Richard Farrant

Hi Clive,

They were later replaced by a similar version on a Bedford RL chassis, think they were built in REME workshops in Singapore if my memory serves me. Not heard that name for them before though, I thought there was another nickname, Pig comes to mind.

Australian Local Pattern Carrier? Wheel tyre width looks wider than British or Canadian.

18 minutes ago, Great War truck said:

Fantastic photo of one of the Peerless being recovered from Washington in Sussex, some years ago - about 40 I suspect. You may recognise some faces. 

 

I think that is Tim to the left, is that Nick Baldwin with the beard?

10 minutes ago, Maccattack73 said:

That's fascinating. Thanks Richard. You can see the remnants of a camouflage pattern on the cab but I doubt it was used in North Africa. I think the current colour is the result of decades of the harsh Australian climate. I'm not really sure as yet. Thanks again!

In your photo thre looks to be a word painted over number. It looks lik HANGER

12 minutes ago, Maccattack73 said:

Thanks so much for your reply, Richard. De we have an approximate date of manufacturer for these numbers?

Off the top of my head I would think 1942 or 1943. As it looks to be desert colour it is possible that it was brought back to Australia when the Aussies withdrew from North Africa.

1 hour ago, Maccattack73 said:

I'm not very cluey with the Fordson truck, so I'd really appreciate some help identifying this particular truck and hopefully a little about it's history.

 

Can someone tell me what this number is on both the doors for this Fordson WOT6?

 

Thanks.

 

Hi,

There were 3 contracts of Ford WOT6 GS (General Service) lorries starting with L49..

They were;

L4963097 to L4964096

L4964097 to L4966096

L4966097 to L4970096

Hope you can find a bit more of the number. This is known as the Census number, a bit like a registration number for the British army at that time 1940's

regards, Richard

I would do a compression test on the engine while plugs are removed as the head gasket could have blown between two cylinders. Not unusual on B60 and B80. You will know if it has because two adjacent cylinders will be a low reading  and identical pressure.

I have gone back to the beginning of this story and basically it is a 9 year old boy, whose father is having a 'secret' meeting with important people from the government, War Department or whatever, and he was asked to bring out a dustbin to destroy paperwork .........yet he was told they were going to bury 100's of tanks ........ strikes me he was told a story to fob him off what was really being discussed.  If it was so secret, why would you tell a child????

There is no proof of these plates in a scrapyard being connected with this story.

5 minutes ago, john1950 said:

I am sure I read at some time Rolls Royce came up with another type of cast iron for the manifolds. I cannot remember where I read it though. I think they were overheating because of the time the engines spent on full power.

The Rolls engineer in Australia, found that these trucks were working at full power for up to 12 hours, as you say, the manifolds were replaced by ones made of Meehanite from RR which solved that problem. Gearbox tail shafts were running at acute angles and often failed, with spare shafts being carried. They were enduring very hard work all the time, you would have to see the country to understand.

9 hours ago, john1950 said:

It would be good if someone goes to the museum at Alice Springs  or lives near, (I have an idea that will raise a laugh down under) to have a look at the preserved one living there. A photograph would give a clue for identification. 

I have seen the Rotinoff Viscount at Alice Springs several times, it is a rigid 6 wheeler with cattle body, it pulled up to 3 other large cattle trailers. Engine was a 6SFL supercharged with 6 speed synchro overdrive gearbox with 3 speed synchro auxiliary box. Axle ratio of 10.18 to 1 . There were two owned by the Vestey meat company. Due to the long hot arduous work through the outback, they suffered cracked exhaust manifolds. Also gearbox problems. Later Fuller boxes replaced the original gearbox. A lot of info on them in an Aussie book about road trains in the Northern Territory.

It was not a Stalwart prototype, it was a test bed for skid steering and other ideas. On display in The Tank Museum.

38 minutes ago, Lauren Child said:

 

It’s in the 1955 VAOS but not the 1951, but in 1955 it’s called “B/FV/HW/1” which is imprinted on the top (and yes it’s really weird to see a B for Butler part number stamp inside a Lucas package)

To answer your query, Lucas bought the Butler business in 1948.

All sorts of odd ideas were trialled by WVEE but this one did not make sense on a 4x2 OY, the 4x4 Bedford QL would have easily out performed it along with the other 3 ton 4x4 lorries in service at the time.

Royal Logistics Corp Museum, they have a webpage for vehicle enquiries .     https://www.rlcarchive.org/VehicleSrch

Yes Alaister, a standard 20" wheel that also fitted Bedford QL, CMP Fords and Chevs, Humber armoured car and many others that were shod with 10.50-20 tyres at the time.

2 hours ago, 67burwood said:

Opinions and advice needed in regards to Divisional markings

I am going to order some stencils soon so I’d like a few ideas for 1944-45 markings, what’s division’s/regiments would have had a machinery truck issued during that period??

As the WOT6 was a Machinery lorry, it would have been in service with REME, the one I was involved in restoring is shown here, with the Blue, Yellow and Red sign to denote REME and 99 over it for Workshop unit. The other sign was for 6th Guards Armoured Brigade, significant in our area as one of the first V1 flying bombs dropped on their camp and killed a large number of REME personnel.

The QL is mine, photo taken about 14 years ago.

I think it was the car that hit the plane, because if you look the prop blade is behind the car and it is not bent.

6 minutes ago, mark m uk said:

 
Do you (or anyone else) have any idea about value on these things? 
 

Hi Mark,

I have no idea of what one like that would sell for currently. Had mine at least 35 years.

Have one of these unused in a crate with spare parts  and instruction book. Made be several manufacturers, but believe Stuart Turner Ltd initially designed it. Others like Enfield and Douglas also built them.

Rob, I remember doing some of these mirror mods in the late 1970's. Another mod was to change the fuel filter assembly in the cab from the cloth type to a modern CAV renewable can type.

There were a number of different variants of the 1260w charging sets, I have one powered by a Petter engine. Some had JAP, Norman and Douglas engines. Yours was produced by the British Motor Boat company see link here;

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/British_Motor_Boat_Manufacturing_Co

The control board was positioned away from the charging set and linked with a large cable. They could charge banks of batteries.

Hi Rob,

As I recall, the modification used RL mirror arms.

According to Merlin, this Pig was cast and disposed of in December 1993 at Ludgershall Vehicle Depot !

I recall the Swiss army bought Rotinoff tank transporter tractors, wonder if they had the same problems?

Wally,

It makes you wonder if the worm and wheel was not set up correctly.