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trevor pitman

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Posts posted by trevor pitman

  1. I would suggest this is a plate from some form of French Military repair workshop. Le Mans had a large airfield, which I guess was taken over by the French after WWII when the Luftwaffe vacated. No doubt the airfield offered large open storage and buildings

  2. Just to confirm, Trevor - the top photo (of the SWB truck) shows a FWD as supplied in timber tractor form?

     

    Some great detective work you've done on these trucks!

     

    Top photo is a FWD cu-coe...timber tractor.....not very clear but chalked on the body is `S/M 2080 (supply mech) FWD model CU`. The fuel tank is marked `use fuel-oil only`

  3. HYO was a London registration series. Most of the records I have for HYO are Forestry Commission.

    Trevor - the early Wynns FWDs appear to be CU-COEs. I have no record of any surviving into later timber work. The ones most commonly noted were the FDW ones. These were fitted with MAT bodies. Will look to see if earlier ones are LHD. I was old by Maurice Saunders that many CUs had Southampton area regs because they were imported there???

     

    I have photos of 7 of the 12 operated by Wynns. I am happy they are su-coes....Wynns registered their FWDs between 9/46 and 11/47. Some were fitted with twin wheels, 3 different body styles fitted, wooden box, metal tray and Nash-Morgan. (I am hoping to meet up with a Nash-Morgan man this summer). 78 FWD cu-coes were registered in Bristol during the period 11/8/42-12/11/43 to the Home Timber production Department, the Bristol Council records show which areas the trucks were used in, mostly councils but a few were used by transport companies for the war effort. One was used by Wynns. Destruction dates are recorded for most. I have visited Southampton council archives and found no listing for any FWD cu-coes, just a few su-coes after the military salesddw601-2.jpg Cu-coes were very camera shy, but this photo hopefully shows the difference in chassis length compared with the Wynns su-coe. Also the diesel tank has a centre neck compared with a petrol end mounted neck

    cu-coe-1.jpg

  4. Thanks for posting Trevor, I wasn't expecting that:blush:.Bart says that the cu and su cargo truck were fitted with a 5 speed gearbox but the su artillery tractor had a 4 speed 'box. Is this either a mistake on Bart's part, a printing error or is it correct. Seems a bit odd to me that a vehicle used as a tractor for artillery wouldn't have the 5 speed 'box.

     

    According to the FWD manuals I have both cu`s and su`s were fitted with a 5 speed box. It also says the `su` gearbox was made by Fuller, no make is given for `cu`s` but I would guess Fuller would apply to both. The manuals only refer to a chassis cab. The trucks were bodied in UK. Numbers wise approx. 2699 artillery tractors (winch) and 149 GS cargo (non winch).....another guess....these numbers refer to trucks ordered or loaded on ships.......U-boats and other mishaps may of affected those numbers being landed in UK

  5. gew395-3.jpg

    Vast majority were fitted with `normal` wheels, but a few came out the the disposal sales during the period 1946-49 with the Amercian style bolt on wheels...nice to look at, not so nice to work on.

    Right hand drive su-coes had the front winch rollers on the left of the cab (mirror image of LHD)

     

    I see that the drawing above shows a left hand drive truck (with the winch drive and forward pull run of the rope on the right). The Keely one is right hand drive (now).

     

    The photo of the earth borer shows American style clamp on wheels, not the ten stud bolt on wheels of the Keely one. I wonder where the conversion hubs to fit bolt on wheels came from. They would have been expensive as new parts given the small benifit from using UK wheels.

     

    David

    ftr593-2.jpg

  6. One of 6 `Lorry mounted boring machines` L4138835-4138840. This one made it on to a Middlesex registration. FWD literature of the time states ` Modified FWD and boring machine used by British in digging up delayed action bombs in London area during World War 2. Boring tower permits digging holes up to 20 feet deep` (some brave souls using one of theses to hunt out bombs!!!!!) Auger size from 16-48 in. They were actually built on a cu-coe chassis, not a su-chassis. The difference being length of chassis and the cu-coe having a Cummins diesel engine.

    Over 60 cu-coes were also used by the `Home Timber Production Department, MOS, Bristol `in the 1940-50s. All were destroyed after use as part of the lend-lease agreement. The fitting of twin rear wheels on su-coes was not uncommon, I tend to think the auctioned vehicle was a su-coe. There may be various plates on the dash of the truck which will give pointers, along with the chassis number if it is still readable on the chassis. I have most of the cu-coe chassis numbers. I understand the auctioned truck had a Gardner fitted, can anyone confirm?. Gardner`s were a common choice to replace the thirsty, original su-coe petrol engine.. Also attached layout of the winch and cable run. On the auctioned truck the winch had been turned around

    note-2.jpg

    cu-coe-2.jpg

  7. Almost certain that the crane was added later in life, although this may of been at the time of selling off from military service, 1946-49. The reg of ECR (late 46) backs this up. Mead-Morrison built larger cranes but have not seen one this small. sm2018.jpg

    Attached a picture of how they looked after assembly in UK.

    If anyone knows who the new owner is I have a set of manuals, parts, operating and service, plus cab frame drawings I can copy for them.....and put them in touch with fellow su-coe owners. Please ask them to contact me via PM. In the mean time I will keep looking for any pictures of this crane fitted to anything!

  8. I am trying to contact Dave, the surname may not be the correct spelling. He is/was from Kent, restoring a FWD su-coe to pull a rather large field gun. The mobile I have for Dave not longer works. I am sure Dave said he was employed in the military restoration business as his day job. Can any one forward contact details for him please?

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