PB1954RNS

Hi. The remains of the other Albion in the scrap yard, the owners are not going to let it go and to be honest the photos I took of it in 2011 then it was passed the point of no return, 6 years later I dread to think what is left of it. If anyone decided to take it on, the amount of money needed to restore it would beyond the normal enthusiast. They would have to strip all useful parts off it and start again with a brand new chassis. As I have found that Albion parts are not that easy to find, I'm still looking for a speedo cable that is 11 feet long and a complete rear diff to finish off the rear axle. Many thanks for all your kind remarks about the project and I will keep you all up to date as progress moves on. Cheers. P.B

Hi. A couple of photos to show a update. These were taken in April but has moved on a bit more lot of the work is is underneath. I will sort out photos of the new decking as there was just marine plywood used. These photos show how the side locker was when found and during rebuilding. The first photo shows the locker as found with two plastic containers with fuel still in them, these were quickly removed. There had been a piece of plywood bolted to the front and spare parts of the lorry including the rear small prop shaft, With the wood on the front the locker had became a small pond over the years stood out in the open rusting valuable parts. If you look at the photo you can see the recess in the back of the cab for the nose of the boats to fit in. The next ones show the new steel being fitted and the hinges were found in the remains of the passenger seat/tool box in the cab. The locker is finished as you can see in the top photo but all that I need is two locker hasps that are bent to fit over the edge of the angle iron at the top and fit onto the staples.

Hi. With regards to a question about the folding boats, I would like to make and fit the boats but at present only have a few details on them. I trying to chase down where I could obtain plans for them - Southampton or Portsmouth boat building companies. The photo of the pontoon lorry on Pegasus Bridge is of a Leyland lorry, some say it's a Albion but if you look at the rad you will see that it has rounded shoulders on it, where the BY5 has a square rad on it. Another history point and that is that Albion Motors had got to a BY7 chassis No 52600A - but was never taken any further. These photos show how bad the steering wheel was, it was so rotton and had to be replaced. I managed to get another steering wheel I think they said it came off a Bedford lorry but it did fit. On stripping the coating off the old steering wheel the rim was just full of rust holes and would of broken off the steering column if left . I stripped the coating off the replacement wheel as this was missing in places and cleaned it up and just painted it black and had several coats put on to protect it. Will post some more later . Cheers. PB

Hi. Right having got your interest more details. The F.B.E stands for Folding Boat Equipment and these lorries carried the folding boats to make up a class 9 bridge, class 9 means the maximum tonnage that could use the bridge. The boats are 22 feet long and could carry 3 boats on each lorry. Just to take a step back, Albion Motors just supplied a chassis and half a cab and Weymanns Motor Bodies, Weybridge , Surrey fitted the F.B.E bodies and also a contract to supply and fit General Service bodies as well. These photo show the folding boats at the company that made them and the last show the R.E building a Class 9 Bridge. The bodies had a roller bed for ease of loading the boats on and off and in a gap in the bed there are two sets of three lifting beams to lift the boat clear ready for the next one to be loaded, then same again for the last boat. The beams were operated by 4 personnel winding up/down the winch inside the four towers. On the right hand side looking from the rear, were the tie down straps of various lengths and on the left hand side were the hooks and chains that joined them up in the middle. Both sets of ties and chains had adjustment on them by the operator screwing up/down the eye bolt that the chains and straps were fixed to. On the RH side of the chassis just behind the cab was a high level locker and on the LH side was a lower locker and these carried equipment such as ropes, lashings, hammers, cable and other parts to help in the construction of the bridge. Also not to forget there were the Pontoon No 5 Body mk1, these carried the larger boats for the much larger bridges, these bodies were built on the same chassis. The lorry was 21'-9" in length x 7'-6" wide x 10'-3" in height at the top of the towers. A point I nearly forgot was the cab had a 'V' recess in it, this was so the the nose of the boat would fit in. The lorry could be fitted with a trailer that could carry more boats. Albion Motors had upgraded the engine on the BY5 from a 4 cylinder as fitted to the BY1, the BY3 had a 6 cylinder petrol engine - bore 3.1/2" x 4.1/2" stroke, capacity 4.25 litres and the BY5 had a 6 cylinder petrol engine - bore 3.5/8" - stroke 4.1/2", capacity 4.56 litres. Having given the basic history and details of the lorry, I will put some photos and details of it's restoration. Cheers. P.B

Hi. I brought this Albion back in 1982 from Mains scrap yard in Oxfordshire. I later found out it is the only one left out of an order placed with Albion Motors for contract 294/V/ 5103 - F.B.E of 329. Lorry numbers started at L5332821 - L5333149 and the chassis numbers started from 52591J - 52561H, lorry number on this one is L5333042 and chassis number 52523K. Photos of the Albion after it had been moved from under the trees it had been parked under for quite a few years - the camera decided to play up for the first photo. Parked next to it was half a remains of another Albion F.B.E but this one had the back half of it cut off. On these remains I couldn't find any I.D for it, these photos were taken in 2011. Why did I buy it well it looked mean and nasty, I fell in love with it. We now come to 2014 and there she is on a farm Nr Wrexham looking very worse for wear having been stored out side for a few years. The cab had moss all over it and the chassis, birds nests under the engine covers and a very flexible steering wheel, if too much pressure put on it, it could of broke off in your hands. If no ones eyes have glazed over and interest will post more about the work carried out so far. P.B

Hi. This is what happens when old tyres decided to depart this world and hence my view on buying second hand tyres. Cheers. PB

Hi Keith. Many thanks for your message, I have sent a P.M to Pete about asking Anthony Main about the old Albion remains. Maybe about 20 years ago it could of been saved as a long time project, when I last saw it in 2011 it was slowly but with some grace falling in on it's self. When I first saw the Albion lorry, I had no idea what it was or what it did but looked a mean sort of lorry and I brought it. Sorry to hear about Ray passing away and I know that Main family have had a troubled couple of years. Well the sun is out and nearly time to play tyre fitter with the new tyres, but first, another cup of tea and some breakfast. Cheers. Paul.

Hi Pete. When I found it there was nothing in the lockers and the half of a Albion that was parked next to it was in a bit of a state. I met up with Ray Main in his house to buy it, he told me that the other Albion had been cut in half and the rear half was sold to a farmer what for he had no idea. The rear two towers as you can see from the photo were missing and also the rear diff on the last axle was missing. This is still the same situation as I cannot get a rear diff so might have to reverse engineer the diff I have now. I tried to buy the remains of the other Albion as it was only fit for spares but he wanted too much money for it - have some photos of it will dig them out and put on this site. The only bad point about owning the Albion is trying to find spares for it, the 6 cylinder petrol engine and the 8 miles to the gallon. Cheers Paul Burns.

Hi. Just another photo as she was moved from the trees before the camera played up. Cheers. PB

Hi. Yes it is - I got from Mains scrap yard in the early 80's and had to sell it on due to the lack of storage. The poor photo shows it just been pulled out of the trees and my camera decided to play up. It has come back to me and this time will get it moving again. I will start a file showing the restoration of it. Cheers. PB.

Hi. just a quick photo to show how I found the Albion on a farm Nr Wrexham, she had been standing out in the open for few years. I have quite a few photos of her restoration but thought that there wasn't the interest to see them. First photo is the new cab side as the old one had been cut at wrong angles and was a poor fit. Next is the cab side fitted and the new locker, This was just a piece of plywood bolted to the frame work to hold two 5 gallon plastic drums of fuel, these were quickly removed. I had to build the locker up from using a war time photo when the lorry was supplied to W.D from Albion Motors. The fuel tank was just for show and I have made up new pipe work to connect it back to the original fuel system. Last is the markings I put on her. As for tyres, well I have been trying to get the correct tyres for a couple of years now with very little success and have reached the point of do I fit commercial tyres or fit bar grips on her. There were a couple of bar grips on the front but these were taken off as they were scrap. As much as I would like to make it as per build but I want to get the lorry moving again - so it's bar grips. I did try Dunlop tyres to see if there was any interest to make new tyres as part of heritage tyres but told no interest. I also contacted STA about their tyres and would they fit but just passed on to an company who would sell me the tyres but would work out for 4 over £1,000 just to buy them. So unless any one knows of a secret store hidden away in some British Army Depot full of 9.00 x 20" to fit WW2 vehicles I'm slightly stuffed and the bar grips have it. Will put a photo of the tyre this weekend and I hope subject to this weather fit it on Sunday, but if I make a c--k up I wont let you know! PB.

Hi. Just to say many thanks for the replies about 9.00 x 20" tyres. I have seen the web site for Withams and checked their tyre list for 9.00 x 20" tyres, the only problem for me would be going to check them out before bidding. I have brought tyres before with out properly checking them and it cost me £90 to get them scrapped as the tyre fitters refused to fit them as they were full of cracks on the side walls and in the tread. So taking in the driving to Colsterworth, what I would pay for them with VAT, 2 day van hire, hotel and fuel costs - I live in North Bristol - it was going to be too costly. So I found a company that sells brand new 9.00 x 20"Bar Grips made in India - had a chat with them about fitting and then ordered on line, plus free delivery. Also this included inner tubes and flaps, for me a winner as they turned up the next day ready for fitting. Cheers. PB.

Hi Can I ask a question that might of been on this web site before but need to ask it. My Albion BY5 has 9.00 x 20" tyres, the originals were cross country tyres made by Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear and India, sadly so far unable to find replacements. I have been offered tyres of the U.S Bar Grips of the same size but found on other web sites that the bead on a US tyre is at an angle and a British tyre has a straight bead . Can I ask are there any problems with using U S Bar Grips on a British wheel - has any one fitted these tyres on their own British lorry - your advice and help most welcome. Next fitted inside the cab is a rack to hold a pick head and handle, are these a standard item, does one rack fit all lorries or is this only for Albion's. Would any one have any details about this rack or have one for sale. There will be a delay in replying as the wife is dragging me on to a cruise until 23rd July. Many Thanks. Paul Burns.

Hi. With regards to the battery, for the Albion BY5 I got mine from Euro Car Parts and part No 44477106 - cost £128.96 plus the VAT, but as I was a first time buyer I brought it for £85.30 plus the VAT total price of £102.36. The old battery fitted to it was a Banner Battery - 566038/57212 - 66Ah, 72Amp , 510A. I made contact with Banner Batteries asking for details about 57212 as I couldn't find it and they changed all the codes and start with a 9. What details does your workshop manual give about the original battery. P.B

Hi. I have just brought a battery for the Albion BY5 and have used an Exide Premium Battery 12 volt. 100 - 72AH - CCA 720 - CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amp. The battery size is 278mm x 175mm x 175mm and fits in the battery box in the Drivers seat. I had a chat with the Sales Man about the type of battery needed to crank over a 6 cylinder petrol engine as I wanted a battery with a bit more power and not go flat after a couple of try's of starting - choice of 5 batteries and this one was the best. The only down point is - if it was fitted to a car, it had a 4 year Warranty but as it's going on an 1944 Albion - only 2 year Warranty. PB.

Hi. Looking for a British Army Shovel 1939-45 - not sure of the production runs of these but need one to fit the cab side of the 1944 Albion BY5. The lorry did have one but when I got it, it was missing. I have made a new cab side to replace the badly cut one but just need to check the mounting holes for the brackets that hold the shovel but need a shovel. Would any one have a half decent one that they would let go or any one in the Bristol area would let me borrow one for a couple of days. Thanks. Paul Burns.

Hi to all. Sorry for the lack of replies but the wife took me on a weeks cruise as part of the deal for keeping the Albion at the bottom of the drive. On my return found the Broadband not working and only just got back on to check for messages. I shall check out all the info sent to me with regards to side mirrors. Sorry for the delay. Paul Burns.

Hi. Many thanks for the info I did think about looking at a set of Land Rover mirrors as I have looked on different sites but only found modern lorries or tractors, a set of tractor mirrors on the lorry would make it look like Dumbo! Also did look on various web sites for vintage cars for trying to get a set but only found wing mirrors. So a set of wing mirrors on the cab front - no not quite right. Thanks again. Paul Burns.

Hi I'm looking for two side mirrors to fit on the Albion BY5. I would like to get as near as possible to the originals that were fitted to this lorry or any British Army lorry 1939-45. They would of been an oblong type poss about 5" or 6" long and to have a mounting clamp to fit 1/2" bar arm, Any help on where to get a couple of these mirrors would be most welcome as all I have found is vintage car or modern day tractors/ lorries. Many thanks. Paul Burns.

Just to add to my last message that I have found on the World Wide Web,the Lucas Workshop Instructions for electric horns - 6 & 12volt Models HF 1234 - 1235. So will have a read of the instructions over the weekend and looks very easy to sort out - will either have a electric horn that sounds loud and proud or will be messed up and hidden at the back of the shed and carry on looking for a new one! PB.

Many thanks for all the help and info with regards to sorting out my Lucas horn. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi. A couple of photos to show the type of Lucas horn I have. Any help towards getting it cleaned and working as it should be will be most welcome. Cheers

Looking for a Lucas Type HF - 1235 Electric Horn for the Albion BY5, I have tested the horn I have but just makes a 'Burping' noise. So can any one help with a replacement or where I can get another one. OR Can anyone recommend a company who can repair it to make it sound like a horn again instead of it sounding like it has wind !

Hi Ian. Not a problem at all, do you know of any sites or groups out in Australia that might have any Albion parts as I'm still looking for a complete rear diff to fit the BY5. Cheers. Paul.

Hi. Many,many thanks if you can find one for me, if not then no worries I shall restore the one I have. Cheers. Paul Burns.