Richard Peskett

To confirm much of what has already be written the Fiat 15 TER at Duxford is the vehicle which I bought and restored in 1976/7 and sold to the IWM in the late 1990s. When in the scrap metal business in the mid 1970s we were clearing much of a Sussex yard where vehicles had been since pre-war days, amongst them was a Fiat 15TER which I kept intact and took it back to my yard. Ironically from the yard I sold a couple of things which later almost came back to haunt me in the restoration business - a Thornycroft 'J' type engine which I subsequently used in the restoration of the IWM 'J' type and a Vulcan bus which I subsequently restored for the late John Lee at World of Country Life, Exmouth, but that is all another story. Around the same time I bought another chassis only 15 TER . A year later I was offered a complete 15TER which had been used as a breakdown lorry at a Leicestershire garage, this was the one I restored and ran for many years. As already mentioned the others I sold on and are now apparently in Surrey. The picture is the vehicle we brought back in 1975, the ironwork from the body I used in the restoration of my Jeffery-Quad body. Richard Peskett.

A further quote from The Supply of Munitions pt.IV Mechanical Transport 1914-18 : Napier both '30 cwt' and ' 3 ton' are listed but in both cases marked as 'These makes were allotted for Home Service only' and ' These makes were acquired to a limited extent only'. Richard Peskett.

In my own library I have a considerable amount of contemporary material regarding drawings and technical information about WW1 lorries and tracked vehicles covering virtually all the 'popular' and even less 'popular' makes and models. At some time in the future I do intend to abstract this information and publish same for the purposes as requested and for those in the more long term future who will be interested as much of the material is not easily accessable or readily available in our nation of declining reference libraries. Richard Peskett.

A couple of further points. Several of these smaller versions found their way to the Isle of Man in 1919/20 as war surplus and were bodied as 18/22 seat charabancs, Isle of Man taxation records show at least one as a 'Napier 50cwt'. They were probably well suited to the smaller I o M roads. I think we have had this discussion before regarding weights, the WD in general classified vehicles in 2 categorys viz. 1 ton 10cwt. or 3 ton irrespective of what manufacturers claimed.These categorys were for the rerspective load weight over 'rough terrain'. I now think the smaller Napiers were classified as 45 cwt by the manufacturer. Once vehicles were begining to be sold as war surplus most '3 toners' immediately became 4 ton etc. and of course in many cases were put to use carrying considerably more !. Richard Peskett.

This Napier is quite interesting, although all is mentioned as a 30 cwt, this being in WD loading, I belive Napier produced two models during this period, the smaller being 40/45 cwt and the larger 3/3.5 ton B 74 model. An unrestored but complete B 74 exists in Cheshire it being one of two which were rescued from Beedons, Northampton in 1963/4. The other from Beedons I believe to be the smaller model, this is restored with a replica LGOC 'B' type bus body and resides in a collection in Yorkshire. I also believe that half the front end of one of the smaller models exists in the Science Museum collection at Wroughton, this I think was given to the SM in about 1923 when Napier moved from Acton Vale, London. The Automobile Engineer has at least two articles on the B74 in Vol. 5 1915 and Vol. 9, 1919. After WW 1 many ended their days as charabancs including this one in North Devon, still complete with WD towing hooks and radiator brush guard. Richard Peskett.

I am involved in an advisory capacity to the Coventry Museum of Road Transport for this project, so rest assured it will turn out fine and they are making a good job of it. The lorry was on a farm in east Scotland near Dundee for many years with a living van body fitted but surviving almost complete mechanicaly, although completely worn out. I believe it finished its working life with a travelling fun fair. In the early 1970s it was acquired by a local collector who started the restoration. About 12 years ago it was acquired by the Coventry museum being of local manufacture it was considered to be of great importance to their collection. The Covenrty Corporation Tramways started a feeder service to the tramway network in 1919/20 using war surplus Maudslays, mostly then bodied as single deckers by Hickman of Balham, London. To reconstruct a bus body today is of enormous cost so the decision was taken to restore the vehicle to its WW 1 specification. I will look out a photograph of it when in Scotland in due course. Richard Peskett.

Christmas is soon over !, well done those who came up with some answers, a couple quite close. The Crossley is one of the vehicles taking part in the trials before Russian officials 'in the Oxshott woods' , based on Esher, Surrey in November 1916. At the time Russia was a good customer of many British manufacturers but the revolution of 1917 soon put an end to that, in particular it caused considerable problems to Austin who had a substantial order for their 2 ton 'twin propshaft' lorries well under way. Richard Peskett.

A major ligistical nightmare to keep vast numbers of troops well fed especially when on the move. Few photographs seem to come to light of motor vehicles involved in this. I recently found these two in La France Automobile for September 1901. By this time the French were already taking the task seriously with this mobile bakery based on a De Dietrich chassis and engine. Richard Peskett.

As the festive season approaches and some of you will be entertaining, eating and drinking unable to be in the workshop, thought may be given to this image.The date is November 1916, extra points for naming the location and what is going on. I will post the answer here after January 6th. A Happy Christmas to all. Richard Peskett.

Probably a Belsize, herewith one of its relations !. The Belsize was not initially a preferred make in WD circles, many were used by bus companies in 1914/16 as replacements for Daimlers and others which had been requistioned. Richard Peskett.

For most things you want to know about petrol tins and the general supply of petroleum during world war one a most interesting volume is " The Shell that Hit Germany the Hardest", by P.G.A.Smith, published 'Shell' Marketing, London c.1920. Usually can be found on ABE Books £20/£40. Well worth a read on this particular subject. Richard Peskett.

You are quite right, somewhere I have a picture of a WW 1 truck in Chicago fitted with generator and electromagnet amidships underneath to pick up horseshoe nails. Richard Peskett.

Reference the tyres. Goodyear were producing pneumatic tyres for trucks by 1917 and in April of that year ran a Packard the 720 miles on them as a publicity stunt from Akron to New England, U.S. It took 28 days and 28 tyres !. In the early 1980s a similar E series Packard was restored as such. Reconditioned F.W.Ds from Slough were being advertised with pneumatic tyres in the early 1920s. Richard Peskett.

I have doubts that it is a lorry engine but obviously of British manufacture. Large car more likely ?, which gives a much larger variety of options; the mounting webs are not very substantial. Richard Peskett

Similar to an Austin but the crankcase is quite wrong etc. Richard Peskett.

Daimler 'Box Car' , extract from Commercial Motor December 1917. Richard Peskett.

USA Class B Liberty, came to me from Spain in two halves, all chassis and mechanical components are original, body new. Originally used by US in France. Restored in my workshop for East Sussex collector. Richard Peskett.

Amongst the many funds established to send 'goodies' to those serving, Commercial Motor 'Campaign Comforts' contributed these sets of playing cards for A.S.C., M.T., men. Does anybody have an original card or even a full pack ?. Richard Peskett.

There are good detailed articles published in the Automobile Engineer : Halley type 'G' Vol. 10, 1920 and Halley '35hp' Vol. 11, 1921. Richard Peskett.

This one is actually a Nash-Quad. Thomas B.Jeffery sold out to Charles W.Nash in July 1916 and subsequently there were a few design changes , notably the radiator was a much larger in cast iron instead of the honeycomb core in brass case, the wheel hubs were strengthened showing the 'star' effect hub and many were not four wheel steering. Buda engines remained much the same . I believe my Jeffery was probably a gun portee originally with the French army. Richard Peskett.

Having looked through my notes I have found that the sale was on 13th March 1965 and the fire engine sold for £1740 ( no buyers premium in those days ! ) and was bought by Carlsberg Breweries and was to be given back to the City of Edinburgh. In the late 60s early 70s two more existed in Hampshire, later they were in Glasgow, I think owned by a descendant of the Halley family and it is probably these which are now at the GTM. The laundry van is alive and well in Sussex, dates from 1929 and is a 50 cwt. model. Richard Peskett.

I believe this Daimler to be a ' Box Car', its from my collection of Daimler glass plate negatives and would date from late 1914 / early 1915. I assume the use would be for carrying officers and other hierarchy baggage etc. Richard Peskett.

By coincidence my recent mention regarding the Halley fire engine which was sold at the Sword collection sale on the 12th March 1965 there was in the same sale , Lot 7, which was described as a RFC type Crossley 'box car', I think it appeared in a picture of the sale and I seem to remember that it had a canvas sheeted top. I will try to find the catalogue of the sale which may throw further light upon it. Richard Peskett.

The Halley fire engine was part of the Sword collection in Ayrshire and was bought 'back' by the Edinburgh fire brigade at one of the dispersal sales about 1964 after the death of John Sword. Old Motor / Vintage Commercial Magazine has extensive illustrated articles on Halley in volume 10, issues 5 and 6. The 6 ton model was a G 45. Richard Peskett.

A few further references to these mid 1920s War Office Subsidy Vehicles from The World's Carriers: March 1927 - Karrier 3/4 ton 'WO6' rigid. June 1927 - Crossley 20 / 30 cwt.. October 1927 - Guy 3/5 ton, Karrier 'WO6 ' 2/3 ton, Thornycroft 'A3' 30 / 50 cwt.. January 1928 - Albion 4 ton. Richard Peskett.