Artifficer

Dave,

 

Didnt you find the two REME trailers either?

The binned trailer has been created from the longer No2 Lightweight chassis, so it will probably not be quite the same as an original built from a No1 MkI or MkII.

 

Robbie Grainger has built it from scratch using a couple of photos. He is a member of this forum and has posted on this thread.

 

Cheers

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

I am presently assembling a 105mm C1 (M2A2) howitzer. Someone emailed me these photos offering me these, but according to my parts book, they are not 105. The FL number on the firing lock plate look familiar, and I know the 25 pdr uses these type numbers, so I assume they are a British Ordnance prefix. Can anyone ID these blocks? 17 pdr perhaps, or 20 pdr centurian?

 

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

Robin,

 

I'm really surprised to hear that Ash comes into the equation as it is a wood best suited to bending and shaping- I think of Ash as hoop bows, 1920/30s car body frames, and the rounded backs of Windsor chairs. I am also surprised to think of Ash planking as wide as the boards on a truck/trailer body.

 

On our body its very difficult to pick out enough graining to identify the wood easily but I will bow to someones superior knowledge of timber when I take a lump of it into our local specialist.

 

Has anyone else any experience of identifying the timber used in 1930/1940s truck bodies ?

 

David.

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

Virtually all the missing parts have now been located including the vital tow hitch and so work has commenced on the dismantling of the trailer. Its shown in the first picture with the draw bar balanced on the tow hook of its intended towing vehicle.

 

The maker was Orme Evans, a Wolverhampton firm and is a later No 2 model probably 1944/45 from a mixed contract of GS, 4.2" Mortar and Mortar ammunition carrying trailers. This particular one was thought originally to be a 10 cwt GS model due to its having an unfitted interior and a hinged rear tailgate,the Mortar and ammunition carriers have fitted interiors and drop down headboards only.

 

The first stages of examining and probing the woodwork revealed a second layer of planking laid over the original floor and the combined attacks of dry rot and woodworm makes it look likely that all the timber will have to be replaced and that a suitable softwood needs to be sourced. At the moment "Southern Yellow Pine" has been suggested and anyone with experience of rebuilding a wooden body is invited to comment. Its also obvious that a large number of Whitworth coach bolts will be required.

 

Along with the first setback comes the first mystery. From what little documentary and photographic record of these trailers that I have seen the GS version seemed to have a drop down tailboard only,our trailer has both a hinged headboard AND tailboard.

 

The headboard has the reinforced "slides" illustrated in the parts book as being fitted to the mortar ammunition carrier and which I suppose was to protect it and facilitate the unloading of heavy ammunition boxes -it is undoubtedly original.

The tailgate looks to be of the same professional factory construction in the same timber,using the same fittings and contemporary to the rest but with very slightly different hinges to the front panel.

 

The question is, was the GS tailboard arrangement :-

 

a) Original with both moveable head and tail boards.

 

b) Added at the factory,perhaps to a Mortar trailer already under construction ,as a result of a change in WD contract requirements.

 

c) A REME workshop conversion to increase the number of load carrying trailers versus Mortar trailers.

 

The whole body looks original and all built/modified at the same time and I would welcome any comments on or illustrations of these trailers especially in service. Any observations or pictures from owners of these trailers would be equally welcome.

 

Thanks,

David.

 

PS You can see we are lucky enough to have the T plate but all the reflectors are faded badly,does anyone have any experience of replacing them ?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]55930[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55931[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55932[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55933[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55934[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55935[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55936[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55937[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55938[/ATTACH]

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

Two More Pieces for the Jigsaw:

 

1. I posted before in the thread about tracking down the original Black & Decker Type 20 drill press, and the continuing search for an appropriate 1940's B&D drill.

Ebay again has recently been the source...for 99p. Although it is a 240v model rather than a 110v DC, I think it still looks the part:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]55957[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55958[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

2. Possibly even more of a coincidence is finding that Robin (Artificer) had a correct size WWII dated battery box that he was happy to pass on to the restoration; he brought the box over today and it fits perfectly. Thanks Robin.

 

By any chance....does anyone have another box like this for sale? :

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]55953[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55954[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55955[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55956[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55960[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]55961[/ATTACH]

 

Jnc

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