early british ww2

hi i have a 1938 guy ant full screen type with rag top and doors. have you any idea how to bleed or 1st fill the autovac fuel system on the guy.i cant remember what we did before it was parked up about 15 years ago. i need to make a start on mine and would like to hear it running first. alan.

Hi Alan ,

Nice to hear from you , what model Guy Ant is yours ? - Is it a 4x2 or a Quad ?

Anyway , the Autovac as you are probably aware works on a vacuum system from the engine which draws the fuel from the tanks to the Autovac itself before sending it through to the carb - My trucks have a small solid state fuel pump just after the tap on the tank and a small hidden toggle switch on the dash which serves two purposes - firstly I use it to prime the fuel system and fill the autovac then turn it off after which the truck starts first time - Secondly the Guy's always seem prone to fuel starvation in the height of summer due to vapourisation , this neat adaptation works no end to stop this and helps the autovac out when it struggles .

You can also hand prime it with a hand primer off a modern car such as a peugeot or turn the engine over to create a vacuum to draw fuel through -if you struggle with owt just send me a pm or something . Also if you have any pics or other details about your truck either post them up or pm me cheers:coffee:

Glynn,

As 79 x100 says, that's the man to ask for the contract plates. As for the footrests, I think that Heritage motor works Ltd. does them (www.heritage-gb.org.uk ).

S.C.C. 2 is indeed the correct colour for early ML's, the same colour that everything else was painted at the time

Cheers

Many Thanks Guys - much appreciate the help and have put a call out for Rob Miller on the WD Motorcycle forum cheers:coffee:

Hello there you lovely lot,

As I've promised myself that both the ML and the 'flea are going to Pegasus, and Normandy '09 draws inexorably nearer, I've decided to bite the bullet and have started to blitz the James. It's a bit of a mess, but it's refreshing to work on a bike that can dismantled and bagged up in less than a day! Here are some pics. Funny how I'd never noticed the contract plate until I took the rear number plate off, and how this early example was painted originally in S.C.C. 2. The footrest/centre stand area has been pretty badly mucked around with too...

Hi Stefano ,

Sorry to throw your thread a little but do you or any others know of a source of the small brass contract plates you can see in the photo's or do you know whether anyone has remade any?? I have a few on my various vehicles but one or two are missing possibly fallen foul of "badge collectors" over the year .

Nice work on the ML by the way ! - I am hoping to get on with my own but need a few bits such as the folding footpegs - Do you know the correct paint code for the early british brown - Is this the s.c.c.2 and can the paint people mix it from this ?? cheers:coffee:

Hi

 

New on here and this may be an obvious question but I have just bought this trailer which appears to be a Sankey or similar or maybe not. It have been modified by a PO but is it unusual to have a 50mm ball type hitch? I have had Sankeys before but never seen one with this type of hitch. It looks original. Unfortunately there are no plates left on the trailer for i.d. Would appreciate some suggestions.

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23161[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]23162[/ATTACH]

Hi Looks like you have got yourself a fairly complete looking G.P.O. Jointers trailer which may have been made by Sankey but probably brockhouse as quite a few people made trailers of this ilk - similar ones were also supplied to the utility companies also such as British Gas etc - The 50 mm ball hitch is not unusual in that the trailers were destined for civilian contracts but had the benefit of being braked c/w with handbrake - Hope this helps cheers:coffee:

I can't remember whether the enamel on the Guy badge is inlaid (cloisonné) or painted like an enamel sign.

 

If the former, you could start with these people: http://badgecraft.co.uk/ They may be able to do the latter as well.

 

These people do work on signs, albeit on other side of the globe: http://www.bowsersandsigns.com.au/enamel_sign_restoration.html

 

Some closer to home who also do vitreous enamel work:

http://www.ajwells.com/index.asp

http://www.stocksigns.co.uk/uploads/newsFiles/Burnhams%20flyer%20lowres.pdf

http://www.fattorini.co.uk/Badgemakers.aspx

Cheers for that I will give them a try - Now anyone help with finding the petrol tanks ?? cheers Glynn :coffee:

Hey Kiwi, that's a neat truck you've got there. In case you are unaware, some "before and after" restoration pics of this truck appear in Wheels and Tracks magazine #15.

 

What I find interesting with British vehicles is the sheer number of minor design changes they went through (and which of course makes it all the more difficult to find the right bits for an accurate restoration). We have the aero screen models, then yours with a full screen and canvas doors, and then those with solid doors. But even then there are differences - there are some links to Denis' example earlier on, here's another: http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p58114134.html You'll see the petrol tank filler pokes through the cab side, whereas Glynn's radio truck has the filler in the cab (I guess). No doubt there are other differences as well.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]24396[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]24397[/ATTACH]

 

(NB Glynn's truck now has the correct Guy Motors badge for the grill.)

 

Glynn, this string is rapidly turning into an Ant gallery - and nothing wrong with that. Do you have pics of the other survivors?

No worries keep em coming it is good to know what is about ! I will try and dig out some more pics etc and post them up

As for the differences Guy Ant 4x2 certainly had 4 variations in the cab layout I know - Aerscreened pneumonia wagons with cloth doors , soft cabbed full windscreen with cloth doors the same again with metal doors and finally a tin cabbed version which I thinkl was possibly only done for wireless trucks for certain contracts - Interesting enough wireless trucks were also fitted with peaked bonnets where all others have flat ones .

Two different styles of petrol tanks - Early trucks had square tanks up to around 1939/40 when they seemed to change to the more familiar standard round tanks - The fillers on these generally stayed inside the cab doors or the canvas flap - The ones on Denis Matthewmans truck are wrong coming through the side panel as they are Morris Commercial tanks with the wrong fillers as are the doors etc on this very bonny truck - This truck is actually a 1940 model and is soon to join my collection when I collect it - So if you have some tanks or fillers please let me know .

The radiator badge was from a donor Guy Ant bought for spares in the late eighties/early nineties and is extremely rare as I have never so far seen another - Can these be copied???anyone know of any enamel badge restorers or manufacturers? cheers :coffee:

Look what you done again Glynn :laugh:, just like the morris's their turning up all over now. Don't be sticking picture's of your bedford up.

 

Very nice looking truck kiwi.

Yeah , Thanks a lot Alex !! Ha ha - I think I might go into hiding or take up a different collection as I appear to have some sort of weird midas touch !! Wish I could do the same with £20 notes but all i'd end up with is Bills to pay !! Lol !!

On a more serious note - Keep the pics coming fellas It is great to see that there are more people out there with a good taste in early british 15cwts:coffee:

Glynn has asked me for some more photos of 229EBK, so here we go:

Many thanks for posting the extra photo's - This vehicle is a very bonny original looking example which is probably a contract or so earlier than my 1940 example . Surely someone must remeber this one as it is quite distinctive - I would love to see this one in the flesh if only to take some pictures of to help with my own project so that I can compare notes so to speak - pm if you like but any info will be greatly appreciated:coffee:

The DVLA vehicle enquiry website shows 229EBK as being unlicensed since November 1988.

So if it is still out there it hasn't been on the road for over 20 years.

Hi - Yes I have seen that one also as it was on the road from 1982 to 1988 and hasn't been taxed or sorn since and looking at the photo's appeared to be a bonny motor - Can anyone shed any light on where this one resided and if it is in a collection somewhere??

This is as good a thread as any to post these pictures of a Guy Ant that I've not seen in many a year:

Hi , Not seen this one before - When and where were these photo's taken ? - Does anyone know where this one is nowadays and if it still exists ???:coffee:

YOU should recognise it, it's your wireless truck!

Well spotted !!!!! Just wondered whether anyone elso had spotted it !!

Cheers:coffee:

I've finally unearthed a picture!:

Just looking at the picture of the quad ant on the back of the green goddess - has anyone else noticed the Guy Ant in the background to the picture ???

I get the impression there are more in Oz than in Europe.

www.mapleleafup.org

I think you would be surprised how many there are in Europe - I do know that there were a good number that ended up in Australia and the like but not too many enthusiasts out there to look after them - Ask Mike Kelly .

There are a good number of members that have the CS8's on here such as Myself , Simon and Jules and more appear to be popping up all the time (see the thread on the one outside the school in the old eastern block) - It would be good to know exactly how many there are and in what configuration i.e. G.S , OFFICE , COMPRESSOR , W.T Etc .

I know that there are publications which do show contract details with numbers of how many of which type were ordered on what contract number etc but don't know how many have survived the ravages of time ??:coffee:

Hi glynn, I am jaap from holland and a new member to this forum. I am restoring a chevrolet c15 with a radiobody No1 MK 3 the same as your's only some more work on it.

as you can see on the pictures I have some work ahead I know all the things for the outside but for the inside I know only a littlebit, so I was hoping you have some pictures of your radiobody's inside if you please.

as I read the above text I think your's looks very complete on the inside so if you or someone else can help I like to see the info / pictures .

thanks jaap.

#Hi Jaap , Welcome to the group - Only just seen your post - I will get you some photo's put together at some stage showing the interior of my own wireless truck as soon as I get near to it cheers

I've finally unearthed a picture!:

I think I have some pictures of the same Quad Ant taken again many moons ago but I think the fire engine had changed to a Dennis max or similar . Does anyone know what has become of this vehicle?? I did chase after one of these a few years ago that was supposed to exist near Thirsk in North Yorkshire , which disappeared into thin air

I know of a good number of Quad Ant GS's up and down in various states from a chassis to full trucks but don't know of many 4x2 Guy Ants like my own ?

Thanks for that interesting info there Glynn, so does your freind bert still own the truck or was it sold to someone else in cumbria? Oh by the way I believe you wanted to know the whereabouts of a certain commer beetle, I'd check your pm's.

 

regards

 

Ben

Hi Ben ,

No the Guy Quad Ant from my friend Bert was sold on at the Auction down at the farm at Scorton - I can't remember how much and who it went to but I do know it was sold somewhere in the lake district and it did go to the Cumbria Steam do at Flookburgh the year before last if I remember rightly I will try and dig out my Programme and see if I can find out who it is . I haven't heard that it is for sale again though as I believe the new owner was going to freshen up the paintwork and restore it to the breakdown truck that use to run round the lakes in the fifties . I believe the MCC CS8 is up for sale again after being sold when the collection of steam and vintage vehicles from the collector at Banks were sold at auction last year - The asking price is £5250 i believe which is a high price considering that the truck although it runs well is somewhat tender and I think it has had its' chassis shortened when converted into a breakdown truck - it's still a bonny truck though

I will try and ring you later - Thanks for the pm

cheers :coffee:

think the garstang autojumble is on ths sun ........

The auction the vehicles were not sold at the Garstang Autojumble Auctions but were sold at an auction which was held at the same farm that the Scorton Village show is held at . The main items were a load of trucks from ashworth's fats and oils which consisted of a good number of very nice vintage vehicles including restoration projects and then a good number of more modern trucks from the fats and oils business itself . The mv tow trucks and others were added to the Auction catalogue from the private collection of Bert Atkinson of Levens . The Morris Commercial cs8 was sold to a collector from Banks near Southport and the Guy Quad Ant I believe stayed in Cumbria .:coffee:

Hi all,

 

I would really like to own this truck, I am led to believe it was for sale a couple of years ago by a well known collector in the peak district? I am a big fan of the unusual and this truck really ticks that box for me any leads would be much appreciated.

 

regards

 

Ben

Hi Ben , I knew this truck extremely well as it belonged to a good friend of mine in Cumbria not the Peak district as I think the photo you have is possibly from the Cumbria Steam Fair at Cark Airfield - It shared a garage with other recovery trucks such as a Morris Commercial CS8 - Bert retired a few years back and lessened his collection and sold some of the vehicles off at an Auction held at Garstang , Lancashire - I was going to buy the Guy to go with my others in my collection but was more interested in the little cs8 which came later but missed that one also - I believe the Guy Quad Ant is still in Cumbria as I am sure it was at Cark last year or the year before Cheers:writing:

Hi All,

I have checked other Morris threads to make sure this info is not listed anywhere else first, so would anyone have the Z numbers for Morris contract 2244.

the number stamped on the rear chassis hanger is 2244 WT 1539. Expect this would have been issued late 1943 for about 1500 or so vehicles.

Also looking for info on 2280 GS 434.

thanks in anticipation

Simon

Hi Simon , Have you any other i.d. plates on your trucks ( on / in the cab or the radio box) which will give you the correct contract numbers for your vehicles - I have several sets of contract numbers and corresponding census numbers for a lot of british vehicles most of which came from chilwell sources as per richard but they are non specific in the same sense as richard says as they don't correspond to specific models . I have been researching most of my vehicles over the years and have complete details for all of my motorcycles , My Guy Ants are complete but I am stilll struggling with both of my Morris CS8's and my Bedford MWD to find the links between chassis numbers and census numbers - Build data basically

I have several parts books for both Morris and Bedford but haven't found the ones with my contract numbers - One of my Guy ants however I found all the production data in one parts list I got from the British Leyland museum , so sometimes you fall lucky!?If you find your contract numbers let me know and I will look into them

Did you get my pm re- air cleaners? cheers:coffee:

Anyone know anywhere i can get info on 10cwt trailers in use by the british army in ww2?

Hi , What sort of info are you looking for and what trailer types just the 2whld 10cwt lightweight series which includes the Airborne jeep trailers etc used in ww2 ? or are you interested in the manufacturers and census numbers etc they displayed ?? cheers:coffee:

Or they do what they do at the REME Museum, Arborfield... scrap them..

When I was last up there searching the archives I asked the curator the whereabouts of the REME converted Ferret ARV air-portable Armoured Recovery Vehicle, I was told it was in such a poor state as it had sat outside for years it was scraped, this was probably the only Ferret ARV in existance...:argh:

 

Also museums DO sell off vehicles that have been donated to them which I think is a bit out of order...

 

REME Ferret ARV

I , as many on here owning several vehicles understands how much time , money and effort is required to maintain several vehicles in a roadworthy state but we still manage to do it somehow

To be honest when it comes down to historically important one offs or last one standing etc I would much rather see them either donated to another museum who has the time , effort and resource to restore them or at least offer dry storage or for them to be offered to private individuals who can do the same so that these vehicles at least have a fighting chance of being saved for future generations to enjoy rather than scrapping them off due to it being someones opinion that a vehicle is too far gone .

I don't totally agree with museums selling off donated items unless it is in the name of self preservation in the sense that it will save the museum from going to the wall as we have lost too many such as the Grange Caverns at Holywell and The Museum of Army Transport at Beverley - Anyone know what ever happened to all the vehicles from these two and are we likely to ever see them again - I do recall an auction after Grange Cavern closed

cheers:coffee:

Here are a couple of Morris Commercial CS8 Trucks which form part of my collection . The first is my 1939 CS8 MDO106 which is seen on the front at Brighton - No idea when this photo was taken poss 1970's or 80's but this truck had been off the road for a good number of years when I bought it for restoration .

The second set of pictures are of my 1940 Morris cs8 G.S.

Heres another interesting adaption of a WW2 gin palace body transposed to a 1950 Commer Q2, around 3 to 400 of these including cargo bodies were produced the cargo body it would appear is also from WW2 15cwts if not certainly a pattern of the type

I have had the pleasure , if you can call it that , of seeing a couple of these Commer Wireless trucks in the flesh in a yard in deepest darkest Lincolnshire - In fact I managed to get some of my bits for my wireless body from one of these , which were both wartime dated bodies on 1950 chassis - one truck and body had been crushed by a BRS Truck body , the other was sat on top of another truck body - The weird thing is that neither looked bad enough to be in a scrapyard especially as they appeared to have been in their for years - we visited the yard back in the early nineties but I have been told it has now been cleared :coffee:

Glynn

 

Do you want to keep the photos to preserved vehicles or to include originals from WW2 and WW2 vehicles in very early post war

Hi Les ,

I was trying to guage how many have survived into preservation but to be honest for my own interest I would love to see any wartime or early war pics you or any other member may have You are most welcome and many thanks Cheers:coffee:

H,

everything is apart at the moment. The CS8, although a very early example, has some later fittings which need to be changed. It is in an awful paint scheme and the original resto didn't apply much paint. However, mechanically the resto was excellent. Engine and gearbox re built and it runs and drive a treat. Loads of power! There's no need to dismantle it all but, as you know, there's alot of bits once to get the socket set out! I can put up some pix but poss on a new thread is it will 'bump' this one i fear!!

The WT is in a similar state. I have the 2nd vehicle in transit right now and will collect on friday with any luck.

 

Incidently the type III house that I have has shelves on the immediate left of the rear door. Does yours? Jules' early warning version has a tall slim cupboard (or should have). I knew the truck when it was owned by the original restorer Dom Legg. He made a great job of it.

 

Before my dad got too old he explained where everything went in the truck and how it all worked/what they did, and i have his memoirs which i have written during countless conversations. I've been very lucky in this way....

I take it that the Morris CS8 is the early version with the solid tailgate without the dip in the middle but not the early low cab almost prototype version - On the subject of Morris's You don't have a spare lube chart for the dash do you? My '39 model is in need of one .

On the subject of my wireless truck as you go in the back door there is the fold down seat fixed on the genny cupboard to the right , to the left there is a shelving unit in the corner which has a bench or smaller shelving unit going over the wheel arch which extends to the operators table . The light and socket is above each window at the side - All windows have a blast / blackout screen over them . There is a smallish cupboard on the left and the battery brackets are on the floor under the ops table which itself has a small lockable drawer in it . On the back wall to the right of the operators table is the switchboard which leads to the rifle rack on the right wall There is another small cupboard on the back wall just to the side of the small window where the wires go out to the aerial bases . Another seat sits half on and off the right hand mudguard and back to the genny cupboard which has a metal shelf above it where the oil can etc for the genny live and finally above the genny cupboard is the extractor fan - I will try and dig out some more photo's of the interior as it is easier to see rather than putting it into words .:coffee: