Richard Farrant

Thanks Alan. Some great photos and no doubt these are only scratching the surface of the collection :tup::

Does that Foden belong to Boarhunt Garage? It is their van following.

would never have guessed, Clive. At least you have put me out of my misery. Not many times when no one has guessed it right, might be the first?

Nick, The fact that a hub might have come loose in the past, is worrying. I used to work on these when they were in Army service, and if a hub was not tight on the taper it would then put load on the key and keyways, and also wear the tapers so that it was not possible for the hub to fit tight again. You can sometimes hear a creaking noise if a hub is not tight. As for pulling the hub off, if it is fitted tight, then only puller to use is the proper one, which resembles the hub cap, but with a gurt big screw in the centre. You used the hub nut slogging spanner to load this screw and hopefully release the hub. Richard

If you have one duff battery and are carrying a spare, then it would be a better idea to make sure that you are using a pair of good batteries of equal voltage, rather than carrying on like that, because it will drag the other battery down eventually. Regarding the tanker, not a problem, no worse than the proximity of a 100 gall. fuel tank on a truck.

This thread has reminded me of a time when I was at the Rotunda Museum in Woolwich, working on vehicles for them, a Tracked Rapier was parked in the driveway, when an Esso tanker arrived. The Rapier was in the way so I went to start it only to find the batteries flat, the tanker driver, to my surprise, offered to jump start it off his tanker. He must have noticed my concern and said it was reasonably safe he was delivering heating oil ! Anyway we did it and he was able to continue his delivery.

Oh, forgot about them they are divided wheels of the same type as Fox, etc, must have been tubed tyres...........thinking about it, the first EB had normal Dunlop Trakgrip fitted. These rims usually have slots to enable the valve to be fitted, so not suitable for tubeless.

Tony, The rims on the Bedford M types are not divided rims ( ie. bolt together type) so should take tubeless I would have thought. Get your point though.

I don't want to rain on your parade, but those Michelin tyres are tubeless. The divided rims on a Fox cannot be used for tubeless tyres. The Foxes you have seen with Michelins will have Hutchinson runflat inserts in them, they are a very heavy rubber insert that is fitted inside the tyes and have a valve in them to inflate, this is how they make the tyres runflat. When I worked for the army, we had to send these tyres away to a company who had the equipment to fit the insert into the tyre. Either that or you will have to fit a tube, although some tubeless tyres have ribs inside that chafe the tube.

I have used one of the Snap-on clamp type tools with wing nuts and they are cr*p, you always get an imperfection in the flare where the two halves clamp together. Now use a Sykes Pickavent with turret holding all the dies and lever operated. So long as you chamfer the end of the pipe and it is square, you will get factory perfect flares. Safety is paramount where brakes are concerned.

Today..........P51 Mustang flying around the area from its base near Ashford.

Just had another look at the V112G, and the notes on front page show that the relevant section of the Road Traffic Act concerning Heavy Goods Vehicles, states that it covers goods vehicles over 3500 kgs gross weight. this is why the weight is not mentioned on para 30 on reverse of the form.

Having done this for about 22 years with my own lorry, I knew it off by heart, but just checked the downloadable V112G, with a date on the front of 4/09 and Para. 30 does not now stipulate over 3500kgs gross so looks like the Model T if it is a goods vehicle is exempt. Clive, where did you see form V112G/R ? I have only seen V112G, see above.

Tom, If my memory serves me right, these cans were not originally intended for the military. Valor who were well known for paraffin stoves, etc. produced them first, before WW1. Petrol was not available in bulk at that time and was sold in cans. They are usually dated underneath, at least, the mid wars ones are.

Tim, I am not sure about vehicles of that age, not seen it written down, but have never had the occasion too check. Try contacting the HVCS, they should know. Richard

Tim, If a goods vehicle ( not used for carrying goods), is built before 1960 and with a gross design weight over 3500kgs, then it is exempt. That is weight of vehicle plus rated load. I would have thought it might not reach that weight. Are you saying that WW1 era or before vehicles are exempt testing?

It can Mike, has a large electric motor on the steering column. The following one down, with Militant Mk1 style cab is similarly equipped.

The company, Platon, is into flow control, gas flow, etc.

Alan, The first two shots are of a Coles Mk5 bridging crane, it was powered by a AEC AV760 and used AEC transmission and axles, the chassis / frame was built by Coles.

Something to do with a Shorland or Humber Pig ?

armour or softskin ?

Just googled the name and a fascinating auction list of old tools came up ( from USA), one was listed giving patent date of 1912

Mike, not seen one before, but could always find a use for something like that. Was it American ( with a name like that!) ?

Removing reluctant split cotter pins?

A pipe nut spanner for BSP fittings