PB1954RNS

Hi Ian. Couple of photos to show the type but without the dip switch. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi. Looking for a horn button that fits the steering column for the Albion BY5. I have a horn button/headlight dip that came off a Morris C9 that was in a Oxon scrap yard but would like to fit the correct type. If not available then I shall have to fit the Morris one but the Albion doesn't have dipped headlights so would look out of place. Have tried various vintage car web sites but they seem to be fitted to the dash board. Any member can help or point me in the right direction to get one, also if I can get the correct type then the Morris type will be offered on this site. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Help! but this is going to sound daft but can any one help me with details of the signal arm fitted on the passenger side of the cab. I'm trying to refit the arm back on the cab but cannot for the life of me see how it goes back together. I have fitted the arm back in the backet and put the operating rod back in its hole but when you move it the arm stops on the pivot pin and cannot move any more than a 2". The signal arm wasn't fitted when I got hold of the Albion BY5 and was just bits and I have tried to sort out the parts, the main bracket that the operating handle is fitted to which way does it fit as the cab front hasn't been drilled to accept the bracket. I don't want to drill the holes and find they are wrong and the bracket is upside down. I have read and reread the workshop manual and Drivers Manual and there are very little or no details at all. So could any Albion owner or any British lorry who has this type of signal arm fitted, can I ask for any details how they all fit together, also any drawings home made or photos so I can see how it all fits together. Please email any details to paulburns@honey45.plus.com Cheers. Paul Burns.:help:

Hi Richard. Many thanks for your reply about the dash light and I think I will be going to buy one of these instead as a motor electrician suggested to upgrade some of the parts and wiring. The whole of the dash with regards to wiring has to be changed from 72 year old wires to new and parts. Many thanks for taking the time to reply. Regards. Paul Burns.

Hi Clive. Many thanks for getting back to me with details of the panel light, I have checked the Albion Spares List for BY5 for the type number and it doesn't appear on the list. The length over the pins is 42mm x 32mm on the body and the dia on the threads is 22 mm. So none shown here will do, I have been speaking to a motor electrician he suggest that replace it with a more modern fitting to save any trouble. But many thanks for taking the time to reply. Regards. Paul Burns.

Wanted a panel light for the dash as fitted to Albion BY5. The photo shows the type I need as this one is a bit worn and one of the locking nuts is missing. Can any one help me. Cheers. Paul Burns.

I need a Butlers Twin socket for rear lights on trailers. I saw a couple being offered for sale on EBay but missed them when I came to buy one. Looking for NOS if poss or a good second hand one. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi. At the moment just to see if there is enough interest to go forward with the idea. There is still a lot of working out to be done, checking to see if there can be an application for Charity Status as a 'Non For Profit' group and get reduced rates as a Charity. Some thing else has turned up and is in the process of being checked out. Cheers Paul Burns.

Hi Ed. The whole set up depends on how many owners are interested in joining together to form the Co-Op and what size building to aim for to get every one in with their various vehicles. Also to try and get an area that suits every body for travelling to work on their vehicles. And to try and find a building that will not upset any neighbourhood with any noise that will be made as per any workshop and easy access for moving vehicles in and out. With a Co-Op it is run by every one and not one person giving orders - it is a equal share and to have regular meetings to iron out any problems that might arise within the group. There are bills to be paid I.E elecricity, water, heating(if available) and any council tax and we have to build these costs into the rents or wait until the first set of bills come in to see what the costs are and take it from there. One person cannot run this on their own, there has to be support from other owners to help run this type of organization as I have found out to my cost with loco pres - I was a Chairman/Project Eng on a project to build a £4 million new steam loco and ended up doing 90% of the work and for my troubles ended up having a heart double by-pass and valve replacement. As you are still okay for a year how about meeting up and introducing each other and if all okay put forward ideas and start to look for a area and building as a group. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi. Thanks for your message - I have the same problem as to cannot have a caravan or a rotory washing line on my land as I have checked my deeds. As I kindly pointed out that Albion Motor Company during the war years did not make the BY5 Folding Boat Equipment as a caravan and this was a historic lorry in need of restoration and would be on my property until it was up and running. I have kept the noise levels down - grinding - hammering - as the neighbours are just waiting to start again. As for the idea of a organized work shop and storage just a thought that perhaps a group of like minded enthusiast set up and run a building just for the military world and not face hassle. There are huge opportunities as a group to try and get sponsorship from tool companies, get a new parts replacement system set up, plus other ideas. But it would have to be run on a safe system of control and not a 'free for all' and each owner pay their share of the rent on a D D to the Co Operative and have elected officals to run the day to day issues that might arise. But this for me is an idea that I have had the same situation in the steam locomotive pres world and has worked .

Hi. Having got my Albion BY5 moved to my home in South Glos and now getting a very warm welcome from some of my small minded neighbours, I have a funny feeling that it's going to be moved on again and look out for a visit from the council to comfirm this. The lorry is tucked in at the bottom of my parking space/garden and being covered over with a green sheet to match my hedge and is not in any ones way. It always pay to keep in with your neighbours I feel that they don't have the right to tell you what you can or cannot do with your own land, but I told one gentleman that perhaps the 6th June 1944 should of been cancelled due to the lack of interest ? So what I'm asking does any one in the Bristol/South Glos area know where I can take the lorry to - would like it under cover if poss. This would save the neighbours chasing me off the estate with flaming torchs and pitch forks !. Another idea just to put in the pot, would there be enough interest from other owners who might have the same problem in the Bristol/South Glos area, would like to form a Co-Operative to rent a build and use it for storage and workshop. I have been kicked around figures and depending on the size of building, would need a starting fiqure of 10 owners but more would get a bigger building. If there is interest then a meeting to be set up to arrange a code of conduct, officals, bank account and other items. Any interested please let me know. Paul Burns.

Hi . Many thanks will do. Paul Burns.

Hi. Have tried these companies and some say will get back to you about it and hear nothing or the prices are more than my monthly mortgage !. I like so many supporters of this hobby have to be careful of over spending money on restoration as it can speed up like a runaway train and don't want the choice of 'Me or the lorry'.

I need to get my Albion BY5 moved from a farm nr Wrexham to Bristol but I need a 18 tonne Beavertail to move it. The roads on my estate are very narrow so a low loader cannot be used so a 7.5/18 tonne beavertail needed. I have tried contacting haulage companies from Cheshire and in the Bristol area but get 1) no replies, 2) only have a low loader, 3) high prices to move it and I mean high - £1000 !!!!. So looking for any members who might own such a vehicle and help or recommend any companies who can move it at a cheap price. The lorry is 22 foot long, 10'-10" high on the four towers, 7'-6" wide and is about 3.5 tons in weight. Many Thanks. Paul Burns.

Hi John. Many, Many thanks for the details and sorry for the delay in replying to you. Great details I shall make a careful note of the details and try to see if I can get them reproduced, as I think one of the bages would look good on the front mud guard. Again many thanks for your help and sorry for the delay in replying. Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi Wally I did contact them about the markings used in 1944-45 but told how the internet was a wonderful tool to find these details. Told to look for a web site by Peter Ghiringhelli and use Blue Cross on White for 2nd army, Blue square and put White 145 - uint number for 36 engineers. Just wondering if any one had different info on other units who used these lorries Cheers. Paul Burns.

Hi. Can any one help me with unit details of bridging units that used these lorries Albion BY5 FBE - Folding Boat Equipment. Im looking for all the army vehicle markings, unit numbers so that I can put the Albion into the correct markings for 1944 - 45. You can email any photo's - they are always welcome - to paulburns@honey45.plus.com Any help would be most welcome as I would like to see it in the correct markings. Cheers Paul Burns.

Wanted. can any members who research unit markings help me with the correct markings for the 3rd Infantry Division - 2nd Bridging Platoon Royal Engineers . I want to put a Albion BY5 Pontoon Carrier in a unit markings used as from 06/06/1944. Many Thanks. Paul Burns.

Hi. Could any member help me with some storage or workshop space for a WW2 lorry - Albion BY5. The lorry is at present stored in the open on land in the Cheshire Area and is starting to suffer fron the weather, I'm looking after it for the owner who lives in France and I would very much like to move it to my area ASAP. Could any member recommend any transport firms that could move it for me for a good price. The lorry weighs 3 tons - length 23 feet - width 7 ft - 6 inch and height 10 ft - 10 inch high. Any help most welcome Paul Burns.

Hi. Many, Many thanks to all members who answered my question about the French owner of the Albion BY5, I shall be in touch with him. The remains of the Albion in the scrap yard - is indeed Mains Scrap in Oxfordshire. I took photo's of the remains in 2011 and after considering the work involded to restore it, I asked if it was for sale. With the half a lorry and a rear bogie off another Albion chassis they wanted £2,000 for it - this to me was unacceptable and made an offer more on the lines of a scrap price, this was turned down. The Albion that has gone abroad was brought by me back in 1981 but due to lack of space and moving around, I could no longer keep it and was put up for sale. This old Albion was always a firm favourite of mine and was very sad to see it go and always wanted a replacement to which I have now got. Many thanks again Paul Burns.

Would any members of this forum remember a Albion BY5 that was sold to a new owner in France. I'm trying to contact the former UK owner to see if they still would have any contact details for the French owner. I think the UK owner was from Yorkshire area ????. I'm taking on a Albion BY5 as a restoration project and need details of the rear body and the 4 towers to have new parts made for mine. Spares Wanted: Rear Spring Towing Hook with brackets. Contact Paul Burns - tele 01454 617448 or email paulburns@honey45.plus.com

Could I ask any Albion vehicle owners if they could help me out with some dimensions of their vehicle chassis. I'm looking for the distance between the two chassis frames and the number of frame stretchers fitted from the front - to the rear. Also would like details of the chassis frame - size and shape as it goes under the cab floor, I'm trying to get as much info as possible to compare with a Albion BY5/6 chassis. There is still the remains of half a Albion in a scrap yard and I wanted to buy it but was given a scrap price to match a Rolls Royce ! I did try to offer a scrap price but it was turned down. I asked if I could go back and just buy the main parts and measure up what was left - told not welcome to visit the yard and the remains of the Albion was going for scrap. But what can you do it's their scrap but why does a 70 year old pile of rust that some one shows an interest in suddenly has such a high price to buy it - that's my moan over. Right, also I need a Albion EN280 engine, high and low gearbox. If any owners have any spares large or small please let me know. You can contact me via email Hengist@f2s.com or home number 01454 617448 - there is a answer machine. I have a Bedford Drivers Handbook for QL MODELS QLC.QLD.QLR.QLT for sale if any one would like to make an offer for it, the cover has the standard grease finger marks on the cover but clean inside. Cheers Paul Burns.

Hi. Yes the yard is not far from RAF Benson and all the vehicles were brought from the sales at Ruddington during the 1950's. Most have sat where they were parked all those years ago. I was told the same that all the lorries had faded away but as I allowed to go into the yard I had a good look around in the under growth and under the trees, there were some left. As I put before they are not for the 'Faint Hearted' and pile of rusty steel was the cab etc, etc, some have rust on top of rust. But it depends - I don't mean to be rude - if you want to spend some years restoring it up from the ground up or you want to buy a vehicle where you just press the starter button. My look on a project would be the same as the last 43 years in steam loco restoration and also in that time 15 years as a Chairman of a company building a brand new steam loco. If a part is missing - build it or use an alternative instead. I have been in touch with my contacts in the engineering/fabrication companies with the view of replacing parts and any thing is possible - at a cost ! Still trying to get the photo's on the site - man can go to the moon but I cannot get a photo on this forum - hold head in shame. If any does want to see them I can email them direct to their email address - my email address is Hengist@f2s.com Cheers. Paul.

Gentlemen. First of all to say thanks for the welcome messages from the team who run the Forum, I have some photo's that I would like to post showing the condition of the vehicles in Mains yard. Every time I try to add the photo's, the site tells me - photo's too big, file not available, wrong time of the month, or fed up and gone home for it's tea. Help !. I would also like to thank the Mains Family for giving me permission to wonder around their yard taking photo's as they don't normally allow this. The remaining vehicles are not for the 'Faint Hearted' as they have suffered from the great British Weather and time as they are now over 50 years old. One remaining vehicle that tugged my 'Heart Strings' was a Albion - Folding Boat Body on a BY5 Chassis. This poor old girl was in a sorry state and all remaining steelwork was only fit for patterns. The biggest problem was that the lorry had been cut in half and the rear wheel bogie and chassis was missing, instead of a 4x6 - it was a 0x2. Do any members know of a BY5 chassis just hanging around their local scrap yard to get this lorry back together and what is the current position with trying to get Albion spares for this age of vehicle ?. This type of lorry had just a flat roller bed and 4 towers with hand operated winches to lift the beams as a boat was added. These towers are also missing and these would have to be built from using photo's as a guide as I think that there is only one other similar Albion to try and measure it up from, but where it is I don't know. I did see it for sale some years ago. Another thought was to get hold of a rear part of a chassis and weld together to make it complete - what are members thoughts on this. Not made any offers yet to buy it as I would to see what the spares situation is like for these vehicles is like in preservation. Also found some wheels that might suit a carrier but this would have to be comfirmed by some one in the know, can send photo's. Cheers Paul.