Great War truck

Nice to see. it is missing a few crucial bits but still very restorable. Thanks for posting the photos. Tim

Where is it going?

Hi From your experience are there any surving vehicles from WW1 in Greece? I have seen photos of WW1 trucks sitting in yards at the end for the war for disposal. it is possible that they were brought back to the UK though. All the best Tim

Tom Your Crossley. Was that the light green one which was offered for sale last year? Tim (too)

Cripes! You are right. Radmore it is.

There is as we have found a great deal of luck involved in the restoration of these things and that is something that you will find that i regularly refer to. Anyway, the aceyteline lamps on these British built WW1 trucks were powered by an aceyteline generator, a bit like the one sitting on the floor behind the scuttle of this Dennis: In fact, where photos exist of the gas generator on other British WW1 trucks, it has always been of the same pattern. These things are exceptionally rare and in fact i dont think that we had ever seen one in the flesh. Until: This one was spotted at an autojumble. It was made by a firm called Radnor and it is a very solid piece. After all these years of looking, we now have one. We just need three more for the trucks in the queue after this one. There probably wont be much activity on this thread for a while due to other matters taking a prioroity, but we will be working away in the background and will have some more progress for you soon. Tim (too)

Great job Ben. I look forward to seeing this one progress. Tim

I just missed it, but heard much the same. The ambulance on site attended and another from outside then the police and then finally an air ambulance which then took him off. I hear that he had burns to his hands and face. A great shame to end such a good show on such a low note. You are of course quite right in your description of the correct practices. It then raises the question as to why they were not followed, or, if he was not trained then why was he doing it? Tim (too)

Here are a few other interesting things.

A cracking weekend. There were a few odd individuals there though: Lots of interesting vehicles there as well: What is this one. Something russian masquarading as German: This is a directors trailer. Cant think of any others i have seen in the UK.

Some cracking photos there. Looks like a great day out. must go there some day. Tim (too)

Hi Ben Nice to have you sign up. People on the forum may remember you as the person who recovered the Dennis chassis from underneath the house. We have the greatest respect for you in taking on such an early Dennis project, especially when we have already found most of the surviving parts across the country. Are you sure we cant interest you in taking on the other Dennis A Type chassis that we have. Good luck with it all and i hope that you can add some comments to our Dennis thread. Tim

The first picture shows the Worm straight out of the Bath - all sand and grease removed. The remainder of the pictures show close-ups of parts of the worm after some light cleaning. These show the pitting in the worm which causes concern. Hopefully we will get away without having to make a new one. There also seems to be some "grooving" at the bottoms of the thread channels in some places. Although we have not yet touched the worm-wheel, we know that to be quite worn.

This is the Worm Shaft Thrust Bearing Housing - cleaned up very nicely and no problem. This is the Worm Shaft Journal Bearing Lock Nut at the front end. Cleaned up nicely.

Tony has been very busy today working on the worm. Sorry if you are on dial up as all these pictures will take an age to load, but i hope you find them interesting. These three pictures show the Worm Shaft Thrust Bearing Adjusting Ring - before and after the paraffin Bath. This Group show the Worm Shaft Coupling Sleeve - again before and after the Paraffin Bath. One end of this has been open to the elements over the years and consequently the splines at that end are badly rotted. This will have to be replaced with a new one - but it might be just too much of a challenge for the home workshop! We shall see!

As far as i understand, there is Bob Grundys replica in the Uk which we will no doubt see photos of shortly. An almost perfect replica in Germany (which i thought was a runner, but i might be wrong) and the original in Australia. So far!!! Anybosy know of any others? Tim (too)

Oh so thats the FWD that belongs to Don. What a loveley job he has done. It looks wonderful. How did it do on the run? Has he encountered a similar problems as we had been having with the fuel? The wagon looks military. It looks similar to one of the 555 "America Car and Foundry" mobile workshop chassis used by the AEF. Not 100% certain, as i dont have many photos of them and they are all of poor quality to compare. But it looks interesting. Of course, it could also have been built for an industrial purpose. Tim (too)

Crikey, i didnt realise it was bearings that you were in to. Thats very good of you. Thanks. Tim (too)

The Panzer museum at Munster have a perfect replica, with an exact copy of the original engine. W &T did an article on it a long time ago. Is it that one you are referring to or is there another replica that you know of?

Tony has had a go at cleaning the Bearings in the Worm assembly. The constituents of the Thrust Bearing were very oily and have cleaned up well so that we think that we can use this one again. The two Worm Journal Bearings were thick with sand and even after cleaning they are still solid. They will have to be replaced. The numbers on them tie up with the numbers in the Parts Manual. Who wants to guess how much replacements will cost?

Well the worm has had a good look at, and there appears to be no problem with it. it just needs a good clean up: Tim (too)

Although i wasnt planning on going, my 5 year old daughter was on day release from her maximum security reform day care so we made a day of it. As always there were some really outstanding vehicles. I wont post photos of what has already been posted so here are some others that caught my eye: My second favourite My favourite One for the WLF fans: favourite Jeep: Favourite fire engine: bravest person award goes to: M25 on a busy day Not seen one of these in private hands before: Favourite tanker: Hang on, this one looks familiar: Duxford should be one of the premier UK shows, but it seems to be missing something. Not sure if it is lack of traders, too many Jeeps and Landrovers, or what it might be but i always go away feeling ever so slightly dissapointed. Maybe it is just me. maybe, making it in to a two day show will help. I look forward to 2010. I got stung by the food prices last year so brought a packed lunch, drink and only bought ice cream. Tight git that I am. Highlight of the day was my five year old daughter's comment. Seeing Jeeps, MV cavalcade, or Spitfire and hurricane flying around seemed to have no effect upon her. However, going past a large sign advertising a beer festival, she shouted "LOOK BEER"!!! I expect a call from social services any day now. Tim (too)

Does he have a second one still in military configuration? I thought i saw one there, but may be wrong.

Is this a private venture or is it destined for an verseas customer? i wont be at Bovington this year, but look forward to seeing the photos. Tim (too)

From my quick caluculation i think there are 10 survivors in the UK and some more in Australia and new Zealand. Of the UK ones three are in a military configuration, probably the best known being the Duxford AA gun: There is a War Department one at the Milestones museum: This one at the East Anglia transport museum is another ex military J with the original body etc, but in a civilian livery: There is another one, albeit postwar which was restored as military for film use. From the photos I have seen it now seems to be reverting back to a civilian livery. Tim (too)