Richard Farrant

I am looking at your picture of the whole crane and reckon I may have the answer. Have you connected the electrics up? It will not operate until the electric solenoid valve is activated. Richard

The lead Austin K2 ambulance in that film was converted to 4x4 for the film company, using a CMP Ford or Chev front axle, and presumably a transfer box from the same source. It was because of the mobility problems during filming, allegedly. Richard

It looks like a jig for holding something, with an great amount of adjustment to suit various options (?). Perhaps for holding a camera?

Looks like something designed by Royal Ordnance Factories :whistle:

:tongue: went out for a pee andmissed first stab at it. Wonder if anyone will be mislead by the "clue" :whistle:

Very good, Clive :rtfm: :goodidea: As the £60,000 spread out over the 5,000 members (thereabouts), it would amount to £12 each. But if it were used to create a technical library, it would be a great asset to the Trust. Richard

Dammit Neil, you beat me to it ;-)

Hi Val, am sending you a PM Richard

John and Rick, The ST18 switch you have listed, John, is like was used on Bedford RL, etc. It is directly coupled to battery leads, eliminating need for a solenoid. Looking through the WD engine build up spec, there were three different Lucas starters fitted to the 4 cyl Morris Commercial and the C8 parts list I had to hand was for one with the solenoid on the end of the starter, the type with a manual starter button on it as well. Well that sorted that out, sorry for the confusion here, but guess someone will have the other type. you may be better off though, because those solenoids on the starter end can be a little troublesome, they get burnt contacts. Richard

Rick, Thats odd, because the one I quoted is as in the C8 parts list. The SRB311 is a type of switch normally used where no solenoid is fitted and the C8 has a solenoid on the end of the starter...........or should have :dunno: Richard

Rick, Auto Electric Supplies The original type Lucas switch, with Lucar connectors is their part no. 080807 a replica version is part no. 080817

They are a heavy vehicle, the weight imposed on front axle is 6 tons, so steering is not like modern lorries, it is the old Armstrong type :-D. There is a feature on this type of crane that you can drive the vehicle from the crane cab, transfer box is driven by a large electric motor. Steering is done by engaging the electric motor on the steering column and operating a joystick control in the crane cab, it all seems a bit erratic until you get used to it. Find a big open space when you go to try it :-) Richard

it is not a tail fin from a Malkara that failed to release from the launcher on firing, is it? We had a REME officer who was attached to Mlakara unit and he related to me once how he saw this happen. Richard

What about the parachute used to recover the main body on practise launches? Or bag for parachute...........

One of the most inventive names I have seen, was on a Centurion ARV, "Lucozade". Because as the slogan went "Lucozade aids recovery".

Degsy, You are correct in that it is a Coles chassis, I think it is a Model L1210 7 ton. I always think of them as AEC because apart from the chassis, all the running gear is AEC. I recollect it being awkward to drive, due to the position of the clutch pedal.......so long ago, but think it was in front of the gear lever ! The later ones we used to get in ,were based on the Militant Mk1, with a heavier capacity, mainly used for bridging. Richard

There may be a reason behind these noisy axles, they were not like that when new. They were prone to oil leaks at the pinion flange, due to off road work and mud getting in the seal. When you renew the oil seal, there is a crushable spacer between the pinion bearings, this should be renewed in order to reset the bearing preload. I had often found that some numpty had not bothered to renew in the past and then overtightened the bearings.

It is some form of plastic cloth covering, looks to be delaminating at top, where white shows. Perhaps a cover for the controls?

Rick, The starter button switch was a fairly well used item, and Lucas have produced it up until recently, it may well still be available from them. I bought one from a electrical supply firm recently, but cannot remember who. There are two versions, one with the grub screws as original, and the other has Lucar terminals. The part no's are SPB105 for the grub screw type and SPB106 for the Lucar type. Bezel rim is now chrome, wher the originals were black painted brass. Richard

Now I know why you are launching these Mystery Objects in the middle of the day now :-D Reason I thought it was CAF, was because they built their version of the P51 Mustang in the late Forties, must have had a name change to Govt. As to what is it for and why is it Cockpit Green, well it would only be a guess....................and I honestly cannot think of anything at present. Richard

I would say that it was one of an Air Ministry contract, as it looks exactly as the one I knew at RAF Manston. When new it would have been in RAF blue grey colour, which you have evidence of..........and I am pretty sure the upper surfaces were yellow, as it still is. Later on when blue colour was discontinued, green was substituted, so it is correct whichever way. Certainly looks like it has had a good life. I seem to think the engine and gearbox are similar to the old Matador, where as the Army AEC Coles cranes from that period had the big 11.3 litre engine. As I had to rebuild the gearbox on the RAF crane, it reminded me. Richard

Something to do with Malkara perhaps? If the initials of the manufacturer are C.A.F., which it looks like, then Commonwealth Aircraft Factory, in Australia were involved with Malkara, were they not? Of course, I may well be wrong and well off track :-D Richard

This may have been compensated for, by the ratio of the drive gear in the transfer box. Normally on a Smiths speedo, there is a small number on the face that means something like cable revs. per mile. If you find this number, compare with a Series 3 clock. The number is usually about 4 figures and could be on the edge or even in the centre.

You have to know where too look, though :whistle:

With a registration number starting RGX, it looks like it may not have been on the RAF census. As it was delivered straight to Llanbedr, that was a Royal Aircraft Establishment site at the time, I think, laterly QineticQ. RGX regos were often used on vehicles at Farnborough, Chertsey and similar experimental bases. Check when the civvy reg. was first issued, my guess, when it was new.