Tony Lawrence Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Out of the blue I was given by the previous owner the missing manufacturers plate and army re-build plate for the trailer. This promptly opened up a can of worms as we had previously thought that these rare trailers were from a batch of 300 manufactured by Dashwood - in the Chilwell list of B vehicle numbers this manufacturer is the only one shown specifically manufacturing these trailers and given their very low survival rate this is logical. However the plate I was given is an Orme Evans plate with a WD number (X 6150842 ) and contract number 23/7945. The WD number is lower than John Corden's Dashwood manufactured trailer or the REME museums machinery trailer (also Dashwood) The contract number relates to "Trailer 10 cwt 2wh Various types" and is referred to in the various ID lists as covering the following trailers...Lightweight electrical repair, lightweight machinery, lightweight type 'Z', lightweight compressor, lightweight circular saw, lightweight electric welding, lightweight generator 5 KW, lightweight G.S. No. 1 Mk.2, lightweight store and No. 1 Mk.2, lightweight water, 100 gallon. i.e most of the lightweight trailers. So it begs the question as to why (and how) Orme Evans managed to manufacture such a wide variety of trailers. Granted certain components were the same throughout the range but the basic chassis were very different. Brockhouse manufactured a few 10cwt trailers, Dashwood only the electrical repair trailer, Reliance only some GS trailers, Reynolds several different types and finally SS Cars who only manufactured GS No. 1 trailers. Logically it should have been easier to allow each manufacturer to produce certain types to make for more efficiency. All this means really is that an unknown number of Lightweight electrical repair trailers were produced and that the first were probably produced by Orme Evans with Dashwood producing a later batch but why there were so few survivors is anybodies guess unless it was because unlike a trailer that can carry something such as a mortar trailer or GS trailer there is absolutely no other use for them and so they were dumped or scrapped. Also my trailer probably dates from 1945 as this date was stamped on the jaws of all four vices that were on the worktop and the rebuild plate dates from 1961 so they were still being used then. Sorry for the ramblings but it is too cold to go into the garage!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I wonder why my trailer had olive drab paint in inaccessible areas and under the later glossy green if it was produced after 1945 as your post might suggest? Of course the other option which would explain all the conclusions drawn from these plates is that they are not actually the plates from this trailer...but are indeed from another Orme Evans produced 10cwt trailer of some type. At some time they have been removed and mixed up, as believe the previous owners had several trailers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 1 hour ago, cordenj said: I wonder why my trailer had olive drab paint in inaccessible areas and under the later glossy green if it was produced after 1945 as your post might suggest? Of course the other option which would explain all the conclusions drawn from these plates is that they are not actually the plates from this trailer...but are indeed from another Orme Evans produced 10cwt trailer of some type. At some time they have been removed and mixed up, as believe the previous owners had several trailers. First of all, when was bronze green introduced? If my trailer is anything to go by it was after 1945 (dates on vices). Would it have been repainted during it's 1961 re-build? Secondly all the WD numbers were allocated in blocks so on second thoughts the order may be irrelevant and dependent on time of manufacture and use of the allocation by the manufacturer. Thirdly, the plate holes match up exactly to those on the trailer - I do not know if the holes on the trailer match up to the Dashwood plate. No doubt somebody out there will have an answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 This is the brass plate from my Electrical Repair Trailer: IMG_0225 (Medium).JPG Dimensions appear similar to the aluminium one. The 1961 rebuild plate is of a standard format and size, so any rebuild plate would have the same dimensions and location of of securing holes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted November 29, 2017 Author Share Posted November 29, 2017 15 hours ago, cordenj said: I wonder why my trailer had olive drab paint in inaccessible areas and under the later glossy green if it was produced after 1945 as your post might suggest? Of course the other option which would explain all the conclusions drawn from these plates is that they are not actually the plates from this trailer...but are indeed from another Orme Evans produced 10cwt trailer of some type. At some time they have been removed and mixed up, as believe the previous owners had several trailers. When in doubt go to the records at Deepcut - I now have the key card for my Orme Evans "trailer. 1/2 ton Lt.Wt. Electric repair. 2WH" Also, guess what? On the same key card are the records for the Dashwood trailers of the same designation. I believe a pint is in order!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 Parts sandblasted and now am waiting for decent weather to take it outside to spray. The main chassis appears to be in good condition and all I have to do is remove the tow hitch to dismantle it to free it up. The valve grinder is in pieces to be gradually cleaned and re-assembled. It is a restoration job in it's own right, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 With the advent of good weather the restoration has come on in leaps and bounds - photographs are the best to show progress. I have kept the original wood even though it is not in the best condition (but it is imperial measurements). One interesting thing is the use of Phillips screws. One or two could be put down to later replacements but the main box is completely constructed using these screws as are many of the other wood units (such as the rear tool drawer) and footman loops attached to wood. The other puzzle is the electrics. There is an obvious line of cable clips taking the main trailer cable to the rear of the trailer and a set of double size clips from the rear to the convoy light underneath. Logic says that the main cable goes to the rear and a small Lucas junction box fixed to a plate on the rear chassis member. From this a cable returns to the convoy light but why have a junction box. There is no apparent set of holes that would fit a rear light or trailer plug as on other trailers or any type of switch. All these parts are listed in the parts list for this type of trailer but there appears to be nowhere where they were fitted. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 17, 2018 Author Share Posted June 17, 2018 The project is finally finished except for the tilt which I am having made but this will take several weeks. My son-in-law helped me put the valve grinder back on the trailer. It is so heavy that an engine hoist was employed. The still has been left as it was except for adding some lettering to the outside and renewing the instruction plate by scanning it into my computer and a friend photoshopping it to re-vitalise the peeling off paint. I then put a printout back over the original using Tackiback film so that I still have the original underneath. I have not taken this apart to renovate as there are asbestos panels surrounding the boiler. I nearly threw away the old padlocks but luckily I didn't as when cleaned up one proved to be an original with WD stamped on it. All the various tools that came with it are cleaned up and put back in except for the strange item in the photo - what is it? I am hoping to have it at Capel along with the welding trailer and possibly the 4.2" mortar trailer as well. I won't take the compressor trailer out until the engine is finally running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 Looks good. Very few of these in the world...and two reside within a couple of miles of each other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuffen Posted June 17, 2018 Share Posted June 17, 2018 The strange device is a puller to remove a pulley from a shaft. The two legs go around and under the pulley and the threaded shaft presses it off by winding. The legs can slide to allow different sized pulleys to be pressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoseman Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Zuffin beat me to it. Its a pulley or external bearing puller. Was using one yesterday, modern equivalent but exactly the same. Modern ones have interchangeable feet on the bottom of the legs for different applications. Yours seem to be for one certain application. Be nice to find out what tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Hi Tony, As you know, those trailers were for repair of battery charging units and if that puller was part of the kit, then it has probably for removing engine flywheels, couplings, etc. The legs appear to be reversible to suit different applications. I don't recollect one of those with John C's trailer. cheers Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 These are some other strange tools I have cleaned up, including some sort of puller with a WD arrow. These tools all came with the trailer - I do not know if they are part of the original fittings. Any ideas would be welcome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon_M Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Slide hammer, bearing and seal pullers - surely part of the original equipment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longen Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 The handle with the small star wheels is an abrasive wheel (Grinder) dresser. It is held against the grinding wheel whilst the wheel is rotating and the grit in the wheel is dislodged so that new grit is exposed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-boy Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 It seems to me that a CES is called for. Surely Clive has one?! It certainly looks as if everything could be original, but what's the chances it's all complete? Good luck and thanks for keeping us all enthralled. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 Anthony, I've already given you a copy of the original EMER for the Trailer,@-Wheeled, Lightweight, Type "Electrical Repair" which lists all the major and minor pieces of kit. It included Grinding Wheel dressers, three types of "Extractors" (Pullers) and right down to the number and size of twist drills carried. Do you need another copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 23 minutes ago, cordenj said: Anthony, I've already given you a copy of the original EMER for the Trailer,@-Wheeled, Lightweight, Type "Electrical Repair" which lists all the major and minor pieces of kit. It included Grinding Wheel dressers, three types of "Extractors" (Pullers) and right down to the number and size of twist drills carried. Do you need another copy? All very well but when one does not know what they are to start with (and as you know I am a bear with little brain.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1944 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 I do not think that the first item is a slide hammer. It appears to have graduated markings on the top piece and too many tapped holes with locking grub screws in. I t looks to me to be some sort of setting tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lawrence Posted June 20, 2018 Author Share Posted June 20, 2018 Two more unidentified tools (at least to me). It is good to find people interested as I seem to have zero interest at home (my wife doesn't understand me!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordenj Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 22 minutes ago, Tony Lawrence said: Two more unidentified tools (at least to me). It is good to find people interested as I seem to have zero interest at home (my wife doesn't understand me!) Valve spring compressor, with range of heads for different sized valves 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1950 Posted June 20, 2018 Share Posted June 20, 2018 What a great piece of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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