Giles

I have had a letter from DVLA Bristol querying my claimed year of manufacture for my Eager Beaver.

I know that it was first registered by the MoD on 12th April 1973. DE&S sent me the letter confirming this and gave me some history as well. The history shows that it speant it's military life in Airborne squadrons.

The military registration number (quote from DE&S!) is 05FW36 and the chassis/serial number is 438.

Is there anyone who may be able to confirm the date and year of manufacture? I am hoping to prove it is 1972 for obvious reasons.

It has definately been used in deep water - probably sea-water as all the brake cylinders and full of serious rust and beyond economical repair. New ones on the way I am happy to say.

You'll see from the Matadors Record Card that it was built by Crossley in 1953, but was passed from MU to MU as a stored vehicle until 1975.

 

It was not allocated to a unit until 1975, and then it went to the R.N. who only had it 10 years before disposal, It had less than 2000 miles on the clock when I bought it.

 

The Antar was even shorter in service. New to the Air Ministry, ACB in 1961, by 1963 it went to MPBW where it gained the FUL reg.

Previsously it had been 40 AT 81. The AT series was mainly Airfield construction equipment, Road roller, Tarmac layers etc.

 

The Trailer I have dates from the 1950's and was originally paired with one of the RAF's 8 Petrol Antars (AN Series). It is badged as a Trailer, Plant Transporter, 50 Tons.

 

Two such trailers were converted to carry out the 70 ton plate load bearing test. MY Antar had one trailer the other was paired to the only petrol Antar the RAF retained. Seven of the 8 Transferred with ZB serial to the Army.

 

The Trailer carried 50 ton of ballast weights and was fitted with a Hydraulic ram that worked downwards onto the runway to lift the loaded trailer (70 Tons) in the air.

 

Initially a 26" dia steel plate spread this load, but in a series of tests, the plate was gradually reduced to a 9" dia plate.

 

Two arms swung out from the trailer, carrying a series of Dial test indicators, that rested on the runway. Over time the trailer deflected the tarmac and sunk. The DTI's plotted how the runway curved, and enabled the boffins to assess the strength of the runway.

 

It went from MPBW tp PSA and ended up at TPS Consult, (part of Tarmac group) spending it's entire working life testing runways.

 

It has travelled repeatedly to all the military airfields in Britain (including the American ran airfields) (and as well as civil Airports), been round Holland, Germany, landed on LST on the beach on the outer Hebrides. It has been to Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus. Circa 1971/2 it went to Antigua by ship.

 

It has I believe 144,000 miles on the clock

 

Through the whole of it's life it was based at RAF Cardington, and for most of the time the RAF's M.T. section maintained it (and even painted it Blue Grey on about 6 occassions)

That is some seriously detailed and very interesting history.

Anyway BRING BACK THE RED FLAG then we will all travel at the same speed

During my H test training I was told there was a minimum speed of 30mph on UK motorways and that therefore they cannot be used by tracked vehicles, which cannot legally exceed 20mph. However, my search for any piece of legislation specifying that 30mph minimum limit has been singularly unsuccessful! Andy

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/vintagevehiclespares-car-commercial

Hi As a matter of interest, where did you get the parts please. I need 4 slave cylinders.

I was at a show this w-e and was surprised to see 2 Bobbies turn up and walk round the show. Just checking and chatting but still checking.

I think I would like to hear the organiser make an announcement about tax etc maybe with a threat about no allowing through the gate, enteries next show if no tax on.

During the Miners strike and three day week, some enterprising scrote decided to help himself to a lot of copper piping at a builder's yard in Birmingham. All went as planned, and he was walking back across the railway tracks with his bundle of loot on his shoulder when they reckon he stumbled on a loose bit of ballast and received rather a nasty shock.

 

His widow apparently tried to sue British Rail for failing to turn the 25kV overhead lines off during the scheduled power cuts.

 

Evolution in action, I call it. Chummy should have realised the signal lights were still operating normally even though the entire district was in darkness.

Well I so do hope she did not suceed - my blood would boil for just a little longer, if she did:mad:

Phew, sorry if I have been carried away but as you lot may have noticed, I have strong feelings on this subject:mad:. I will keep quiet now (If possible)

Some years ago when down at my place of work a couple of thugs being chased by the police went over the roof and into my yard. I was standing outside of the yard when the police cars (2) came screaming around the corner, they jumped out and were about to arrest ME. I said dont be stupid, I own this yard, they would not believe me untill I produced the keys and opened the yard.......... I went to walk into the place and the policeman immediately behind me said, where are you going, I replied into MY yard, he said, if you go in there before me, I will arrest you, I know what you intend doing...... he was dead right, I just wanted to get my hands on them before they did. This country has gone to the dogs, we law abiding people have no rights, its the thugs that get all the support from the do gooders and the legal eagles making big profits out of defending them. The tail is wagging the dog, I think that its time that they reintroduced corpral punishment, a bit of flogging might get some good results. I am 74 years old, I remember when this country was a great place to live.

Good for you and thank you for saying this

And that's the ONLY thing those scum understand!.....:-\

I agree - totally. Live by the sword - die by the sword.

One, get registration of a vehicle, Two, phone 999 in hysterics claim vehicle cut you up as it was turning in and the driver waved what looked like a handgun at you. Three, Sit back and watch the fun.

 

I had to serve papers on a traveller camp once. The spokes ape got all indignant because the entrance to the feild had got chopped and muddy 'You'd 'fink the owner would put down some stone!' As the owner was standing behind me with the Police (Luckily, I saw a definite restraning hand) I suggested The Owner would be more than happy to bring down a Bulldozer to help them out.

 

A very well known demolition contractor was waitng out side a yard that traveller's had camped on. As the Twelve o'clock deadline for depature was reached he ordered all his trucks to start dumping rubble into the entrance. That was a fun afternoon!

Damn, I so wish I had seen that.

Nearest we have had round here is when the pikey's were encamped on a big byway. DHSS had bought a big 4x4 wagon to get there to pay them each week. Eventually a certain member of the local district council who was a hellva lot more savvi than the rest, arranged for a large slew to track up there during one night. It dug a ditch - deep & wide from 1 end to the other of where they were camping. He had certain local escorts helping with may have at first glance, looked like shot-guns in their hands. Long and short of it was that by the time the digger had got near their caravans, they had scarpered:-D. Good for him having the nerve to take the b****ds on. More than most of the wet civil servants will.

honest...hmm now there's one of the most misused words in the english language.

Thieves spongers and general toe rags, crikey will be difficult not to group everyone into one of those categories...

 

We have over intrusive law into the general public's lives so much so that the crime that actually bothers the public is sidelined, although much of the public today is increasingly belligerent and anti establishment, hence my statement anarchy is coming...

 

We know the speeding issue, its to save our lives. We generally don't want it and there is clear evidence that speeding is not the trouble, but still millions of resources are poured into making roads more dangerous to slow us down or installing speed cameras...

 

Its all very cynical and hypocritical...but the uk is being taken over...and no amount of laws will change that..anyone know of a policeman doing a good deed recently or interacting with the public in a positive way...i do not...but it is not the policemens fault they have a tough job made harder by the law which does everything it can to stop them from doing a good job...it is such a shame that this wonderful country, a leader in so many industries and has its name on much of the current civilised worlds technology and morality is slowly sinking into its own self made abyss.

 

Still love the place for now...

hear, hear, hear.

the same **** happens over here (Belgium) , thieves rip off brass rainpipes from the walls of houses , daily , brass leads get stolen from railway yards , causing very big trouble to the railway traffic, and every now and than , someone gets electrocuted trying to steal copper from high voltage stations when still in service , the idiots !!!!:cool2:

Well I do not know about Belgium but if anyone was electrocuted over here, the family of the thieving scum would have sued the railway company and successfully been awarded enourmous damages + loss of earnings and holidays and awarded support new vehicles, new houses with benefits and bloody well anything else that the scum's solicitors can think of:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:. I am afraid that I kid you not.

My stepson works at a Landy garage, had quite a few owners bring their Disco etc in, cat having been chopped out and nicked.

I heard of a Landy garage where the scum cut all the CATs out of all the outside vehicles during 1 night. Range Rover, Discos the lot.

Jack, we're under the impression that you are so tight, that when you fart, only dogs and dolphins can hear!

 

This could be your one chance to show otherwise!! ;-)

 

Steve

Wondering why you are so desperate to hear J-the-J fart:shocked:

I hope the show goes well. Too early days to drive the EB that far until I have lights and possibly some breaks but that might be asking a bit too much:undecided:

Well I did say that the only thing that would make this day better would be if I could find the problem with my EB and sort it - the day got better:laugh: The stop lever on the pump had not bedded down and locked in so the pump was in the stop position although the stop lever was in the go position.

The influance of both my kids helped me on that. Thanks all my family for a great day. I hope you had a good one too Rosie.

Thanks Rosie - been a good day with family but still cannot get the EB to start otherwise would have been a brill day.

Welcome to the forum.

I know Ray Main. I used to live at the nearest village to his place. A positive treasure trove there. But he is a little difficult to persuade to part with anything. The trick is to describe to him exactly what you are after and let him show you what he wants and then keep letting that go on until he shows you what you are after. Don't try to tell him which machine you are after because he will not sell it. I speak from many years of experience dealing with him:D

Good pic of the axle articulation. Oh I bet it was such a crap job:-D

I have never been to the show but I am afraid it is too far for me to drive the EB whatever the weather Hope it goes well though for you guys.

Received the info from the Military which is good but they say that instead of selling the vehicle, they canabilised it and then sold it to a scrap yard. I believe this happened because civvies kept trying to kill themselves on them. I hope this does not give me problems when registering it with DVLA.

Any experience of this anyone?

Footman James fully comp @£129 which is a lot compared to the £80 I was paying NFU for Antar and trailer!!

I guess the NFU classed the Antar as a tractor then? They currently are still the best all-round for the Land-Rover. Waiting for a quote from them for the EB.

Oh by the way - does anyone know where the chassis number is on the EB. I have to confirm it is matching the W.D. number. Not seen it yet but the rain is heavy enough to make me leave looking again until tomorrow.

That is what they quoted me providing I have membership to Historic Military Vehicle Trust. I presume they mean Military Vehicle Trust. Membership to that equals the same as the discount Footman James offered.