Richard Farrant

Clive, I well recollect the item, it turned up as a substitute for the original type. More like a commercial item, if I remember correctly, it had a pvc strap handle on the side, it being a Thermos flask like you take you hot tea to work in, with a cup on top.

Chris, In late Eighties onward, a Thermos demanded on correct order number would come up as a modern stainless steel type, not sure about if it fitted straight in to the bracket or whether a different one was required. So either type would be correct.

The box looks vaguely familiar, but it might well have been special made for this. Must say it would have been an awful thing to ride.

I have just realised what this bike is, it is a Triumph 3SW with an armoured shield on the RH side, and a Bren gun mount for airfield defence. Pannier on rear LH side for magazines. Hence why toolbox is relocated.

Oh ! I thought you knew the answer Tim :-D

Hello Tony, Happy New Year. I think the engine is a 6-71 Detroit, hence all the noise. regards, Richard

Public Service Announcement Snow in Kent this morning, about an inch in Ashford so far, only started about 8am.

:-d :-d

Happy New Year to everyone .....wishing it now, in case I fall asleep. Think I started the drink a bit too early........ :beer:

A wild guess...from a Pierce Arrow ?

a Ford WOT3, seen better days too

Yes, it was one of the stainless steel type Thermos flasks, not sure if it fitted original stowage bracket though.

It was nothing to do with me, it was being transfered on to another trailer, been to a trade show, as I said, brand new, top of the range. As a sheer coincidence, there was a stretched civvy Hummer in the yard at the same time, see on the right.

Outside my workshop :cool2:

Not sure if this is of any use as it refers to the MK, ie multifuel non-turbo, but the MVEE data book for cargo version gives a Gross Power to Weight ratio of 8.36 kW/t To compare this with a Land Rover Series 3 109", that has GPW ratio of 22kW/t

Here is a brand new Special Ops Hummer, seen recently.

Robin, The Muir Hill A5000.......don't know of any in preservation, but I used to do a lot of work on the army ones when they were in service. A useful and compact machine. The 4 in 1 bucket could be swapped for pallet forks and Boughton winch changed for a Massey Fergusson 220 backacter. Alan has posted some pics here, but not the first one, that is a Hymac excavator less boom.

Hi Richard, Strange one here, I have never ever come across any reference to the British Forces using BSA Bantams, and being a one time Bantam owner and other BSA's in the past, I am sure I would have remembered. If you are talking about the late Forties / early Fifties period, there was no MoD then, vehicles were procured by the Ministry of Supply. If MoS bought them, they might have been used in some other government department, perhaps these are the GPO telegram bikes (?), I don't know if GPO vehicles came via MoS at that time. That is quite a large number, 6,500, so if the army or navy did have any I am sure we would have seen surplus ones come to light before. About that time there were postwar model James lightweight m/cycles used in the Forces. Will keep on looking and see if any reference turns up. regards, Richard

John, there was a Danish QL for sale in Holland, in a dealers ad if I recall.

Phil, Stefano lists a CDFW ( 6x4 ) on the bottom of his posts.

Ah.. John, you have good taste :thumbsup:

Mike, I believe the M5A1 was one of the British gun tractor conversions and that the turret could be a dummy. Note the towing hook on the front for manouvering the 17 pdrs. It might well have been one of a batch that used lay in a dealers yard in Sussex.

Hi Steve, I can remember going inside the Hendon Sunderland, back in the 1960's when it was on display at the old flying boat station in Pembroke Dock. The most fascinating thing to me was the galley, never having been inside an aircraft before, it seemed out of place!

You can make them........unlikely to be able to buy the ends off the shelf.

Diff ratios and planetary gear ratios would vary depending on the particular vehicle, wheel size, intended road speed, gross weight and other factors. A bit like how long is a piece of string. What type of vehicle are you particularly interested in?