Artifficer

Hi John The Binned store trailer I reconstructed is the same dimentions quoted in Bert Vanderveen's excellent book, although there is very little info on these trailer there appears to be 2 types and 2 marks, the latter seems to have deleted the front and rear end locker doors as it was impossible to open them with the trailer still hitched up, it was standard practice to leave cargo/store trailers hitched to enable quick bug outs!! If any one out there has drawings of info about binned store trailers please forward it to me. Regards to all Robbie

Hi John I made spare nuts some months ago but the size across the flats are a bit larger than standard, they are the correct thread. Regards Robin

Hi cmpman They look like 105mm Light Gun L118/119 breech blocks, compare them to the 25 pounder block posted on the thread. That has a precussion lock to fire the primer. The light gun is electricaly fired by a fireing box and Peizo ignition so the "fireing pin" is in fact an electrical contact which withdraws when the breech is opened (or it will be broken off). Contact is passed through a series of contacts in the block and breech ring from the box to the fireing contact, if these don't line up, as the breech is not completly closed, the gun wouln't fire, we call this a built in safety. I hope this helps, the last time I worked on Light Gun was 9 years ago!! Regards Artifficer

Hi David Timber imports where much reduced so we resorted to felling native species, no Forestry Commission then, Womans Timber Corps was formed and the habit of planting fast growing conifers to replace broard leaf woodland that had been felled started. Kilder Forest was a case in point, these type of forests are now slowly being returned to mixed woodland. Ash was favoured as it's the fastest growing native hardwood, just leave a seedling in your garden and see how fast it grows. Regards Robin (Tiffy)

Regarding Green Goddess Bedfords, a friend regularly displays his Bedford RL GG which saw service at RAF Bengazi in Lybia hence its nickname "The Bengazi Bar" it was never used by the AFS but issued direct to RAF. On the question of other users of GG, Surrey Fire & Rescue Service used GG's as stopgap appliances in the 80's & sprayed them red and striped them with reflective tape & SFRS badges & signs. They where fitted for radio, two tone horns & beacons in SFRS workshops in Reigate, I think the Transport Officer was H R Day ex WO1 Artifficer Sergent Major REME, more info should be available from SFRS HQ Reigate or Fire Brigades of Surrey Musuem that might still be in the HQ location. Regards Artifficer Ex REME EX SFRS Workshops

David Dennis Brothers of Guildford always made body frames and Floor boards from ash the F15 to F24 series fire engines where all ash, clad in Dural sheet. I had ocassion to repair some during the fire service strike many years ago!! Regards Robin

Hi David One of my mates has restored a 10cwt trailer from the chassis up, we found that the T & G planks and timbers where all Ash hardwood even in wartime. Although Ash is expensive it wouln't warp or shrink if it's well seasoned. Good timber merchants should be able to source Ash, we have several in Surrey and one specialest bespoke kitchen maker who will cut & plane timber to size. If there is someone like that in your area it might be worth haveing a word!! Regards Robin

Hi John After visiting you today to deliver the battery box and discovering the lable on the grinding/buffing wheel box I made a few phone calls to ex 100 Regt RA LAD REME veterans. According to ex S/Sgt Derek Yates Tels Tech and ex Sgt Robin Cook Vech Elec the trailer was at Napier House Baring Road Grove Park from about 1969 to about 1974 then went to another unit on loan, possibly 289 Commando Bty RA and never came back. That was a bit before my time at 100 LAD, I wasn't posted to them untill 1984. They where both a bit gobsmacked to find a bit of kit from those days still existed, if it's OK with you I'll E-mail them a couple of photos!! Regards Robin

Hi all I note that several members are after Lucas twin pole sockets & plugs for airborne trailers, they are available from Paul Beck Vintage Car Supplies on the web. Hope this helps Robin Grainger Artifficer:D

Hi John As I'm new to the forum I hadn't picked up this thread till now. Richard spoke to me about your trailer at Combined Ops when he first located it, we discussed battery boxes etc being somewhat sad and T plates. I see you still have the T plate attached so you where lucky!! I recently purchased 10 T plates from a dealer I found at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, as you can imagine they have all been snapped up to finish restorations. The good news is I have one 6volt oak battery box of what I belive is the correct patten for your trailer, You have my home Phone No so give me a call os I'll see you at Godstone IMPS meeting in Febuary. Regards Robin Grainger