cordenj

A member of this forum recently contacted me to ask how to find a British 10cwt trailer.

I said that they seemed to "find" me, but gave the usual sources of MILWEB, Greensheet and Ebay and said you needed to be patient as they don't often appear.

I've been lucky over the past three years and have restored these trailers :

- 10cwt Cargo Lightweight, 2 - Wh No1. Mk 2;

- 10cwt, Water Lightweight, 2 - WH, 100 Gal (Airborne Water Bowser);

- and this 10cwt, Electrical Repair Lightweight, 2 - WH

So the last thing I was searching for is another Lightweight trailer....but another one has "found" me in the last couple of weeks.

A good mate went to have a look at a general auction in Norfolk near his cottage, where they were just selling furniture, "antiques" and other farm stuff. Not militaria, but amongst the outside lots were a very good Coventry Climax Fire pump trailer....and a MUREX welding trailer.

Apparently, several potential bidders were looking at it for scrap value (a lot of copper in the large very heavy dynamo).

To cut a long story short, my friend bid for me and am now the owner of another Lightweight trailer for restoration.

I'd thought about starting new thread, but as this one has a lot of other info about 10cwt British WWII trailers, I'll just continue here as a resource in one place.....

I believe the Trailer, 2-Wheeled, Lightweight Type, “Electric Welding” was one of the original four types developed by the REME for the Airborne divisions (the other being the Electrical Repair; the Machinery and the Generator, 5K.W.).

Dont know much about the "MUREX" welding trailer.....so any info will be welcome.

I see that they are two others owned by members of this forum, but believe that there are not that many complete trailers left.

It looks like this one has been used on a farm as the towing eye has steel bars welded on to enable it to be towed behind a tractor drawbar. I have a spare towing eye/pin box which we used to tow it back to Surrey; but it looks like the original eye is in good condition, so first job is to remove the steel blocks and refit original eye.

Having only just finshed the Electrical Repair restoration, you can imagine how pleased my wife is with all of this......

The missing photos from my previous post (dont know what happened there):

The restoration of this REME Lightweight Electrical Repair Trailer is complete.

Thanks to all who have added to this thread, which has turned into a wider resource on Lightweight WWII REME trailers.

Thanks Neil. That's a very useful offer and will be a great help to the other builders.

These benches are designed to be transported in a recess in the front of the trailer. The floor of this recess has 4 holes drilled in it, clearly for bolts or screws. So I've made up two runners from oak offcuts, which are then secured using the original holes in the floor.

Anyway, I've now completed the two benches for this trailer and the frames will just need is a coat of paint when weather warms up:

.....photos on following post....

Excellent thread John! I am following this very keenly! Thank you for the bench plans by the way. Can you tell me, what type of wood did you use for the top working surface? QUOTE]

 

I think they may originally have been teak.

Neil (agincourt No1 on this forum) sourced the timber for his and my benches back in the summer from a local wood supplier to him (Bedford). I think it was just a "reasonably priced" foreign hardwood....still quite expensive ....but it should last.

 

That interesting that these benches are still in use in 1980's .... they are very robust and would take a lot to smash them, so wonder if any exist in use now?

 

When displaying the trailer in the summer, each time I have had current serving REME see it and say they wish they something as useful to work on/from today. Apparantly all they get now are sets of tools (good quality e.g. Snap-on), but have to just load them into a vehicle or standard trailer with no worksurfaces or fixed vice.

Have been working on benches today and finished refurbishment of the second battery box:

...and the first I one form Robbie for comparison:

I 've also found another piece of the original CES: a small 1/4" capacity Black & Decker HOLGUN drill, below is an original 1944 vintage advert of what I was looking for:

Found one this week, again sourced via Ebay. I will dismantle and rewire before use, but here it is "as found":

These photos below are for Danny, who wanted to know what the studs were like that hold the two springs on the standatd later model of WWII trailer hitch. Two differnbe tlengths, but simply a piece of rod, turned recess for spring and threaded to fit into hitch. This thread isn't BSW alothough the nut is, maybe thread is UNF.

Hope this helps Danny.

Couple of more photos of the workbench frames. MMA welded mild steel angle:

I've been looking for another 6 volt battery box to match the one Robbie passed to me near the start of the restoration (see post #30). Nothing at Stoneleigh or War & Peace.

Finally last week, a year long worldwide Ebay search turned one up in the North Midlands. I managed to win it for a very reasonable £7.99p. It had been in someone's shed for 40 years and for some reason they decided it might be worth something and put it on Ebay rather thanleave it gathering dust.... said it had gone to a good home!

While it was made by a different manufacturer (C.E.S. Ltd.) in all other respects its the twin of the one I got from Robbie's and fits the trailer perfectly.

A couple of photos below of it after a scrub with water, and I'll then give it a varnish and repaint black metal parts:

Another missing piece in the jigsaw, and nearly there now with only the workbenches needing completion.[/color]

A while since I've posted on the thread been too busy out with Jeep and various trailers.

I took the REME trailer to Brooklands last Sunday in perfect weather. It seemed to be of interest to visitors and I fielded a lot of queries and questions (photo taken at 8:30am before the crowds arrived!):

As planned, now that winter has set in am going to build two exact copies of the collapsable work benches.

These are going to be to the patterns I made from the benches at the REME reserve collection at Bordon last December.

Neil built two for his Machinery version of this trailer for the display at W&P in July, so I know the plans are ok.

Just basic woodwork and welding of the frames, but I'll post up a few photos for completeness.

Hardwood rebated boards pulled together by long threaded coachbolt. As I couldn't find a BSW bolts that length, I welded a head onto steel rod and threaded the end. Each board drilled accurately and the whole set then mounted on the rods and clamped up tight :

Next stage is the make the four square leg sections. I'll do that before I drill and rebate the wooden tops.

Andy: I'm going and plan to take the REME Lightweight Electrical Repair Trailer....so you can compare it to the one at Bordon.

I started this thread following the death of my friend, Marc Open, when we were returning from a wonderful trip by Jeeps to Monte Cassino and Anzio in June 2011; is is perhaps fitting that I report on the conclusion today at Canterbury Crown Court of the prosecution of the driver that hit Marc.

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2012-11-01/van-driver-guilty-of-causing-death-by-careless-driving/

I was a witness for the prosecution this week; and forum members may also be interested to know that I was cross-examined by the defence barrister at some length on the contents of my initial post on this thread. A useful reminder to all that these forum are open to all to see.

I deliberately chose my words carefully in this thread and in related articles published following the crash, so felt I was able to defend our position with using older vehicles...be they MVs or other classics.

and another clip here:

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2012-10-15/bluebird-flies-again/

Shame about the propshaft, as it completed a few runs at Bewl in June ....but with no publicity then as that was its first time under power in the water since renovation.

3 photos from June runs:

The meteor sounds great and is connected to the prop via dog-clutch. So as soon as engine starts ... off she goes.

Even with a slower pitched prop the speed at only 1500rpm is surprising.

I was there on Monday manning one of the safety boats. Expect more trials once a more substantial prop is built.

Just stumbled upon this thread and I just had to comment, this trailer is a thing of beauty. Maybe it's the bloke in me but I do have a deep seated fondness for the old Engineering setups. And this one is just beautiful!! Cracking job mate...I am deeply envious![/QUOTE]

 

Thanks for your comments. It has certainly got a lot of interest at shows this summer.

Cheers

Look forward to seeing some more Mark.

Cheers

Thanks Andy,

I've always intended this thread to be a source of info about the REME Lightweight Trailers and I'd encourage anyone else to post up any 10cwt related information/drawings.

Cheers

With the successful "remaking" of the Collapsible Workbenches by Neil using plans I drew from the originals at Bordon; we thought others might like to use the plans so they can copy to the original design.

We met at least two people at W&P who are planning to restore/make similar trailers, so here are my plans:

If anyone would like a higher resolution copy please PM me.

Two special MVs:

This Nuffield Mechanisations conversion of a Jeep into a special airborne version didn't get past experimental stage. I saw it on the far side of Medway, so not sure how many will have seen it:

The Canadian OTTER won several awards and was restored form a hulk:

Selection of my photos .... Thursday-v-Sunday:

[/color]

Dave,

Didnt you find the two REME trailers either?

The binned trailer has been created from the longer No2 Lightweight chassis, so it will probably not be quite the same as an original built from a No1 MkI or MkII.

Robbie Grainger has built it from scratch using a couple of photos. He is a member of this forum and has posted on this thread.

Cheers

Deleted as duplicate post

Not quite "LIVE" but some photos of Mark and "SHREK" taken in arena from turret of T34.

No, she is not running away in panic, but wants to get some more photos for the family album as Mark goes up to collect one of his awards:

Well done Mark!

Just back from W&P 2012: an excellent show again. The muddy conditions at start of week seemed to make most people work together and help each other out, a really great atmosphere.

The weekend saw usual "Beltring" weather with the dust rising by Sunday.

Neil (Summer44) brought his REME Lightweight Machinery Trailer as part of their much wider Airborne display. As planned, I brought my Electrical Repair Trailer as was invited to join his display in the Living History field.

It was very good to meet a number of members of this forum from UK, Netherlands and Belgium who had either posted on this thread, or had followed its progress.

Richard Farrant came along to inspect the trailer with Robbie Grainger, appropriate as he had facillitated its sale.

I was only on the stand for limited time each day as had other duties, but Neil said that the two trailers, together with Robbie's Lightweight Binned version, attracted a lot of interest throughout the show.

Small selection of photos below:

Neil had cracked on and made a superb job of building two collapsible workbenches for his trailer from plans I had drawn from the REME Musuem's originals. My winter job to to build two more for my trailer.

Thanks for the interest.

...and another batch:

http://www.thewarandpeaceshow.co.uk/gallery/Sarah%20Dawson_17/

For everyone who wants to see photos, this link:

http://www.thewarandpeaceshow.co.uk/gallery/Simon%20Thomson_17/

Is the first batch of the show's official photos...and yes to do show the mud AND the fun!

As no-one else has pasted in the latest from the W&P Website. Like Phil's comment below:

"An update on our 30th Anniversary Show...

Update 11pm 15/7/12: Just wanted to confirm and remove any trace of doubt: The War and Peace Show is NOT cancelled!! Please pass this on and help dispel the rumour. There are loads of people here and we're looking forward to a great Show. Bring your wellies and sunnies ;-)

15/7/12 Public camping .. In the main area there are still some dry pitches, but the overflow is into Medway which seems ok. Talk to the Officials when you arrive and they will help find somewhere for you. If you're coming for weekend camping, contact us on Friday for an update before you leave if you'd like.

15/7/12 Stalls... I went round to talk to some of them to give you an impartial view, and here's the comments (unedited in case you're thinking that!!): Susan at Airsoft World Ltd. said they were: "delighted to be here, the conditions are better than when they left and they are really hap...py" The team has driven 450-1000 to be here and wouldn't miss it. On H24, Lester Harrison is selling miitary books. He and his wife were very happy - the Officials were very helpful and they understood the conditions. J9/10 and 24/25 was Tag Airsoft (formerly Airsoft Skirmish): again very happy, especially when I told them bark chippings and straw will be laid on Tuesday! On A3 was Phil Bashall and Dunsfold Landrovers. He said: "no complaints and looking forward to an excellent show as ever. It's a military vehicle show and if we all gave up it would be very boring!" N16 was a tools and craft show. They've been coming every year since 1987 and are: "happy to take it as it is. It's a great show with something for everyone" Contact any of them to check their opinion! Click for photos of trade fields:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.502369309780319.130804.245264938824092&type=1"

Hi Dave,

Below is a scan of the drawing of the Binned trailer from WO 5460 dated April 1949:

Have been at W&P today and met up with a couple of other forum members who have posted on this thread. The concensus is that your trailer could well be the remains of a binned type, but we couldn't think why it would have a odd angled mudgaurds...now that you say you think they are a later additon, helps confirm our view.

Cheers,

Dave,

John in that link aka "Blackpowder44" is also a member on this forum. He found the pale green 100gall bower earlier this year and is planning to restore it...however, I'd not previously seen what he is going to use as a donor for the central spine.

As you say the donor chassis does seem to have a welded flat floor which is similar to your trailer.

I've been thinking again about what type your chassis might be: The only other type that I have not seen in detail "in the metal" is the REME Lighweight Store Trailer (often called the Binned Trailer).

The one drawing I have of this type in publication W.O. 5460 Identification List, does seem to suggest that it might have had the binns built up from a flat floor covering the normal ladder chassis.