Great War truck

Yes, you are right. But what vehicles and in what circumstances.

It is indeed venice - St marks square. As to Tetrachs, you might be right, but not what i was thinking of. Someone is bound to know so i wont give you the answer right now.

A busy day now behind us - the main objective today was to complete erecting the bows on the body to take the main canvas and then actually fit the canvas - all well planned out and a straight forward operation. Drilling the holes in the bows first of all to take the various bolts was made easier with two pairs of hands available to help hold the awkward shapes under the drill. The bows fitted neatly on to their previously installed mountings and the ridge bars were then cut to exact length, drilled and bolted to the bows. Martin and Jim at Allied Forces only finished the canvas yesterday, but it arrived courtesy of UPS Thursday morning as they had promised.. We must say again as very satisfied customers how helpful Martin and Jim have been to us and how they have really taken a great interest in what we have been doing and have bent over backwards to accommodate us. The two cushions for the seat were also fixed in. The canvas on the British lorries was quite different from the U.S. versions - as fitted to our FWD. The British version on the Dennis is just one rectangular sheet with eyes along the edges so that it can be tied down. Our American version is fitted and has draw strings. So the canvas was thrown over the framework, sisal rope was used to thread through the eyes which was then hooked on the various cleats on the body - and tied off. The final result is quite pleasing. Friday - really our last day - we want to fit the Toolbox and the two-gallon tin holder and fit the panel in the bodywork next to the driver. Rowley is coming on Saturday morning to pick up the lorry, to start its journey to Crystal Palace for the run on Sunday,

Here is a photo from my holiday snaps. The question is where am i and what is the significance to WW2 military vehicles.

I am taking it very seriously and will be watching the wedding live on TV then go to a neigbours house for a party. I will be wearing my Doctor Who socks.

What an incredible find. I guess from the extra wheels that someone has already had a bash at restoring it. I am sure you will do a fantastic job on it.

Steve and Tony are busy with the final jobs which must be done before the Dennis is taken to Crystal Palace for the Start of the "Brighton". The main thing now outstanding is the "bows" to hold the canvas over the main body. They consist of the two (front and back) which are of 50mm by 5mm steel angle and the centre "bow" which is just a flat section of 6mm by 50mm. You may recall that to get the bend in the steel angle, we decided to cut out a section of the angle where it does bend around and weld in a quadrant of 5mm steel which was laser cut for us. The photos show the angle with the section cut out and being bent to the correct radius, just by pulling it around and constantly checked with a wooden pattern. The angle and quadrant were then clamped to a stout plywood board and the quadrant welded in. All four came out quite successfully - although Steve would be the first to admit that he is not the best welder in the world! The centre "bow" was bent in a similar manner - again in two parts and bolted together in the centre. This has been attached to the body and we plan to finish off and fix the other two "bows" tomorrow. There are four longitudinal wooden ridge bars which are already made and painted and ready to be fitted. The endless painting still continues! As does the "brinkmanship"!

As we approached the turn around point on our road run there was a horrible dinging noise from under the bonnet. As we had turned hard, one of the fan blades had come in to contact with a radiator bolt causing it to bend and which then smacked the back of the rad. Not too much damage but a bit of an annoyance and some extra work. The trip back and up the hill was quite straight forward, but the gate really is too narrow and we may have to do something about that: All the low speed manouvering caused one of the front tires to creep off the edge of the wheel: This was simply pushed back on with a hammer and block of metal. To stop it coming off again though we made some new metal staples and tapped out the remains of the old ones which we had cut off to get the tire off and puched the new ones in. About 30 minutes work to get all four done: There was quite a bit of smoke as we started off. it appeared that all the heat resistant paint on the exhaust had burned off: All the problems we had were very quickly overcome with the assistance of our great group of friends. Thanks guys. I hope you enjoyed the beer:

Thanks for all of your kind comments chaps. Here are a few more photos and images. I am trying photo bucket instead of Youtube for the video. Please let me know if you have trouble with it and i will rethink how to do this. Please click on the images to start playing. This clip is of it being started. A real group effort: As you will see the clutch is a bit fierce, but after we stalled it a few times we readjusted it and it is much better: As before, the engine does run remarkably well: Here we go, down the steep lane test track just to make sure the brakes work. Graham is carrying a big lump of wood in case it starts running away:

Thats the one. Whats the scrap value of it then?

Quick. Phone Bob Fleming!

Here are some photos of our Peerless front hooks and rear brackets. We will have to see if we can find the hooks.

A couple of years ago, we were very fortunate to find this horn on Ebay. It had been picked up by a Dutchman from somewhere near Ypres so the provenance was good. It was also painted green and marked WD so it was a very good find indeed. Unfortunately, the mounting tube was missing, the reed was broken and the front gauze punched through so Steve has had to do some work to it. First job was a nice bit of brass turning and screw cutting to make up the tube and nut. Then he managed to dismantle the remains of the reed and replace the vibrating part which proved easier than anticipated. The final part was the gauze. The brass ring was bent and the gauze had been torn out so Steve firstly annealed it and then carefully opened up the crimp around the edge. Then, after cleaning, he cut some more gauze and crimped it back in. The final part is painting and reassembling. So far, the horn has been primed. Father will apply the final green coats in Devon. The new reed has been tried and, much to Steve's surprise, worked first time although only very quietly. This was improved once the newspaper had been extracted from the bell where it had been placed to keep the paint out!

I have just finished off the two gallon petrol tins for the Dennis. The colour may raise a few eyebrows, but looking at an ASC memo dated 11 June 1915 which states "all tins that are used for oil, paraffin and water must be painted black, with a white W, P or O as the case may be marked on both sides". "Tins that are used for petrol are to be left their original colour", i think the result is right. Many of the photos show the tins being battered and of unidentifiable colour although i have several where everything is obviously black. I have found one original 1918 WD petrol tin (which is black) and too nice to use, so i have selected three WW2 plain tins and painted them accordingly. As you can see one has the WD arrow on the handle which is the same marking location used during WW1. I did the letters using stencils from Axholme and they were very easy to use, so thanks guys. I have the correct plain type lids which just need a good polish.

Yes indeed. That would be the easiest way. Thinking about it, i vaguely remember us having hook brackets on the back of the Peerless chassis. I will have to get everything uncovered and take a look. Fantastic advert by the way. I presume you had a successful weekend at the British library? Tim

Great stuff.

Thanks Alan That has saved me a fruitless day at Kew then. I will pop down and copy them so we have the exact measurements. It is hard enough trying to find something even if i know where to look. I have gone through my Peerless photos and between 1/2 and 2/3rds of them have hooks at the front: Interestingly, the US Peerless trucks (still in the USA when photographed) all have them as well so it must have been a factory fit. One of the WD Peerless has the other style of tow hook as opposed to the one that hangs on the spring shackle: I could only find one photo of a Peerless with a hook on the back of the chassis, although i must say that i do not have many photos showing this part of the truck. It does look to be the same style of hook as on the FWD and on the Eagle: These obscure things become very interesting when you start comparing notes and photographs.

It was the last one on medium vehicles, but strangely they have all disappeared. Most odd.

The WW1 Locomobile chassis which was recovered last year from underneath a demolished house and sold on E bay for £135 is now for sale on Milweb for: Wait for it: £10,000!!!! WW1 Locomobile American g/s rolling chassis Good wheels/tyres, chassis, springs, axles perfect. Been under cover since 1920s. Only one other in UK, £10000 ono. http://www.milweb.org/classifieds.php?type=3 I guessed that it would quickly come up for sale, but never at that price.

I would be very interested in going to look at that, but where did you find that reference? When i look on their website it gives me the following: WO 32/3040 REGIMENTAL and CHARITABLE FUNDS: Individual Cases (Code 30©): Application from "Legion of Frontiers-men" for grant from endowment fund of King Edwards Horse 1929 Any thoughts?

Mark had completed the donkey work for the Driver's side panel - it was case of screwing the planks together and fitting them. Looks good! All of this work today has left another pile of work for the Paint Shop crew! Steve is returning to Axminster again next weekend with so much still to do and the intention is that all of the painting should be completed by then so final fixing and installation can take place!

But there are two of these so the same procedure has to be followed for the second one - and checked every so often during the bending process to ensure that it is identical to the first one! Drill some fixing holes in the lengths of steel - bolt them up to the chassis - the holes are still there from the original brackets - and try them! Some minor adjustment required - one is over-bent so straighten it out a lttle under control with the hydraulic press - and "Bob's your uncle" - job done!

Steve - who is still in Devon but returns home today - with Tony, went over to Mark (our Carpenter friend) this morning to collect the timber which Mark had again prepared for us, for the side panel to go next to the Driver - and also for the Toolbox and Rack for the three 2 gallon tins. Mark had said that he would make the Toolbox and Rack for us to save some time - and this he had done - a super job. We are now very much thinking of all the remaining important jobs that have to be completed - and the footstep falls into this category. Steve had made the actual step sometime ago but the actual supports for it which bolt to the chassis were still outstanding. These consist of two lengths of 2" x 1/2" steel but they have to be bent roughly into a "Z" shape to bolt to the chassis and take the step. Usual procedure here - get the steel red hot and then lean on it until it looks about right!

My understanding is that the hooks were indeed a requirement of the subsidy scheme. You also see them on many of the US imports such as Peerless, Locomobile and FWD. Most hooks seem to be secured by the front shackle pin although some (like the IWM FWD) have similar brackets to the Eagle trailer: Not sure if the same requirement applied to trailers but i would expect so. What is your plan with the Eagle? A full restoration?

Marvellous photograph. As you say they must have been anticipating an early end to the war as the Ministry of Munitions would surely not let any of these vehicles be sold in to non essential war work ownership.