Charawacky

From my own experience the concentricity of a new wheel can be very good. These wheel run up to 45 mph with out problem which is substantially in excess of a solid tyre vehicle. If you are looking for advice the wheelwright who made these would be worth talking to, please send a message and I can send his contact details. He was the last time served wheelwright working, built wheels for the royal carriages and has retired now.

Here is a French trailer loaded with a German plane with its wheels removed for stable transport.

Here are the men ready for loading a plane 14 or so!

With the British design only the axle had to be lifted from the draw-bar to the deck, how the French did it I have not thought through.

Not as of yet seen anything like that, The French I believe were ahead of the UK in trailer design before the war as they were much more advanced in building aircraft so the requirement was there. However by the eve of war French trailer design was rooted in the past, it was a fully boarded full width trailer usually covered by means of hoops and canvas. We had the advantage of starting fresh with a new concept based on the 1913 current aircraft designs. The French loaded the aircraft with its wheels on top of the trailer flat, an aircraft already an unstable structure was supported on inflated rubber as high up as possible from the road so the tendency was to build a low trailer often with smaller wheels not as good at travelling over rough ground. We built a narrow trailer where the aircraft wheels straddled the structure and the aircraft axle could be rigidly fixed to the trailer chassis, a lower more stable design.The British design was not covered and had large diameter twin wheels for better cross country ability. I believe during loading the aircraft axle was dragged and balanced along the draw-bar before being supported by the chassis rails. The centre portion of the trailer was normally not boarded and had brackets to allow stowage space for 2 lewis gun transit chests beneath the level of the trailer flat. you can see this in the pictures I have posted. Most British aircraft carried Lewis guns. These are my own thoughts which may be correct, however I have studied the photographs carefully from a usage and build point of view to develop my own interpretation which is now on the road. French French French British British

Before and after, does not look a lot different but took a long time and I stopped when I got fed up! Copying the Tender side lamp over to the other side was very pleasing. Perhaps I should have another go at it.

Things have got a little delayed, hopefully it looks like I will have something resembling a fuselage for August. This is the only image showing a a plane actually being loaded onto a trailer which has come my way. I have restored it so the trailer can now be seen more clearly. Tom

A few more! https://www.facebook.com/events/657614390962947/

Went up to Tanfield Railway, Gateshead, County Durham last weekend, it was a little atmospheric making for good pictures. The trip was 110 miles one way, first substantial distance with the trailer coupled. Took 4 hrs would have been 3.5 if I had taken the correct route! Durham Pals were present helping the time-warp illusion.

Hi John The crankcase looks impressive, what material is it? Hope to see you on the weekend of the May fly-in, should be an exciting weekend, will you have the Fiat be running for that weekend? Regards Tom

A few Crossley Tenders were exported to Russia There was a proposal for the Russian government to build the 20/25 and the 15hp under licence at the BEKOS factory near Moscow and by Lebedev at Yaroslavl. At least one car was made at each factory but then the Revolution intervened. The Yaroslavl plant was completed and is still in existence today producing diesel engines. You can see one here in a period film Crossley in company with a Fiat 15 TER If you look carefully the Crossley has the same lamp attached to the bulkhead as shown above. 8.23 mins in http://statehistory.ru/1152/Avtomobili-v-pogonakh--Film-1/ Tom

For Sale on Ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pierce-Arrow-Truck-1916-WW1-2-Ton-Model-X2-for-Restoration-Very-Rare-/181344649109?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item2a38fbbf95 Some Parts Missing!

Here is some background http://www.austinmemories.com/page67/page97/page97.html

Hello Andy Although still in its infancy I think they may have been a bit further advanced than you may have been thinking Here are some wiring details from a 1912 Rotax Catalogue. If you need the full catalogue for restoration work I can email it (41 pages) Tom

Solex Rad? Not a De-Dion according to Dominique With German aircraft on Board In German hands? The Fliegerabteilung 29-My truck and my men

Good News with the Maudslay coming on the L2B. It will a unique gathering. A not to be missed event for those interested in WW1 Mechanical transport. It would memorable if all the WW1 military trucks could be grouped for a photo. I guess this could be arranged at Crystal Palace as there is space but might be a bit early in the morning considering the start times. Does anyone know if the Foden is entered? Tom

Yes it is outside Johns, I suppose the unmade road is a giveaway. I am not sure who owned it later as it has passed a number of hands, but I remember seeing a photo when it was advertised in the hcvs newsletter. However I could not find my copy, so used this image. Tom

Peter Jackson some time ago purchased a Crossley Tender, I am surprised this it not surfaced yet. Communication from the Crossley register has not been responded to, perhaps misdirected as his organisation must be quite large. Here is a picture without a body some time before export.

Thought this was interesting and appropriate http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/pages1418/annonces-pages-collectionneur/materiel-equipement/popote-allemande-restauration-sujet_4813_1.htm http://eperon-132-crouy.pagesperso-orange.fr/restauration_popote_allemande_177.htm

Here is a WW1 Ambulance sold in France for £12,180 in November http://www.osenat.auction.fr/FR/vente_automobiles_et_vehicules_de_collection/v24181_osenat/l4890393_1914_15_panhard_levassor_x25_ex_c1914_panhard_amp_.html

Just received the book which has ruined my working day as I have been unable to put is down. The picture of the Kelly Springfield reminded me of one possibly Great War, I saw when I was a boy which I think was at Michael Banfield's, I wonder if it is still around? The book is superb, so many quality pictures, it must have taken some time to assemble such a collection. Tim, your name is now well and truly etched into the WW1 Vehicle movement for all time. Tom

Very Good Just ordered They will fly off the shelves Good Timing Tom

Just to brighten up a dull day here are a couple of images of the Foden and Crossley plus Crossley Tender with a Crossley Mosquito taken on a lovely day in Summer 2012 at the West Lancashire Light Railway during the naming of the French WW1 Locomotive Joffre.

Thank your for your kind comments I have just read the thread to remind me of what was required to get to this point and realise it has spread over two and half years plus, to research, scale, develop the design, draw, redraw and build the trailer, in fact equivalent to about half the duration of the Great War. This really makes me think how much was done in such a short time for the war effort. The design has been developed from a dozen or so useful photographs out of a total of 61 where a trailer could be seen somewhere on the image, each of the dozen giving more confirmation of an idea I though I could see. Thanks to all those from who I begged an image and who gave me some direction. The last change in design was a result of image from October this year - post no 77 which showed detail of a feature which had been perplexing me for some time which I now think could be to hold Lewis gun transit chests. There are a few things to complete such as hub etching and trailer marks which I may get round to some day, however the most pressing item now is to secure a fuselage to the trailer. I think this is going to be possible and if so I could replicate the Querrieu image below (by pretending to be a heavy tender) especially as I am based only 13 minutes away at Gilsy Aerodrome later in August / September for http://www.centenaire-aerien-somme14-18.fr/. The location of most images is unknown see if you agree with my matching. Tom https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=querrieu&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47e788e266541ead:0x40af13e8161fbc0,Querrieu,+France&gl=uk&ei=qd3FUqfHOIfS0QWNrYDADw&ved=0CKwBELYD

New Years day Complete! sans Aircraft!