Richard Farrant

Powder coating works well. I am restoring a 70 year old vehicle with steering wheel made of alloy and steel. The plastic coating was lifting off so stripped it and the powder coaters blasted and primed it and coated black, as good as new and not expensive at all.

The parts label is from the 6MT13 group, so could be used on a number of vehicles. Clive might be able to check the NSN out.

They appear to be Royal Army Service Corps cap badges, but the Bedford QL has a tac sign* in a dark colour with "IC" over it. This is possibly Intelligence Centre, as Maresfield Camp in East Sussex was home of the Intelligence Corps in the Fifties, before later moving to Ashford. * sign would have been black

Bob, you are right, I think he is on the forum, Bran is it?

It has been done, but cannot remember who it was.

The Acason was imported to Britain, so it could possibly be one. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im19160412MTra-British1.jpg

Hi Doug, Not knowing the age of this chassis, but the new 4 ton Palladium in 1920 had a Timken rear axle and a Continental (US built) engine specially adapted for the lorry ....... all according to the Commercial Motor road test at the time. See the article here: http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-march-1920/14/a-trial-run-on-a-new-4-tonner regards, Richard

Hi Shaun, I was taking it on face value that was a Special Project vehicle going by the number, but see that Wally says that the number is not correct. I do recollect on a visit to the RARDE workshops in the mid-Eighties that they had a Cromwell in there as a test bed for some kind of trial, my recollection was that it may not have had a turret on at the time, so wondered if this might have been it but obviously not.

Looks like an ex-Chertsey test bed, going by the SP number plate

That NSN would be long gone as obsolete. The seat looks like a standard Bedford supplied part as it is in black. I think it was probably supplied under that NSN for a QL as they were the last WW2 Bedfords to be in service. It may well be a part that was in stock prior to NSN system and re-codified. The QL seat is same makers part number as the MW (going by the QL parts book).

Hi James, I am sending you a PM

Hi James, What you are showing here is the hub carrier, this one (Glen's) is a rear, I think that Jeff's was a front. Front and rear carriers are different. The holes in the end face are for 6 x dowels and 6 x retaining bolts. The damage you say is caused by the sun gear is in fact the planet carrier itself. This was a widely known problem when in army service and frequent checks made to ensure the planet carrier was not becoming loose. The planet carrier retains the hub and shims between the faces are to adjust the wheel bearing clearance. What you show in the photo is not reclaimable. I am certain that the planet carrier and hub carrier were supplied as a matched set. regards, Richard

Is this relating to a Ferret owned by Jeff in Texas? If it is Jeff's then it is not the sun gear that has caused this damage, but the fact that the six bolts have loosened causing the dowels to fail and planet carrier become detached. Not an uncommon occurence when in service. He has been in email contact several weeks ago and sent photos. Again, if this is the one, it can be rebuilt if parts were available, I have done many of these over the years, the hub carrier and planet carrier are the main parts required.

Hi Graham, I think that is a Stalwart parked next to the Moke, so that will give you a date of when they first came into service as it is doubtful to be earlier that that date. Try the REME Museum at Arborfield, they might throw some light on this.

Hi Ted, Glad it is of help to you. Your other question about the jib in the elevated position. The travelling chain block is secured at the rear end, think it was a kind of clip arrangement, then the front end was dropped down, you will see two pins sticking out the sides, these were what the retainer locked onto to secure it to the floor, I think, these details escape me as I have only used the gantry in a horizontal position. The high lift position was rated at 15cwt. regards, Richard

Hi Ted, Here are the stowage drawings for the Austin Gantry. The photos I mentioned are prints and could be anywhere at present, but as soon as I find them, will scan a few over to you. They were taken at REME Borden in the museum's workshop over 20 years ago, I think it had come back from Cyprus, body is off and being cleaned up, so should be some details for you. regards, Richard

Hi Ted, I have just what you need, illustrations of the stowage in the rear, looking left and right. Will send them later this evening. I have been involved with a few K6 Gantry's over the years and should have some photos of the framework devoid of canvas as well. regards Richard

The handle could be a parking brake on the back of the gearbox :undecided:

That is a Berkshire registration number.

As a distributor is not voltage sensitive (condenser will suit 6 or 12 volt), seems odd that they stated that. It was made in 1933.

Oddly enough, a chap I know has just bought a Ferguson TET which still has the Army data plate on it with is service number, letters were --BY--, Tractor, Land, Utility if I recollect. This is the industrial diesel model with a second braking system with separate hydraulic circuit.

As this has coil springs on the front, is the chassis different from the ones having a transverse leaf spring? I know where there is a good chassis with axles on, if it is of any help I can talk to the owner. It is the transverse front spring type.

Alan, a PM sent to you.

four gun tractors and guns heading towards the railway bridge? Gary beat me to it !

Hi Bob, Hope I did not give the wrong impression, I intended my post to mean it does look the part, but that the body was unmistakably off a Q4. It is the lifting bars on the side that really give it away. I was looking at a Leyland Retriever Coles crane earlier in the year, in the Southern Hemisphere, not restored but in good condition for its age. regards, Richard