough to keep unit in operation

When water is boiling or hot enough for use, ladel water out of bucket, do not remove bucket from main body, top up bucket as water is taken out and this will maintain heat well enough while fuel is burning.

To extinguish burner, turn fuel tap off, close vent bung or lid and remove fuel tank. Fire will continue to burn in main body until used up

Safety:

Do not look down combustion chamber when lighting unit (eye brows go missing)

Do not leave fuel tank on unit when not in use, any fuel leak will fill main body with fuel and fumes (and when lit will launch water bucket skywards)

Do not use petrol as a fuel as it is too hot

Do not remove bucket and carry it around as it will be covered in soot, use a ladel to remove and refill water

Clean all components weekly to remove soot layer and make unit more efficient

Ensure lid is kept on water bucket to prevent fuel, dust and soot getting in the water

Stove pipes and main body will be hot!

Questions I have are:

Does anyone know where these units were made

Are they British or US design

Who else used them

Does anyone have any parts for them , stove pipes, buckets, lids, caps, fuel tanks

Does anyone have multiple photos of a soyer stove and dimensions and sketches that would aid in building one.

I know we used them in New Zealand but have never seen one in the flesh as it were, I also believe we built a home grown version the outer casing being similar to a large dairy can.

From what I have seen on the internet the stove is a solid fuel burning weatherproof unit that has a removable pot.

What I don't know is if once the pot is removed is the fire open to the top or is there a second skin keeping the the fire and smoke contained and directed to the smoke stack?

Thanks so much for the detailed photos, its a great help, Ill pass them on

Hopefully he will post some photos of resto as it happens

Hey there, a friend of mine is restoring a commer Q4 with workshop body (see photo of type)

We would like some photos or details of the mounting between body and chassis.

As the bodies of these Commers were transferred to RL Bedfords here in NZ in the sixties and the commers put out to pasture we have no intact survivors to check against.

Other details such as spare tyre location and any other facts about stowage beneath the body would be good and photos are always great.

I am hoping this beast still lives somewhere in the UK as it is exactly like the one we have here. Ours is an electrical repair wagon from what we can make of it.

Any detail or help is appreciated

Regards Steve

Hi All,

I'm in need of a set of handlebars for a James ML, as well as the gearchange mechanism for the side of the fuel tank, carburettor and mudguards. Any leads appreciated.

Cheers,

Alex

The carrier is an Aussie built LP 2pdr Attack carrier. It's driven in the normal manner as with any LP Carrier. They moved the engine to beside the driver to make room for the 2pdr. The gearchange is a bit different, being behind your left shoulder, meaning you had to reach across your self with your right arm and change gears above your shoulder.

Cheers,

Alex

Is that Speedo same as Loyd Carrier?

most carrier track is the same british design but windsor track has a wider gap between the horns because the weels are slightly wider, aussie track will fit but has lead plugs to hold the pins in so looks slightly different as to supply there is a bit about, send kevin powles a pm and seeifhe has any spare

Aussie and Kiwi track is wider between the horns than English/ Canadian Carrier track. Aussie/kiwi track is similar to Vickers Light Tank I believe. Not all Local Pattern track was lead plug, it can be rivetted too.

There's a bloke here in NZ who is casting new Local Pattern track, in the early stages of testing it I'm told. I dont know why someone hasn't done the same with English/Canadian track?

I have a 1967 S2a LWB Landrover, it was built as a Military Plant repair vehicle and contained a Tooley welder run off the centre PTO and sat between the front seats. It also had a 400 cycle diesel generator sitting in the bed of the vehicle which could be unloaded using a small davit mounted by the RH rear bumper, tools operated by the generator consisted of a grindstone type grinder, rock breaker, 1/4 inch drill, 1/2inch drill, knibblers, sheet metal shears, circular saw and rattle gun, stowage was set up on the wheel wells for the tool boxes.

Does anyone have any information on these particular landrovers? There were three in service in New Zealand until the 1980s when the Stage One V8 landrovers came into service. Two are under restoration with the third in a fire engine museum in the South Island. Does anyone have any information on the Tooley Welder or Engineering Company?

Were these boxes on all MWDs?

Were vals not silver inside like other British AFVs? I thought only American armour was white (apart from a short period when Britain was low on silver pigments so used white?) Or have I just answered my own question...

Isn't this the one that got made for the movie "White Tiger" (or something like that) a while back?

You have hit on an interesting part of Loyd Carrier development there!

 

Originally the very early vehicles (MKI) used 7V drums / Bendix brakes with a plate and sprocket bolted on the front, all part of the short development schedule and business case to the government, i.e. it's all proven technology.... However research in the archive has shown that in extended trails / first real world use the brakes were a real weak spot, getting so over heated that the Loyds were having to stop every few miles to let them cool down enough to regain some form of steering!

Loyd did a redesign with Girling which was tested in December 1940 and the resulting larger diameter drum / sprocket carrier casting is a unique Loyd part. There was a retrofit kit to bring all MKIs to MKII standard as the original setup was basically useless! It was available at £62. 6. 4. :-)

According to a letter by Vivian himself, the MKII was in production no later than 23rd April 1941, presumably some time before.

They're still bloody hard to turn when the brakes are hot! No matter how hard you yank on the lever

The vehicle has been saved by a friend of mine and will be restored to it's former glory.

These airfilters also fit LP2A carriers.

20 carriers were at the Year of the Carrier event, however only 17 carriers completed the 3.2km drive.

The Carrier WorldRecord has stood for nigh on a decade now since2005 in Corowa, Australia.

We Kiwis think it's time to take the trophy from the Aussies and place it onour mantelpiece next to the Webb Ellis Cup andBledisloe Cup.

On January 16-18, 2015, the New Zealand Military Vehicle CollectorsClub are hosting an attempt to break the record at the Wings Over WairarapaAirshow.

The record attempt will be part of a Warhorses display at the show, which willalso feature rides, section of WW1trench, and themed displays of soft-skinand other armoured vehicles.

We aim to not only beat the record with numbers of carriers, but also with variety of models. Attending so far are 2 original Bren Carriers, Loyds, English andCanadian Universals and variants, andan example of each LP model and their post war militarymodifications (3" mortar, Flame thrower, MMG, 6pdr tractor) and others.

We hope to see a few forum members hop over the ditch, or head down under, for a look!

We will post more updates later.

Keep Calm andCarrier On!

It's not the only British made 3" Mortar Carrier in the world. I know of at least 3 others in New Zealand alone. Looks like a good project for someone though. Is this one still in New Zealand or has it been shipped overseas?

Hi Team,

I have recently acquired an MWC Bedford that is missing its heart

 

According to the previous owner, who is the only private owner since the NZ Army, the engine and Box went west many years ago, and prompted the removal of the still good tank, onto a trailer, so they could continue to use it as a sprayer.

Now that the Truck is with me, I need to find a new Engine and box for it.

I do still have the gearbox top housing with gear lever still in it.

I have been offered a couple of 214’s with box’s out of J1 Bedford’s, which there are plenty of here in NZ, but from the reading I have done on the forum to date, there are problems with using the J1 units.

Questions are

1. Will a J1 214 motor and box bolt straight in?

2. How do I identify an original MW Engine and Box

3. Is there any combination of the 2 I can use? J1 214 with MW box?

I have seen a post that mentions being able to use a later 214, but here are issues with bell housing and flywheel when mating up to an original MW box

 

Photo of the MWC as recovered.

 

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Easy. Use the MW bellhousing, flywheel and clutch. Drop the rear main cap of the newer motor so you can punch out two of the six dowels that hold the flywheel to the crank, so you are left with four that match the MW flywheel. Refit the rear main cap. Fit the MW bellhousing to the engine and you are good to go. We've had 3 different types of Bedford 214 in the MW that I look after. They all fit. Gotta change the front engine mount too, if you want to be able to use the crank handle. The hole in the front won't line up otherwise.

Black