Richard Peskett

I recently found this advertisement in Vetern and Vintage magazine for December 1966 which adds a little more of general interest. Richard Peskett.

Re. post 84, I would think that the first two are Lancias and the remainder are Crossleys ( the curved manifold should tell). The lorrry appears to be a Leyland workshop but the props to the lower half of the body at the back are missing, its also on solids and looks the little worse for wear. I assume the picture is pre 1927 hence the workshop is not the same one as we have which is in good original condition and was new in 1927. Richard Peskett.

Ref. post no. 33, You never stop learning in this game ! , I have now seen a Lucas 742 with WD stamped on it. The only thing is I think the front is from a lamp of the opposite hand as the bent flange at the top should be at the bottom and goes into a slot in the reservoir casing. These lamps with electric fittings were still being sold well into the 1930s as Maidstone Corporation had some double deck Crossley buses with them fitted new in 1933/4. Richard Peskett.

Thought this may be of interest to you Sherman experts, one which is somewhat difficult to go and see. It resides in a diarama in the North Korea war museum, Pyonyang, taken 1993. Richard Peskett

Ref. post no. 5. I belive the entire snow scene is a total fake, most people think that this sort of thing has only come about with the digital age in photography but postcard publishers from the Edwardian period onwards were very adept at this sort of thing. I have an identical tramcar scene at Liverpool Pier Head both summer and winter with snow and Christmas Greetings added, also one publisher produced a 'Moonlight' series where you will find a crowded beach, promenade and fully laden tramcars in bright moonlight!. Richard Peskett.

Ref. post 34, well spotted nz2 !. Definately a Colonial model 'M' of 1912/13. One made its way to the Japanese war office. A full description /article on this model appears in Motor Traction , May 24th. 1913. A few detail pictures attached herewith including that of the interesting front suspension. Richard Peskett.

Ref. reply no. 9, Lucas made 2 series of side lamps for commercial vehicles 1906/30s. For light vehicles there were the 720 series for spade mounting and with an option of finishes denoted by the last number ( e.g. 724 was all brass) . The heavier pattern, although the same external dimensions were of heavier gauge material and with fork mounting and came as 720DS and 722DS only, both black japanned with option of brass or plates parts ( e.g. chimney top & bezel etc.). An identical numbering system was used for the larger version, being 740DS & 742DS, these were often used as scuttle mounted and without headlights. All are handed ,this being the side of the opening door hinge and catch and wick adjuster. The 1931 catalogue price for 742DS with brass parts is £4.7s.6d per pair. I have never seen any of these actually stamped WD. As early as 1910 you could have an option of electrical attachment which screwed into the tell-tail eye in the back of the lamp hence making it dual, the bulb being almost mushroom like. By the mid 1920s many were fitted from new as this. The tail lamp which went with all of these is the 430 series, the 432 being japanned with brass parts. Miller certainly produced many acetylene headlamps ( not self contained) in 1924 all marked WD on the top. Motor Traction, December 1909 has extensive articles on lamps for 'Industrail Vehicles'. Richard Peskett.

M6 North of Birmingham, December 2010 , well perhaps not but nevertheless this Peerless is in difficulties !. Happy Christmas to all. Richard Peskett.

Some further 'in depth' info. on Daimler 'CB' production, although Motor Traction buyers guide of July 1913 quotes a CB 2 ton model production appears not to have started until about March 1914 with serial numbers from about 800 following on from the 'CC' and 'CD' chassis. Production continued until about April 1917 by when serial numbers had reached almost 2900, an assumption from this is that about 2000 units were built. The sleeve valve engine was rated as 30 hp by the makers and 22.4 RAC rating hence there is sometimes confusion over engine sizes. A smilar situation exists with the 'Y' type engines being 40 hp and 30hp rated respectively. Unfortunately no factory records exist form this period and much present information has come from the records of subsequent civilian owners. Richard Peskett.

This is a standard Daimler model CB , 2 ton general service body, built Coventry 1914/17, the majority of CB production went to the WD , the exception being those sold proir to August 1914. Many subsequently gave very good service after WW1 as buses and lorries. Fitted 30hp sleeve valve engine. Quite interesting that the chassis no. appears to be painted on the cab side, this often appears on Daimlers and Albions for some reason. Richard Peskett.

Have been doing a bit more digging, Commercial Motor has more with illustrations on the Artillery Transport Co. 19th March 1929 p.178-180; 3rd April 1928 p.243; a forward control version 8th Jan. 1929 p.699-701 and finally 14th Aug.1928 Australian expedition p.869. The National Motor Museum Trust library ,Beaulieu will have copies of this. Richard Peskett.

'Old Motor Magazine' , Volume 4, no. 12 (wrongly numbered 11) ,August / September 1966 has an interesting article on the 'Artillery Transport Co.' and has a copuple of Karrier pictures. Also interesting to note it appears to have survived with its original inter-war period Middlesex registration number. Richard Peskett.

Perhaps this should become a competition for the most overloaded FWD !. This one in showland use carrying the 'Globe of Death' motor cycle stunt show travelled with Coneleys and Arnolds throughout southern England in the 1920s. Richard Peskett.

On the subject of military Austin 7s this news item is from Veteran and Vintage Magazine, July 1962. The idea of the Constabulary touring the Somerset lanes or even the A 303 in such a vehicle....well. Richard Peskett.

Whilst on the subject of heavy tractors it has come to mind that the US developed a 'look alike' called the 'Militor', the general idea being like the Liberty class 'B' lorry to replace all other varients to standardise everything. This being intended to replace the FWD and Nash Quads etc. I think about 150 were built but the end of hostilities put an end to further production. Richard Peskett.

Sales to Russia- somewhat a 'sticky' problem like the picture for the manufactures involved. At the time of this album Oxshott Woods , November 1916 all was still well and no doubt manufacturers were selling to Russia. I have never noticed any entries in the Thornycroft sales ledgers of 'J' types going to Russia. A.E.C. of course sold the 'Russian' type derivitive from their 'Y' type range. Once the Revolution took place things took an immediate turn for the worse. Probably worst off were Austin with some 200 units of the ''Twin Propshaft'' chassis left on their hands, almost giving them away at the end and also claiming to be the first manufacturer to provide works buses for their employees, hastily bodied ''Twin Shafts''. Richard Peskett.

Re. the Latil, it could be the one that Geoff. Radcliffe in Sussex bought in the early 70s from France along with several other WW1 vehicles including an FWD, Renault (truck not prime mover) Cohendit ( probably now the oldest full size commercial here dating from about 1907 although now fitted with a Buda TM4 engine from a Nash Quad), White etc. These have gradually been dispersed around the nation !. The Renault I am not sure about only that a paragraph in Old Motor News in the early 70s mentioned a small collection in a garden in the Paris suburbs which I think included such a vehicle. Richard Peskett.

I thought it was about time we had another caption competition. This picture is from a collection of photographs of trials before the Russian Commission, November 1916 in Surrey. Thornycroft 'J' well and truly in the mud. ' Well, if you know a better 'ole, go to it'. ( with apologies to Bruce Bairnsfather.) Richard Peskett.

Reference LGOC North Road coachworks , they did build a wide assortment of bodies including workshops on Peerless chassis and even Crossley RFC tenders. Vintage Roadscene September / November 1996 has some good images. What is surprising is that there is a photograph of a RFC Leyland included. Also stores bodies were built quote 'to accompany the workshops' which seem to have been much less photographed. Richard Peskett.

Further to Roy's thoughts on the mobile workshops I have this picture of a 'towed' generator set with two cylinder Gardner engine at Farnborough 1913, my great uncle is in the picture who later serverd with the RFC.; the general set up would have been similar to a workshop . I agree it would be unlikely that Leyland built bodies for other chassis, the logistics of the day do not work out !. Most chassis builders ( e.g. Thornycroft, Dennis etc.) had considerable body/coachwork facilities anyhow. I have photographs of imported US Peerless chassis at Grove Park without bodies, these may have been destined for the LGOC coachworks at North Road etc. Richard Peskett.

I think there are several Citroen 'Kegresse' in existance, besides military use they were popular for trans - Sahara journeys etc. Now a tale from the past !. In my 'junior' collecting days in 1963 I heard of a Crossley 'Kegresse' for sale ( I had a contact who was a television aerial erector ,quite useful), I duely went to view the said item, it was on Lloyd George's estate at Churt , Surrey and was on offer from the gardner for £ 12/10/0d. It was declined as one track was broken. Subsequently sold it appeared in the 1964 London to Brighton commercial run. Surrey registered ,I think GPD 627, it had no doubt been acquired by the estate in the late 1930s. Original markings were still visible under a thin coat of grey paint and in very original condition. Also at the time I was told that there were two Citroen 'Kegresse' on Charingtons estate at nearby Thursley but I never got to see these. Richard Peskett.

Another image proving the point that the spare was intended for universal front and back use, this Crossley would seem to be well pased its sell by date. As an aside, the pneumatic tyred 30 cwt Dennis lorries of the mid / late 1920s had different size wheels / tyres back and front, to get over this the lorry came new with a solid tyre spare which solved the problem. Also in earlier times it was common place to change a tube at the roadside rather than a wheel. Richard Peskett.

Another view of the G.E.A. Napier has surfaced. This time from Commercial Motor , January 1918. The caption has now changed to British East Africa !. Richard Peskett.

I have found this image of a Napier truck in use in German East Africa, I would think the truck is one of the 45 cwt. models rather than as stated. From Commercial Motor, November 1917. Richard Peskett.

A couple of points raised, herewith replies. The lorry is fitted with 40 x 8 tyres/wheel assemblies and I would think it has been on these since conversion from solids, ( on 900 x 20s it would be somewhat 'squat') We have a similar 'civillian' version 50 serial nos. different originally supplied to Reids brewery, Newcastle and that was on pneumatics from new ( see Commercial Motor 26/6/1929 ). The engine is non detachable head type, I suspect these were used up on this order along with the 'new' secondhand body. The Reids lorry has the more up to date detachable head engine. I would also think the electric lighting would have been fitted from new in 1927 although the side lights are Lucas 720 'oil' with dual electric / oil fitments, this was common on many commercial vehicles mid/late 1920s. The lorry has done very little work and we have acopy of the original record sheet from Dublin , will publish more photographs in due course. The other chassis is a Daimler 'CC' of 1913, complete except engine and steering box, anybody has a 40hp sleeve valve Daimler engine tucked away we will be very pleased to hear, it is similar to the slightly later engine fitted to the 'Y' type . Richard Peskett.