Barrage Balloon vehicles.

[No Signals 10]

Can anyone identify for certain what make of vehicle these might be?  Candidates so far are Fordson WOT1 or the Fordson Sussex - but I am open to suggestions.

[Richard Farrant 34]

WOT1 for sure

[No Signals 10]

Thanks Richard.

[Runflat 13]

Agree WOT1 but not sure this is a balloon winch.  Possibly a fire tender.

[No Signals 10]

Ah yes, I see what you mean.  I thought the cover behind the cab looked a bit big, but this doesn't seem to match up with the fire tenders either 🙂

[Gordon_M 14]

If this was at a barrage balloon site, I'd think the vehicle with the tank would be there to scavenge the gas when they brought the balloon down, rather than waste it.  The unit behind the cab would be an engine driven pump.

[Richard Farrant 34]

There might be a clue in the location of the photo. It looks to be next to a domestic garden with a small greenhouse. Not a setting you would expect to see airfield crash tenders. On the other hand  barrage balloon units often were set up near residential areas.

[No Signals 10]

Just to clarify gents, the vehicles are stored,, along with other ex-military vehicles, on a post-war site.  So sorry there are no clues here as to the usage.  Quite a variety of things there including a couple of Queen Marys, three Bedfords, a Matador, a Bedford MW and others I havent i.d. yet.

Edited October 16 by No Signals

[Richard Farrant 34]

6 minutes ago, No Signals said:

Just to clarify gents, the vehicles are stored,, along with other ex-military vehicles, on a post-war site.  So sorry there are no clues here as to the usage.  Quite a variety of things there including a couple of Queen Marys, three Bedfords, a Matador, a Bedford MW and others I havent i.d. yet.

OK, thanks. The Queen Mary tractor units appear to be Crossleys. My thoughts are that this is a civilian contractor's repair workshops doing work for the Air Ministry .

[No Signals 10]

I acknowledge your far greater knowledge of such things Richard.  I do think though that it is more likely that they are just a re-sale site.  I am guessing that some of the vehicles possibly have RN on the side?  What are your thoughts?

[Richard Farrant 34]

4 minutes ago, No Signals said:

I acknowledge your far greater knowledge of such things Richard.  I do think though that it is more likely that they are just a re-sale site.  I am guessing that some of the vehicles possibly have RN on the side?  What are your thoughts?

I wouldn't say 'greater knowledge', just a bit of lateral thinking. The top right hand corner of the yard does appear to have a lorry with large letters on the side, which could be RN.

[Runflat 13]

How does this compare?  (IWM photo CL 151)

[No Signals 10]

58 minutes ago, Runflat said:

How does this compare?  (IWM photo CL 151)

Seems bang on that one.  Cheers!!

[Nick Johns 16]

Fordson WOT 1 Fire tender

http://vehicles.firemuseum.uk/project/wot1/

 

Edited October 17 by Nick Johns