Great War truck

There is a picture of a WD 1936 Tilling Stevens here http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2427452530078404180IRzNdN Not seen that one out and about for a long time. i wonder where it is now. The only reason that this one (of a pair) survived is because they found favour with fairground folk to power their rides. Tim (too)

Not quite sure how a modern hybrid works, but basically the early petrol electrics had a normal sized (for the truck that is) engine which powered a dynamo, which then transmitted power to an electric motor which powered the wheels. A few early examples still exist and sound very strange. You can hear the engine running like crazy and the vehicle is hardly moving. You cant help but think "why doesnt he change gear", but of course there are no gears. Petrol elecric was championed by Tilling Stevens during WW1 and they were commonly used as search light trucks (two of these just post war ones have been restored). There was also a WW1 Dennis Stevens searchlight truck, of which one survives, but in a scrap condition. Too much missing for an easy restoration, but it could be brought back if someone were to throw enough money at it. Tim (too)

Thats Tony Olivers collection at Eton Wick nr Windsor. History on Wheels museum. Its very good. Tim (too)

Actually this is a Crossley Kegresses, but there is a blue Citroen kegresse right behind it. Sadly i dont have a better picture. http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Greatwartruck/IMG_0328.jpg[/img] Tim (too)

Nice to see the Citreon Kegresse. I am certain that Tony Oliver has a similar one. I will have to have a look for the photo it. Hold on. I will be back later. Tim (too)

The second gun tractor i would hazard a guess at being a German Bussing KZW 1800. Nice. Tim (too)

OK, i am back home now and can check my books. Sad to say that the first one is not Chitty Chittys big brother but a petrol electric Austro daimler C Zug "Gigant", designed by ferdinand porche, for pulling Skoda howitzers. Tim (too)

Fairly certain that it is an Austrian Daimler gun tractor. Will get back to you shortly with the full id. Interesting though. Tim (too)

The middle ones are i think Whites. The one below it is a Jeffery Quad, one of two armoured by the US Army for service on the Mexican border. They were not much use as they kept sinking in the sand. Not seen that picture before. As for the one at the nbottom, goodness knows. Possibly Russian? Tim (too)

Another WW1 US veteran died earlier this year (a motor transport driver) and his coffin was taken to the cemetry in the back of Liberty B truck. I will try and look out the photos. Tim (too)

Those are interesting. I wouldnt want to drive that Mack down a hill with the Renault tank in the back. The brakes are bad enough trying to stop an empty one, let alone with 5 tons of tank in the back. The other one is interesting. Not sure what it is at the moment. I would guess at it being a Daimler. Will take a look in my books. Tim (too)

Thats right. He won under the name "Hangust" - true. Tim (too)

Found something on the Austin Kegresse. Only 60 of these were made using Austin and Packard chassis. As early Packards were chain drive, i wonder if this one was a Packard. Tim (too)

It does look remarkably similar to that one, but I dont recognise it as being a Packard (although it might be). Lots and lots of one offs were built using whatever chassis were available so it might be anything. You were quite right about the markings on it. That would suggest German from 1919 to late 1920's. Very interesting. Tim (too)

Some very interesting looking things there. The half track Austin is something special. I see that the chain drive is external to the wheels (rather vulerable i would think). Time for me to get some books out. Tim (too)

Alright me ansomme! Well my dad came from Penryn and my Mum from Lostwithiel. I lived for a while in Cornwall, on the Scilly Isles and in St Ives. I live in Oxfordshire now, but the parents live in Devon, so i go down to see them every now and again. I have to drive though. Nice benefit you have there (propperjob). There is a Military Vehicle Trust Area in Cornwall and they are involved in a few shows each year. I drove my Jeep down to the Pendennis Castle show once and that was great fun. Show has been cancelled now by English Heritage (sound familiar anybody?) which is a shame. So apart from the humour and the weather, what do you miss about the UK. You can get Cornish Pastys in Wisconsin and Illinois, but they are deep fat fried!!! Tim (too)

Not familiar with it myself, but it is available for only $1 at http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?tn=devils+of+d+day&x=51&y=12

Joris. Thats brilliant. I cant quite make out the Ward La Frances. Whereabouts are they? Actually there is quite a lot of stuff there. Maybe it is a waste after all. Tim (too)

There was an article in the latest CMV about this. It seems that the whole event descended into a circus with vast numbers of on lookers coming to watch so that the actual bidders couldnt be seen by the auctioneer. Also of course, due to money laundering rules it is illegal in France to pay for anything in case over £2,100 which must have caused some fun for the succesful bidders. Top price was the Scwimmer at £47,550. The Einheits diesel went for £15,390 and is coming to England! The Ketenkrad £35,000. US Parachiute trailer £2,800. Dodge £3,850. M201 £3,150 (only bargian i can see). Jerrycans from £28 to £105. Panther muzzle brake £1,960. On top of these goes a 20% buyers premium! On the sad side, lots of stuff was stolen before the bidders could collect it. A word of warning if you go to this sort of thing. take a friend to sit on what you buy otherwise you may lose out. Goodness knows why the prices are so high. This stuff is not that uncommon in France so you wonder if more of it will now turn up. Tim (too)

Is a waste the correct choice of words? These were all disposed of in Switzerland (with the half tracks also at the some location coming from Israel) and sold for scrap but then shipped to Belgium in anticipation of a buyer coming along. Some have found buyers, some have not. What you see is the residue, so maybe not a waste yet? Perhaps an opportunity for someone to do a restoration? Jack! Jack! An opportunity for you! Tim (too)

So where did you live in Cornwall? Tim (too)

Looks like it is standing on a rhino. Most interesting. Tim (too)

Yes, i quite agree with that. It is also important to remember that Resusciatation should always take place on the floor and never on a bed. The springs in the bed counteract the downward pressure on the lungs and negate any effect of trying to pump air into them. Also mouth to mouth resusciatation should take place from the side and that can be very awkward to do on a bed unless it is a King Size. However I do heartily reccommend that you purchase a King Size bed as it is amazing what things you can fit in it. Interestingly, in the USA our King Size is known as Queen Size. Very important to bear that in mind when you are purchasing bed linen over there. Tim (too)

Crikey! What a suprise, for more than one reason. You are quite right, it is an R Type Pierce Arrow, which although rated to carry 5 tons, was re rated by the WD as a three tonner. The reason for this is that the Tommys had a habit of overloading these things and the extra 2 tons gives them a little bit of extra room. If they were told that it was a 5 tonner then they would be bound to try and put 7 tons in it. Very suprising to see it in the UK. It looks like the museum wanted to give it a good outing. Lots of interesting modifications on it, but very nice to see. My other reason for being suprised is that the day before i saw this post, I arranged for the purchase/salvation of a similar one over here. Sadly it is in not such good condition. I would go as far as to say that this one is a seriously bad case. http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Greatwartruck/IMG_0389.jpg[/img] Apart from the wheels, what is there is in very good condition, depsite having spent the last 40 years sitting out in the open. Better quality steel in those days it seems. Once the sea of mud that surrounds it subsides this one will be making its way to a secret Dorset address. The yard has also yielded (amongst many other things) a WW1 FWD and a Riker truck that are now in doors and awaiting restoration. Tim (too) Tim (too)

Good guess, but actually that was not the collection i was referring to. But we did visit them and they were incredibly unhelpful. While looking at the FWD at Wroughton we were verbally chastised by a young lady who shouted at the top of her voice "DO NOT TOUCH THE OBJECT!" when we got too close to it. I presume that she was talking about the FWD. Some of these museums need a good shake up, starting off by replacing all their staff with people who are interested in what they do. Tim (too)