David B.

I don't think that I am going into the driveway business using pressure tools with this one (sorry David!) as I have seen a film of an exploding air tank and this one was last tested in 1971 according to the stampings on the tank. I was actually hanging on for a quote Pat !!

When you want to pass the Dingo on it will be devalued by the cost of installing the correct kit at its replacement cost at that time. The way 19 set prices are going that is sure to be more than £300 in the future. Try and hang on to the radio,without it the vehicle is incomplete. Considering the role of the Dingo Peter's comment is quite correct, Recce vehicles carried radio sets,part of their function.

Neil, You should perhaps contact the Heritage Motor Trust Archive,Gaydon,Warwickshire and enquire about their archive holdings. I believe that the Mulliners records survive as part of the Standard Triumph records,held at the University of Warwick Library. Be careful though,there were several similarly named coach builders,originating from the same family. The most likely maker of the WW2 Utility body,I would think was probably Mulliners(Birmingham) Ltd who had premises in Bordesley Green,Birmingham. They produced coach built car bodies in the 30s and during the war made aircraft parts and Utility Bus bodies,continuing bus bodies and body building after the war. (They would seem more likely than the London based H.J. Mulliner company). The Birmingham Mulliners were acquired by Standard-Triumph in 1958 which was in turn absorbed by Leyland,the factory closing,I believe in the early sixties. In recent years I did business over a period with a Bangladeshi bed and mattress makers based in part of the old Mulliners works in Bordesley Green Road. I enquired during a number of visits if anything remained of the old coach building business but sad to say was never once shown a dusty cupboard containing old drawings or blueprints. As far as I know and I'm sure you are aware Stewart and Arden were car retailers but of course during the war their workshops went over to military vehicle maintenance and overhaul. Good luck with the project, David

John/Richard, Does the classification "1/2 Ton" shed any light. The wartime description of these trailers was 10cwt which changed to 1/2 Ton. The Identification List for the GS and Mortar Trailers dated April 1949 is titled "10cwt" but the August 1960 Parts List has it as "1/2 Ton" The change must have been between these dates. David.

Am I right in thinking there will be an entrance fee for exhibitors ?

Was this article originally published in Classic Military Vehicle ? It has that look. David.

Morning Tony, Please let me know when you finish this as I was hoping you could "drop in" and help with some driveway repairs. Seriously though,what a lovely thing. There will soon not be enough airborne jeeps to tow all these trailers ! Best wishes, David.

Prior to this fix did it have a tendency to wet the plugs on tickover at all or were they running clean ?

Thanks Pete, I haven't suffered from that for quite a long time due to the fact that we tend to run the motor and warm up for a while before moving off. When I first had the K2 all those years ago carb icing caused all manner of awkward moments with spluttering and cutting out in the early spring. By the time you pulled over,got out,walked round and lifted the bonnet the frost would have disappeared. Having looked at the points and jets,off you'd go being the none the wiser. It probably took three or four years for the penny to drop ! Some while ago I had a very nice rad muff made and never fitted,for what reason I can't remember.I should dig it out for days like that one. I'm pleased to report though that had I been carrying any patients they would have been fine as the heater in the rear is working well. Cheers, David.

We found the ice - both black and white ! slowed us up sufficiently to miss the rendezvous,so we went on to the aerodrome direct with the K2 and Jeep rather than try to find you all in the fog. The freezing fog meant that the front of both vehicles were caked in ice which caused me to panic a bit when returning to the ambulance about quarter of an hour later after parking up to see a stream of ( thawed) water falling from the rad grille. An enjoyable,if slightly masochistic day out,made more enjoyable in the knowledge that the previous nights rain had washed all of the County Council's salt away. Looking forward to going there again in April on "Drive it Day" David.

Were the Air Ministry using de-icer in WW2 ?

Same colour as his Wagon Wheels perhaps ?

I know it's been discussed before but those reflectors do look a bit orange. The plate itself doesn't look too weathered so would it be possible that the reflectors have lost their red colour or did they start off a bit on the orange side ?

That's why prices have gone up Ian !

Simon,I'm beginning to think that for every rule there is an exception and a further puzzle emerges here. According to the Census book of WD vehicles the X number and contract number on the cast brass plate relate not to Orme Evans but to a contract of 959 10 cwt GS trailers of BROCKHOUSE manufacture ,the numbering sequence seems to fit in quite late on in the war. In the Identification List for the 10 cwt trailers the contract seems to have been issued relatively early on for GS No 1 trailers. Brockhouse took over the Orme Evans Co in 1944 it is said. So what happened here,did Brockhouse pick up an earlier (un completed) OE contract under the OE name as well ? It also blows out of the water any potential theory of identifying trailers without data plates as the OE no 2 trailer would have only two plate fixing holes drilled on the drawbar not four.

Thanks John ,I'm going to ask him about a repair to the corners of another zinc plate.

I was very close to Mike and Carrie for a number of years,he had his ways and wasn't everyone's cup of tea,Carrie was lovely. No matter what,he was one of a small group of enthusiasts who pulled together in a very interesting period of discovery and exploration,he and I were restoring a Dingo each at the same time thirty odd years ago and spent a lot of time together. One of the most amusing memories I have of him was of making a spoof telephone call to him inviting him to drive his Dingo past the Cenotaph for the retirement ceremony of a Polish General - hook,line and sinker. Another good memory was of acting as referee between his pedantic requests and the irascible Chris Wilkinson. Anyone who knew these two characters can imagine that. I lost touch with them following their move and was very sad to hear of Carrie's unfortunate death. So long Mike.

Nice looking plate Simon,is it brass or zinc ? Some interesting differences to the Orme Evans plates which seem to be printed as contract specific. As well as being made of steel the OE plates have only two fixing holes which I suppose could be another way in helping to determine the manufacturer from the remaining holes left in the drawbar.

Thank you Tony - hope you are well. That would be logical as it fits with the original trailer designation too. I am just waiting for the final proof having checked hole spacings etc. when it arrives I will post it together with the cost of additional plates. Sadly,they will be made outside of the UK but carriage should not be much. Best wishes, David.

Tim, I'll lend you a book " Fire from the Forest " which covers the SAS Brigade activities in France 1944. There are some mentions of Belgian involvement. I'll bring it a week Thursday unless you are passing. David.

Some larger vehicles also had revised partitions in their 2 gallon racks later in the war in order to accommodate jerrycans.

Thanks Richard - we could be quite busy this winter !!!

Is this correct ? Richard or anyone else actually done this successfully ?