Rootes75

After 15 years I left my job last Friday, I start a new job closer to home next week. Its given me a week to spend down the shed to really put some time into getting her finished. Well, the first two days we've spent 15 hours on her and we have ticked off a few major jobs. I've rewired the rear of the lorry so we now have side and stop lights working correctly. We have adjusted and now bled each wheel and we have good brake pressure in the pedal. We have finished lots of other jobs too, the seats and all their bracketry has been refitted, the front bumper is fitted and we've marked/drilled and fitted a new number plate. The rear wings have been trial fitted, marking and drilling the new Cross members, the complete front step assemblies are now fitted, including marking and drill the repaired front wings to take the lower steps....the list goes on of small jobs we never quite got round to finishing. The paint hadn't arrived yet but we're now at the stage where it's paint, fit the canvas, fit new window glass, then stencil her up....she's not far off finishing and she will be ready for her first show the last weekend in May...its exciting.

What are the overall measurements of the glass?

I saw news of this posted on another forum and it's not good news. It's a pretty sad story if you ask me.

Superb Bike.

Definitely worth saving.

I tend to agree with this. I like to be able to drive to a show, so hundreds of miles is out of the question. I also like it when friends and family etc can also come along cause its close enough to home to make a day of it. We are part of a local re-enactment group and there are plenty of smaller events throughout the year for us to attend either with the vehicle or without. I do understand the pleasure in seeing a big show, we always attend GDSF and seeing so many vehicles and people in one place is lovely. I can see an argument for both sides.

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense!

I have a number of pictures of wartime Commer trucks of various sizes, 15cwt, 30cwt and 3 ton and on the majority of these the bridge p[late is displayed on a bumper bracket on the drivers side. However, many of them on the passenger side have a simple square plate on a bumper bracket which just reads 'Pass' My question is what is the Pass marking plate for?

I read the article on the Beeb too. It's interesting to note that although Neutral there were a lot of pro-german facets to the country. But then, with them in such close proximity to each other then I suppose it isn't out of the question.

Do you have any plans for it yet?

And judging by what shape I can make out I'd suggest either Royal Scots or Scots Guards.

Shape of the cap badge would narrow it down.

I think it looks superb, followed you throughout the restoration. It's a shame we live so far apart, we'll have our Commer finished in the next couple months and would be lovely to get together with some members and our newly restored trucks..

I've got a feeling we've seen this. Many years back we were visiting relatives in Cornwall and were following their car on a daytrip...we passed the Martian and from memory back then (7-8) years I recall it being complete..?

Any pictures of the remains?

Well, as a collector of uniforms, in my case wartime Royal Navy, I think this is a great way of displaying the collection. It simply looks so much better than displaying them on a rack or hangers.

Well, after much investigation into the non running of the Commer engine we finally made progress at the weekend. We have set the timing again, we have cleaned the plugs again and we sprayed oil around the manifold to check its sealed and not sucking in air. We have two carbs and both are set correctly but still we see the same result... The breakthrough.... We removed the Exhaust...it was quite clear what was happening when the downpipe gasket was revealed. Around one fixing bolt hole it could be seen that it wasn't sealed very well at all. So, we cleaned off the edges and faces again to get them as clean as possible. Then we re-seated the gasket with some high temp sealer and fitted it with new brass nuts. It tightened up much better than is did before. Upon trying the engine...no choke, she started first time and ticked over lovely, add some throttle and no pops or bangs. All we have to do now is to just set her idling speed and maybe just adjust the mixture when she's warm but tbh it was such a relief to hear her run smooth after all this time. A huge job and weight off the mind considering her first show is in 8 weeks time!!

I have just joined the MVT for the first time, I did find it a little odd that the Sentinal system only allows the DD option. I do note though that there were no issues and the next day it said my membership card had been dispatched. But, saying that, it was a week ago and I still haven't received the card....

We are back trying between other jobs to get the Commer running properly. We have checked the manifold for leaks when she is running (she still only runs on full choke), we used oil round the manifold and then inspected for any bubbles, there none. There is no drain under the manifold like on similar Humbers but we did check. Next I loosened off the exhaust down pipe and when it was off I checked the gasket. To my surprise the gasket was pretty clean apart from around the most unaccessible stud. Around this fixing hole could be seen lots of black soot, quite obvious that its escaping around this point and the gasket isn't sealing properly. Well, I have some new brass nuts and have wire brushed off the studs as best I can. I will re-fit it all on Saturday and hopefully that will make a difference. I may even use some gasket sealer just to go belt and braces on the fix?

Some good news. Our Canvas made by RCH has arrived this morning. All boxed up. The body isn't painted yet but I think this weekend we will unpack it and try a trial fit.

That's right, due to imported hardwood shortages softwoods were therefore used on MV bodies during the war.

Looking very good.

We have gone tongue n groove softwood for the body sides and tailgate on our Commer. I see no problem at all with that. When its painted will anyone ever know?

Through choice we are painting our 1942 Commer Q2 in SCC2 Brown, yes because it's appropriate to the year but also because we've found traces of service brown under layers of postwar greens.

We have plastic push fit versions of these where I work. We use them on cable and conduit runs.