dizzy-t

Does anyone remember watching *Antiques Roadshow some years ago, I forget where it was coming from but a guy brought along a wooden model of a Diamond T 980, complete with Trailer & Tank, the models had been made out of wood, and the detail that the builder had added was brillaint, ie, tool boxes in the ballast box, complete with all tools, the models must have been 1.25th scale or more, he had got all the dimensions just about correct apart from the cab, this didn't look quite right, but you knew that it was a Diamond T.All the models had been made by his (either) Grandfather or Father, and this person had recently passed away, and the family had no idea what to do with this great model set, so it was either give it to a museum, or throw it away, I wrote to Antiques Roadshow saying that if the family were going to chuck it, I would buy it from them, as per the norm I never had a reply, but according to a great friend of mine (who has a model supply shop in Colne, Lancs) he saw the same edition of the *AR and commented to his wife, I know who would like that, Dick would bite the owners hand off to get his hands on that model, I just hope that the family did not throw it away and actually gave it to a museum.Does anyone else remember that edition of the *AR ??:banana::coffee::coffee::coffee:

Can any one tell me why the Yanks insisted on putting silly little rear view mirrors on the DT's, how the hell were they expected to see what was behind them with a mirror that small. Sorry about my observation regarding the TK cabbed DT, I didn't read the description properly, Happy Muppet that I am, Some of you are talking about the Wynns DT cabs, well in the Fleet book there is a photo of a TK cabbed AEC Matador YDW 22, (fleet No 216) (08 1961),this looks very smart (well I think so).:readpaper::coffee::coffee::coffee:

I have the WYNN's Fleet book and according to the author 3630 DW, had a fleet no of 91, and it entered service in 10/1963, & it was an ex WD vehicle, just a shame they decided to put a foriegn cab on it, as the original would so much better, although I would imagine the made up cab was easier to get into. In the book there is a photo of 3630, but does no appear to have a write up about the vehicle. If any one requires more info about this vehicle, you could try writing to the Wynn's Preservation, Vintage and Enthusastics Group, (I have but am still awaiting a reply)

Looks like a Bedford TK cab to me:whistle:

As previously mentioned, dump truck, but I used to fit them (well smaller ones) to my S1 Land-Rover, brilliant for going up steep hills on 4 x 4 trials.

Dear Sir. Re you wanting to move your rather heavy Humber Pig. I see that you live in Gloucestershire, I used to drive for M S Ellis Transport at Cambridge (nr Dursley), you could try popping into Mike Ellis's and asking him how much he would transport the item for you, he does have low loaders & also a beaver tail, not sure if its a 6 wheeler, but it would be a 17 or 18 tonner. You can say that Skippy (yep that was me) suggested that you call into see him, (if he still cant remember me, just tell him I used to drive the Yellow DAF F124 BOA, he should remember me. Good luck, be interested to know how you get on. dizzy-t

Thanks for the photos, I will drop by one day soon (as soon as I have thored my feet out), its going to look Brilliant. You must have a very understanding wife does she know how much the old girl (sorry Old Boy) has cost, at least you kept her happy with a new house. Speak soon. dizzy-t

Adrian & I are compiling a list of all Diamond T's which were produced during WW 2, we feel that it would be of interest to all Diamond T owners or future owners, if you have a Diamond T of any model, we have compiled a list of questions which need to be answered for me to add them to our spreadsheet. A). Model Number. B). Chassic Number. C). Date of Manufacture. D). Engine Make. E). Engine Serial Number. F). Military Reg. G). Civilian Reg. H). Cab Type. I). Cab (Original of replacement). J). Body. K). Modifications. L). Date of Release. M). 2nd Owner. N). 3rd Owner. O). Location. P). Condition/Fate. Q). Relevant Notes. R). Photograph, (Not a close up one as I cant add it to the spreadsheet, a very small one please). If any one spots one in a garden or scrap yard, I must have the chassic number, so that I dont record the vehicle twice. I will make seperate sreadsheets for all Diamond T's, at the moment we are doing 980/981's, other spreadsheets will follow when I get the information in. Thank you and I will look forward to hearing from you in future. You can email me on this site or vj3346@hotmail.co.uk or vj3346@talktalk.net.:tup:::goodidea::writing::mailforyou::coffee::drive::drive::drive::drive::drive::drive::drive:

Hi guys. Have heard that a Diamond T was a gate guardian at Bulford Camp, can anyone confirm this please, & has anyone got a photo for the new "WW 2 Diamond T Registration" which I am starting up, I need all the info anybody can get for me. Thanks dizzy-t:thanx::thumbsup::coffee:

Hi Adrian. Just looking at your letters, you may remember that I found the Diamond T in Cobbaton Combat Museum (its on the spreadsheet) The Museum told me that this was the one from Watts of Lydney, so if thats true, where did the one at Severn Beach come from, Gloucester or Monmouth?.:trustme::thanx::coffee:, have had an email from Watts, the lady there is going to try and find out all info for us, but as WATTS garage closed down about 10 years ago, she says she doesn't know where to look.

Is this the casting Picfords took over the Pennines?, then its the same load that is on the front of Les's book, it is also the load which was copied for Corgi's first Heavy Haulage Diamond T, its just a shame Corgi didn't issue the set with more Diamond T's.

How about RAF Kemble, easy to get to, nice hard standing & seeing as they have a Military Show there anyway, kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, still you cant please everbody all the time. :goodidea:

Whilst driving through Winchcombe on Sunday the 10th Oct this year on our way to The Steam Fair at Toddington, I had to give way (well he was bigger than me) an AEC Matador Timber Tractor this I think had been at the Steam Fair on the Saturday, looking at the brochure, it belongs to Philip & Pat Wadley, the reg no is ARV 143, and it is a MK11 1937 model, any one know more about the old Girl, ? Dizzy-t

Any idea as to what colour the Watts DT was, apparently they had three, I think Gloucesters was White (Photo on my blg site), Monmouth had a Blue one, so Lydneys was probably Red. I knew the apprentice who used to drive the Gloucester one. I used to go to Shottesbrooke Annual Wrecker Competions (nr Maidenhead) & I am sure Severn Beach used to travel upto that, as well as other firms, (see Les Freathy@s book Diamond T)

Make mine a Capaccino with plenty of sprinkles.:wow::-D:-D:-D:goodidea::goodidea::goodidea::coffee::coffee::coffee:

Thanks for the info about these Matadors, I couln't believe my eyes when I saw one of them, any chance of getting a photo sometime, as I would love to see it again, When last at Duxford, I saw the real thing, looked good, I took some photos but cant find them, so would welcome a spare one. dizzy-t

Please Sir. Can I have the AEC 10 Ton Gun Tractor. Many years ago I think they used to run visitors around in a 1/2 scale version of the vehicle just mentioned, on my last visit of two years ago I could not see it, I think the driver sat sideways, anybody know more about it, I fancy that, as that would fit into my drive. dizzy-t

Dear Les. Went to Toddington 25th Anniversary Steam Fair yesterday, very good, excellent British Army Scammell Wrecker, sounded brilliant, sadly no Diamond T's there, hopefully Adrian can get his there next year. On looking around the stalls, came across two selling mugs, sadly no Diamond T's amoungst them, so have an email address for a firm who will put pictures on mugs, so thought that I would send a nice picture up, as it was me who sent you the picture of the Diamond T "Tank Movers" which you reproduced in your book, just thought I would send that, but just wondered who owned the picture, I know I own the one you copied, so does that make me still the owner of the picture. I bought this picture off ebay many years ago, it was originally in the Saturday Evening Post in May 1943. Regards from Richard Smith (aka dizzy-t)

.It appears to be me, sorry if I stole the picture of your DT, have now removed it and have put one of my own on, which I had forgotten I had taken, if you are interested this was one of the last Dt's the Army had, the photo was taken on an open day at Ashchurch Army Camp, Glos, in about 1968/69. I think they only had about 3 left, this one, one which I had tried to bump start using a Humber Pig and a piece of rope, (it was still in the same position as I had left it some months later) & the other one was the one which I had driven, that one was a hard top. Regards dizzy-t.

Many thanks for the info lads, just thought I would ask, when I worked at Ashchurch Camp in the late 1960's we had a couple of Diamonds left, the one I drove had a Rolls engine fitted, as I did the other one, these I would imagine would have been the last ones. :captain:Adrian. Hows your DT coming on?. Has it been moved to Stonehouse yet? Dizzy-t:drive:

I have been reading a magazine called Trucking Down Memory Lane (Classic & Vintage Commercials), in the chapter Readers Memories (page 77) there is a photo and caption saying that the Diamond T (in photo) Something rather Special here - a Diamond T fitted with an engine formerly in a Spitfire. Also the Author said that he drove Diamond T's with Spitfire engines, why would you want to fit a DT with a Spitfire Engine? and what sort of fuel consumption would you get, & what sort of speed would this beast do?.The photo enclosed in the magazine, looks like any normal Diamond T.:drive::goodidea::readpaper::wow: If it aint bust dont touch it !!!!!!

Hi folks. did any of you see the article in the Daily Mail last week, of that old boys collection of all things useful in his shed, if you did, that Diamond T looks rather tasty, would it be original? as it appears to have a Wrecker body fitted, apparently the collection is open for one day only, I would go, but its a long way from Cheltenham just for a couple of hours & I might get diverted to a Garden Centre and miss the opening of the collection. Purhaps some nice person could go and take some photos of the collection, for us bods who cant afford the petrol to get there. Incedently Adrian, hows the restoration going, and have or are you moving to a new site, if you want a hand please let me know. dizzy-t (vj3346@talktalk.net)

Hi to all you Diamond T fanatics, I am surprised that there is'nt a Diamond T club, does any one know something that I dont. Looking forward to seeing Adrians DT in the spring. dizzy-t

Dear Les. Many thanks for the info, Wife permiting I will get this kit next year, then I can lock myself in the shed and wittle away to my hearts content (& face the music when I let myself out). You say you have other Dt kits made, what are these, I only know of the Airfix & Wespe, Corgi & Matchbox models, I did'nt know there were others. Just a few questions, what are the dimensions of the model (in inches please, we did'nt do cm & metres at school), also how do you stick the parts together? & how many parts re there?. At the Army camp where I drove the DT, there were weights in the ballast box, how much would have been in there and at what time would these have been added, just for towing. Looking forward to your reply. Regards from dizzy-t

Dear Les. Many thanks for the tips regarding the resin Diamond T, I will be buying one of them next year. I thought that I would paint it in Sunters Livery, anyone got any good colour photos of their DT's, also does any one remember the Wrecker Trials at Shottesbrooke in the 1970's, I can remember following a wrecker firm home from there one time, as far as I can remember they had a Reo, I think a Ward le France and another wrecker all on A bars, the firm came from Herefordshire somewhere. There used to be loads of DT's on sight, brilliant week end.