Redherring

It appears the Thornycroft parts didn't sell. I'll see if we can't rescue the parts. Cheers. Robert

We will surely keep our eyes open for Halley parts in Australia & NZ - won't we boys. People just don't tend to throw things out here although we are up against some very crafty scrappy's. Just as an example of what is about... I recently came across a very tatty but very early Commercar gearbox. Robert

Any idea where he's off to? i.e. what size shells are they? British? If so he might be pushing 130kg were they 4.5" How. shells, or pushing a hefty 220kg were they 60 pounder shells. (source - Ian Hogg) Thoughts anyone?

After looking up "Great War" and "Chinese wheelbarrow" on the web, I discovered 39 interesting facts about the "great wall" but not a great deal about wheelbarrow use in WW1. Seriously though, the use of the large-diameter-wheeled barrow seems a good fit with the terrain behind the front line. Can we assume they were used to cart "ammunition and other stuff" to and from the front, as opposed to supplying heavy artillery units which were usually miles back from the front and often within reach of roads and narrow gauge railways. Having studied Australia's siege brigades over many years I have never come across mention of wheelbarrows or their use. I would be very interested to know of references to their use by any heavy artillery. Robert

And a gearbox?

Intrigued, I looked this up. Creosote, which we used to preserve fence posts before the days of treated pine, was used to mask the smell of the cesspits during the great war. They must have used a lot of it. Creosote (2%) was also found to make the best louse insecticide in combination with naphthalene (96%) and iodoform (2%). I have given you the formula because I know you will all want to go off and make some. The downside of its use was that apparently creosote is noted as causing cancer in the scrotum of chimney sweeps. Not sure how that translated on the western front. Just thought you might like to know all this... but not sure why. Cheers.

I wonder what the diggers would have thought of today's imported wheelbarrows? I have a good recycled plastic tub with a frame held together by its paint. The frame rusted out in one winter - thin!! - I reckon the paint was thicker than the steel tube.

Impressive work. Can you show us photos of the top tank fabrication from the original drawings? I'm astonished you found NOS tubes. Always nice to use original parts eh. Inspiring. Robert

The spring clip seems to be a very early idea. My Leyland uses one to lock the cover of the thrust bearing which sit on top of the king pin. The cover was beautifully machined back in the early 1910's. There are no makers markings on the cover which is a little odd as Leyland stamped pretty much everything with a design number.

I was wondering about the motor. Is it the Liberty and do you have a photo of the remains? Was this the Great War design or was it heavily modified between the wars? Renovating tanks is not for the faint hearted. Well done thus far. Robert

Any news on this restoration. We of the veteran truck brigade have been fairly thin on the ground of late!!! Working for a living is a real b....r. Robert

Any news on this restoration. We of the veteran truck brigade have been fairly thin on the ground of late!!! Robert

Very impressive. Thanks for the clear photos. Robert

Hmmm. I've not seen a scuttle quite like this one?

I have had time to have another look at the Leyland. I believe it to be a U class of 55HP 4 cyl L-head and built between 1910/11 to 1918. The Leyland Society journal records this combination as principally used on fire engines of the period. The engine and radiator of the fire engine in the fire museum in Hobart look identical. Robert

The Leyland is very interesting. Any chance of a larger/clearer photo? My impressions are 'big motor' as used on U and W class. Early radiator badge on large, squarish and high radiator top tank as used on U, and possibly X4 and W. Large Cowl looks to have a crease - fire engine? Was this originally a U class 80HP fire engine chassis before conversion to a lorry?

That's the thing about reherrings... we can be misleading... Robert :angel:

Colac is local to me and I have been looking for an excuse to go visit Merv.

ST class Leyland Marks on rear chassis.

Oh. And the "Dennis" wheels in my shed exhibit 2362 in large raised numbers on the flat inside of the rim.

If you love machinery and people who love machinery (and ouzo?) then a lovely set of photos.

Do like it! Does anyone have any history on this unit?

Thank you for your thoughts about the marks on the Leyland chassis. I've got some wire brushing to do. Robert

Steve, Any thoughts on W.N. and a five pointed star? A register of acronyms would be useful.

Oddly enough I have what appear to be an identical pair! I had loosely tagged them as being Vulcan? Could it be that these wheels were used on more than one make?