cordenj

Having discovered these bowsers tanks, in then took several months to find the farmer who owned them as he did not live near the site. There then was a protracted period of several years trying to persuade him to part with them, even though they clearly had not been used for decades. This was finally achieved last month and a friend and I drove to collect them with an enjoyable 80 mile round trip in our Jeeps and Airborne trailers. As the bowser tanks were galvanised, they have survived remarkably well, but the pre-war truck chassis that they had been mounted on had rotted into the ground. I assume they were purchased at a surplus sale after the war and just used to take water for livestock. Their location was so remote and overgrown, that anything larger than a Jeep would not have gained access without some significant arboricultural work. Really just a story of patience and persistence paying off, and now both bowser tanks have been saved. I'm pleased to say one is already with its new owner in the North of England who plans to mount it on an original Lightweight Water trailer chassis that he has but was missing its bowser tank. So I hope we'll see another one of these unusual trailers at shows in the future. P.s.: If anyone knows where there is a Metafilter looking a for a home.....please let me know

I restored one of these seldom seen small water treatment bowsers a few years ago. They were developed, along with a wide range of other specialist trailers, based on 10 cwt components for the Airborne divisions. At least one was said to have been landed by glider on D-day and used to set up a water point on the River Orme at Benouville. They consist of a 100 galvanised tank on a special mild steel chassis that utilises standard 10 cwt wheel. axle, hitch and brakes. Water filtration is by a Metafilter. They are rare and only a handful are still known to exist. One other has been fully restored and a couple of others are in the process of rebuilds in Uk and the Netherlands. So imagine my surprise five years ago, when walking in a remote part of West Sussex near Midhurst to find these in an overgrown corner of a field:

Superb job Ian! Like the colour, agree it is lighter than the green I use from R&R for NW Europe British. See you in Guernsey?

Hi Ian, Which period "Olive" drab are you going to use?

​Robin, Not surprisingly at that price, they sold almost immediately. It also included a remains of an No1 and the two in the photo were just intended to be for spares to restore it. Somebody got a bargain!

​Perfect weather today for dismantling a Compressor trailer - he said doubtfully

Simon, I'd have thought the pins WOULD face in same direction, so that (as you say) it can be removed. Every agricultural trailer I have ever used has similar pins set up that way, and the tailgate could be pinned or more often was held in place by the trailer sides when shut. Perhaps, knowing Mr Lawrences love of all things related to safety, he has adapted his mortar trailer so that the tailgate cannot accidentally fall on his foot? :cool2:

Looking good. Will be worth it in the end!

Evening Rob, One was for sale for £2500.......I don't know what it sold for. But its not an unreasonable price given their rarity. (Netti is truly delighted :-D)

Here are some more photos of the Austin engine and air compressor. Interesting that they had used copper pipe for the exhaust. I never considered that when I made the exhaust for my Austin powered Murex Welding trailer. There is also a different type of mechanical governor used on this trailer, but the distributor with integral magneto looks the same as on the welder. Rear trailer socket still in place, and suspect two small angle brackets is for the T-plate (Anthony you've been waiting to use your NOS one) As the starting handle was missing on my Murex trailer, I had to find something similar. But we found that the flimsy Landrover starting handle I shortened to fit bent when turned with some force. the original handle was with this trailer, and it was built to withstand some enthusiastic starting procedures:

Hi Alex, I think I found them on the web somewhere, so am sure you are right. Hope you don't mind me posting them on here? I'm certain any more photos you have would be much appreciated. Thanks

Link to what should be an interesting restoration of rare trailer: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?48811-Airborne-compressor-trailer

..............

Contemporary WWII photo (incorrectly annotated):

This one was in the Netherlands. Photographed at Ginkel Heath in Sept 2004, another useful reference. Although can be seen to have missing righthand rear storage box:

​For some inspiration.....this was for sale in 2013 for £2500. Contract number shows it was a Mk3. Several post-war fittings:

Anthony, Link to thread as discussed: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?27455-British-WWII-REME-Lightweight-Electrical-Repair-Trailer-Restoration-Project Will post some more photos later

Hi David, This was at the Beccles auction on Saturday and I spotted it in their catalogue. Then succeeded in: 1. Persuaidng Tony that he needed another trailer it, and 2. won the bidding for it on behalf of Mr Lawrence It is good to have saved another rare trailer, because I was asked imediately after the sale if I was going to "break" for the engine! We are looking for a suitable 1940's pneumatic drill for road repairs.......

Evening Ian, Was talking to Richard Beresford today about potential for re-manufacturing copies of the Metafilters. Looked through this thread and was reminded that you were considering making some a couple of years ago. How did those plans progress? Thanks

Some very impressive prices achieved to today. e.g. 80W generator in original case for £350+auction fees of 15% and vat. Tilly made £11600+fees MW for £7100+fees Ford V8 Woody stationwagon £18500+ 11 Set made £1500+ British Lightweight Compressor trailer made £400+fees, which was a good price and will be coming south for full restoration....

Yes excellent local show. I've booked via the website and hope to take the Chev this year

For all you British 10 cwt trailer enthusiasts: Durrants sale on Saturday in Beccles has a rare lightweight WWII Compressor trailer for sale, Lot number 319: http://auctions.durrants.com/auction-listing.asp?page=7&aid=288 I believe this is another of the special lightweight trailers developed for the airborne divisions, and then in some cases retained in service and used for many years after the war. As such worth saving and an interesting project with the usual Austin 10/magneto engine. Photo in the online catalogue isn't that good, but these are photos of the same style trailer taken on Ginkel Heath during 2004 Airborne commemorations: Also, these photos are of a very good restored one (in post-war configuration) that was for sale in Uk in 2013 for £2500:

Will do James, but the one I have is for a very small event (70th Jeeps Anniv at Woolwich that did for Nick). I'd think need something between that and what Rex has produced each year.

Tim, I can send you an example I have prepared for a smaller event if you can PM me your email address. Please use it as a guide only. Whether a risk assessment is "suitable and sufficient" is always dependent on the actual hazards of the event, and done sensibly should be a useful guide on the reasonable precautions to take while still having fun. You also have consider who is asking you for this. Sometimes it is just for the site owner who wants to "tick a box" to keep insurers happy or sometimes it may be a Local Authority who will enforce the statutory H&S at an event (although they will all have 100% perfect hindsight after an incident!).