Degsy

My pleasure Chris, thank you for commenting.

Thanks for your help on that, have ordered one, hopefully it will do the job. Thank you for your comment, without this and other comments I wouldn't have continued the thread but would have just spent time meeting with Ken to listen to his story for my own interest.

Thank you Snort and Richard, having returned from the pub suitably refreshed and having re read the thread I was embarrassed to read my own post and immediately spot the stupid mistakes.Having read it through originally before pressing the post button I realised how much my mind and concentration had wandered whilst composing the post. My apologies and I hope I haven't missed any more stupid errors and that the post now makes a little more sense.I will definitely continue with the thread as soon as possible if only for my own interest in Ken's story but obviously it will depend on when we can find a mutually acceptable time to meet for what I envisage will take several hours. Any suggestions as to the best type of small and hopefully cheap recorder to buy and the best supplier of same will be gratefully received as my knowledge of any recording equipment available after the mid 1960's can be summed up in two words, first word four letters beginning with F second word three letters ending with L:laugh:

Crept into a packed crematorium chapel just as the minister welcomed the congregation to find Ken had kept me a seat right by the door, during the eulogy given by the minister he nearly brought the house down when he said that he had asked Steve's (the deceased) long term partner, Dawn, to describe him in one word she said cantankerous,:-D not a description I would have used but like me he didn't suffer fools gladly and we shared the same cynical attitude and dry sense of humour, in short he was a true, loyal, friend. RIP mate. Before hurrying back to the workshop I managed a short chat with Ken and a couple of gentle questions took him back to his early life as a genuine cockney, one of eight children of which only Ken and an older sister now living in Newmarket still survive. I have explained to him the interest his life story will be to members on this forum and although very surprised he will be happy for us to spend time together so I can record his memories. He is the perfect caricature of the true Cockney sparrow,short in stature, large in personality with dark hair, sharp features and quick movements, at almost 83 years of age he could easily pass as a man many years his junior. I have some more information regarding Motorcraft but am going to hold that back to use at the correct time in his story which I hope will record his early childhood in the East End before and during WW2,followed by his teenage years, apprenticeship, army service and subsequent career and family life of which I already know some rather poignant details. please bear with me until I can spend the necessary time with Ken to record the whole interesting story in chronological order. I am now off to the pub to sink a few in happy memory of my late mate Steve. I know he will be watching and approve.

Thank you for the comments, judging by the number of views the thread seems to be generating a fair bit of interest so will continue with the info I have so far in another post.

To continue, Ken left the Army in the early 1950's and went to work for Motorcraft at their premises in Chiswick, this was a Jewish family business specialising in refurbishing and selling WW11 jeeps managed by the owners son in law, a chap called Harry Beckerman. The owners father who was in his eighties at that time used to sit on a table in the rear of the premises hand sewing canvas for the roof and seats of the refurbished jeeps, according to Ken he was a millionaire who had made his fortune as a tailor to the Royal Navy following the fleet from port to port making uniforms for the Naval officers.Another old aged employee fondly remembered by Ken and described as a genius of a metal basher was called Aubrey. his speciality was re-skinning the floors and bodies of what sometimes were more colander than jeep and he would attach the hand beaten metal over what remained of the original bodies.This I found quite interesting as I remember comments by owners who have rebuilt jeeps in recent times finding this and speculating on who had done it and when this might have happened, perhaps this is the answer as at the time the company was refurbishing and selling large numbers of jeeps. Ken's main job was to drive a recovery truck to airfields all over East Anglia to collect jeeps and deliver them to Chiswick, two stacked one on top of the other on the truck and a third one towed behind, a practice which involved many a run in with the boys in blue who hated what he was doing but never managed to hang a successful charge on him. Got to go and get my kit ready now in preparation for the funeral later this morning of a close friend and colleague, another mechanic and garage proprietor of the 'old school' highly respected in the trade in this area particularly for his expertise with carburettors and early petrol injection systems, he had served his time in a Ford main dealer in the 1960's. More to follow as and when......

Wrong....in the workshop before 8am and didn't lock up and leave until 7 pm.

Had a visitor in the workshop today, a friend now in his 80's who I hadn't seen for some time. For many years he was employed as a commercial vehicle mechanic by the local authority but apart from the fact that he was originally a Londoner born and bred we had never discussed his previous 'life'. My jeep was parked in the workshop and as he walked in his face lit up on spotting it, rather to my surprise his immediate comment was 'I've driven hundreds of them', as I was raising a somewhat cynical eyebrow and before I could say anything he carried on 'I know that's a French one' not knowing it belonged to me and and after only a quick glance at the side and rear from 15 to 20 feet away as he entered the building. There obviously being a lot more to this than met the eye I wanted to know more, a lot more. As its now after 2am and I have to get up at my usual time of 6.30 am I will, hopefully, continue this story for anyone interested later today.:sleep:

I have seen numerous pictures of similar hats being worn during the Korean war by both British and American troops. Rightly or wrongly I had always asumed these were US hats on issue to both nations fighting troops

The tests carried out on vehicles in North Wales in the 1930's were held in the Llangollen area on what are still 'green lanes' which I know well and have driven many times. From the photo's taken at the time they have not changed a great deal in the last 80 years apart from the size of hedges and trees and they must have posed a considerable test for both vehicles and drivers. Thanks for posting the excerpts Clive, looking forward to seeing more please.

A viable alternative would be a M29C Studebaker Weasel, US produced but derived from what was originally a British design. Used by both US and British forces during WW11 weighs around 2 tons so can easily be trailered and there is a choice of tracks available. I admit to a vested interesr as I have one for sale but it is a lovely vehicle to drive and I will be very sad to see it go. By the way it's not armoured but instead is amphibious and with it's canvas roof and sides fitted it is impervious to the British weather. Mine is at present advertised on Milweb for £19950, a lot cheaper than a 'Bren' Carrier and a more practical proposition when fitted with the rubber tracks as mine does.

A visit to a primary school in the lower Conwy Valley has been arranged for this Thursday 13th October. I have done several school visits previously and will be taking my own vehicles and if anybody else would like to bring a vehicle I can assure you it will be a very rewarding experience. I will be giving some of the children a talk about WW11 and you would be welcome to join in with this if you wish but if you only wanted to show your vehicle(s) to the children and possibly a few parents that's OK. I realise this is very short notice but this is due to circumstances beyond my control but your attendance would be greatly appreciated. There would be no payment as I do this purely on a voluntary basis and don't ask the school's for any expenses etc.

That looks very tidy, I hope you enjoy it.

A friend is also looking for a pair of 1400-20 bar grips for a Matador if you can help.

I'm afraid the short answer is no.

At a show today I was offered various items by a bygones dealer including a 4 gallon British WW11 oil can that the vendor claimed was used in British tanks. On seeing it my first thought was that it was a 4 gallon petrol 'flimsy' but the vendor claimed he had identifiied it by searching the Internet and it does seem that a similar can was fitted to Churchill tanks. The can is in good condition so does anybody know what it's worth and is it any use to anybody on here.

Is it a mobile bath unit or mobile laundry? Last guess for tonight Clive, got to be up 6.30am to go to a show.

Is it mobile?

Hi Steve, nice to speak to you too. If you have no joy in this country although their website doesn't list mirrors or arms you could try H O Wildenberg in Holland email wildenberg@planet.nl

Dallas Autos or Jeeparts should be able to supply you with arms and mirrors. Have a word with Jim Clark at Allied Forces for anything in canvas, Jim is a member on here.

Rick, if you want another I can do one at £65 plus carriage.

In the long run I don't think it does cost them money, they are desperate to keep their regular buyers and will bend over backwards to ensure those people are looked after and remember there is always the brown envelope.

Pics of cans,sorry about shadows.

I used to have a pre war tank...........a 1930's Dinky model;)