Charawacky

Here are a few more WW1 trucks still in existence see link: http://www.travellerdave.co.uk/?s=28 All drive on the correct side except the Americans!

Prompted by Tim please find below a picture of the Ex Sharpe Napier WD model 1913/15 now fitted with bus body (2008)

A fantastic Video and not much standing around discussing Thanks for posting the video. I think the Dennis lads could learn a thing or two from the amazingly short time scale of this project! Well done, I look forward to visiting and seeing the actual machine, I was at the Curragh in 2010 with the tender but Sliabh na mBan under restoration and was not on show. We owe a debt of gratitude to Paddy Lynch for saving this machine. Tom

1915 Daimler

2011 picture "Loaded Crossley with Lewis at speed "- Woodvale Comparable 1921 image "Tactical Crossley on duty" - County Clare

Here are 3 from Italy:

Impellers I have found are probably the easiest part to make with modern technology I found the cast Tender water pump impeller to have many cracks and so have fabricated a new one from stainless which is very easy to do if you are able to draw in CAD and have access to a lazer machine. The blades are curved as the original and are tabbed to fit into the slotted front and rear impeller plates, just hammer together, weld and finish machine, much easier than making a pattern and casting. The image below shows the assembled lazer parts, final welded and machined impeller plus the original.

Excellent site, thanks, Tom:-)

I like the step in the tailgate, is this used on others? Tom

The Crossley in the Sword collection passed to Mr Bendall and then onto the Hendon Museum, Here are a couple of images. The original Aviation Wagon and bulkhead have been ripped of the chassis and have now been replaced with a new body based on the archetypal tender type body. I wonder if the original body survives or has been broken up?

Here is a period clip: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=19719 Lancias I am told Tom

I don't normally comment on how people spell as I am probably the worst offender However to call Crossley, Crosley is a little painful, please see: http://crosleyautoclub.com/ There is no connection between the two manufacturers other than the way the name sounds! The chap with the 25/30 is called Martin Nyland, he is in the Crossley register and hails from the west of Ireland I believe. I may have his email if you need it Regards, Tom

I am pleased you like the youtube video, I put it together some time ago along with some others: http://www.youtube.com/user/stadioscope1#p/u And yes it is a Tin Lizzie Tom

Last weekend at the Gordon Bennett rally in Carlow, Ireland Met a chap who has a Crossley 25/30 enclosed staff car originally used by the viceroy of Ireland He had recovered the remains of the car many years ago from a lake where it had been for 70 years The car had bullet holes in the panels and is very decayed He said the axles had been taken for the Queen of the West! On the rally there was also a very original Fiat staff car from 1915. Link to video Fiat is after the yellow Singer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpgzJ8i-hJA Tom

Here are a couple of well known images showing Crossleys used by differing sides during the war. IRA has an early Tender Body RUC or is it RIC ? has the later aviation wagon type body from 1918 onwards with Lewis Gun The biplane is an interesting feature! Tom

Where is the Queen of the west now? Tom

Not familiar with soya cookers! Here is an artefact which is a sad reminder of the situation in Ireland in the early 1920's

Can anyone tell me the purpose of the canisters behind the Tender seat this lovely couple are sitting on?

The vehicle fitted with crossley parts was the 1914 Calcott transformable car van Rotax side lights were badged as Crossley! This was a rare and lovely vehicle but not in military green.

Brighton was great, but only one Crossley Truck. However Crossley was represented in another class The vehicle was fitted with Crossley badged parts. Did anyone else notice? answers please Tom

Hello Steve, Try Albert Smith I am pretty sure he will have an impulse starter as I had asked him about one in the past. Tom

The Need for Speed! Here is a significant historical reference to Tenders at speed, showing they were built to speed! The Ballad Of Michael Collins Mick Collins he cursed as soldiers curse And he drank as soldiers drink, And he fought the fight that soldiers fight And then he sat down to think, think, think, And then he sat down to think. Now where are you going, Mick Collins? they said, Now where are you going? said they. I am going to Cork to settle this war That is leading this country astray, -stray -stray, That is leading this country astray. Then take a convoy of lorries, they said, And a Crossley-tender so fast And a scout to search for Republican men Who will ambush you as you go past, past, past, Who will ambush you as you go past. A scout and a lorry behind And a Crossley-tender between They sheltered him safely to Cork it is true But returning they weren't any screen, screen, screen, But returning they weren't any screen, screen, screen. There were six men waiting at Beál-na-Blath Well furnished with rifles and lead Oh who is the officer fallen and pale? 'Tis Mick Collins that no one wished dead, dead, dead, 'Tis Mick Collins that no one wished dead, dead, dead. They took him up and carried him home And he lies in a Soldier's plot, And men who fought each other deplore The hour that Mick Collins was shot, shot, shot, The hour that Mick Collins was shot. Written By Donagh McDonagh 1912-68

William was reading the starting instructions but unfortunately he could not reach the pedals otherwise the Dennis would be at our house by now or perhaps in the morning. Great restoration Tom

Thanks for your video and comments, The reality is you don't need brakes when you are in front!:-D Had it been raining it would have been a different story, my progress would have been much, much slower, due to minimum contact area beaded edge tyres at 100psi, rear brakes only and minimum weight on the rear! It was a great event and congratulations to the Dennis contingent who deserve all the recognition they have received and would have won the military class if I had been judging. Tom

Had a few problems with the RFC Crossleys Staff Car now running well correct electric 1914 starter now fitted and working. Changed oil in rear axle only to find 6 teeth missing from drive pinion, this was fitted some time before I acquired it and from the evidence I can see the axle had not been removed as is required to mesh the gears correctly, axle now removed and new crown wheel and pinion will be ready to fit in about a week to try to get to Elvington. Problems only become apparent through use! Tender Rear n/s broken brake shoes replaced with ones lent by a fellow tender owner. New ones now cast to be machined this winter Engine was knocking so decided to investigate No 2 big end white metal broken up Re metalled and machined then scraped which took over 1/2 a day Replaced filtration gauze in sump which had a hole in it. Inspected all valves 3 & 4 exhaust burnt out Used surplus valves from staff car engine rebuild, however stems 2" to short (difference between 20/25 & 25/30) so cut stems off burnt out valves and welded to staff car valves. All works OK, but but still noisy so full engine rebuild looms next winter, caterpillar valves look to be a possibility. Look forward to seeing all who can make it to the L2B and of course the Dennis and crew! Tom Here is a picture from Shuttleworth last year credit Krzysztof Marek Wlodarczyk