Richard Farrant

The first ones into service had the Bedford 500 engine, I think they were for infantry units as I recollect. Later on, another version came out for Internal Security (ie for use in NI) and this was the one with the Cummins engine. Thinking about it now, the engine change may have come about after Bedford stopped truck production.

3 ton MGB trailer Just bumping this request up again as my contact now knows what is missing from the brakes on their trailers. Basically, the expanders are still in the backplate, and the adjuster body and screw, but the 'tappets' that go in the adjuster are missing. Brake shoes and all other parts inside the drum are missing. If anyone knows of a source of parts as above for two trailers please let me know, even if they are used, ie. from a scrapped trailer. I now have access to a parts list and may be able to provide numbers if required. Reason parts are missing is that brake shoes were removed on disposal from army as they were possibly asbestos linings. regards, Richard

When I worked in REME workshops, there was a large engine recondtioning section. In the cleaning section were large tanks of phosphoric acid solution, which I think was heated. Large baskets containing the stripped parts of an engine would go in to the tanks and come out clean. To contradict David, there was no blasting or molasses involved in the process and any rust deposits were gone. The inside of the water jacket of a cylinder block was as clean as a whistle on removing from the tank. We used to take other parts in for cleaning and there was no need to use a wire wheel on them. I think Coke is a slightly milder solution but it does have some cleaning effect. regards, Richard

This photo shows all the vehicles with civilian number plates and would be in the time when Defford was used as the flight base for experiments for TRE at Malvern. In other words, RADAR. It would have been run by the government as a research base. At a guess, the Tilly with STOP on it may have been used where a road crosses the airfiled and it controlled traffic when aircraft were landing, only a thought.

Paul, Check this comparison out, you will find it is near to what you are looking for. https://www.e-paint.co.uk/Colour_alternatives.asp?filter2=RAL+Classic&cRange=BS+381C&cRef=BS381+337

Looks like a ventilator fan for an AFV turret, possibly Humber Armd Car, might be interested if it is. Just compared it with one in the Humber parts book and it is the type, made by GEC -Woods, but the fan is not the same.

Hi Tim, The MVT do not send documents to DVLA, they issue a verification letter to the owner for them to apply for registration. This is done once an inspection is made by a member of the club. I have done inspections for verification in the past, thankfully not on any vehicles of doubt though. Richard

Made by Morris Commercial but stock number code shows Morris Commercial/Morris Motors/Wolseley Might be for MRA1 model as it was packed in 1954

So it does not bend

It looks like what we called a 'local mod', something produced by a unit fitter.

Good idea, if others have received service history, you also stand a chance.

Richard, Just Google search 'FVE-22A-304' and you will find a number of Freedom of Information results, might build up a picture for you of vehicles in that contract. regards, Richard

It may not be opening far enough becuase the oil level is low. You did say you were looking for oil.

Hi, About 30 years ago I was visiting Roy Harris at Atlantic Automotive in Kent where there was a double deck car transporter unloading jeeps that had just come out of Norwegian disposal sales. What was interesting were Rootes of Manchester rebuild plates and also REME ones on them. I cannot recall if there were visible British adaptions, but I recollect radiator blinds and ski racks on them. So it looks like Norway did have some of our surplus jeeps.

Hi Kevin, When I had my Bedford QL straight from the Danish army, it had one of those same carburettors (Carter?) on it with the same pattern of Vari-Speed governer. The carb must have been for a Chevrolet engine as it had that on the side plate of the governer. They are basically set to limit your road speed in top gear to a desired amount. regards, Richard

As Clive says, OM13 is the army designation for the visor oil. This will mean little to an oil supplier, but it is in facthydraulic oil to the grade of ISO 10 that you need and it is often hard to find in small quantities, but just seen this link to the grade in 1 litre bottles: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/111658331319?chn=ps regards, Richard

Hi Gavin, The red over blue square denotes Royal Artillery. I would think the Guy dates from early war period by its camo pattern that i recall when seeing it some years ago. The 76 could denote a Royal Horse Artillery Regiment attached to an armoured division up until 1942. I would speculate this vehicle was in UK only for training. Only saying this because of the paint scheme. Worth contacting the Royal Artillery Museum, which I think is now located at Larkhill. regards, Richard

According to the video on that link, the company have been making lifting equipment since the mid-70's. The trolley jack in question appears to be much older than that ... so the search continues ......

I have done that job numerous times but do not recall the spanner size, but if you cannot find an A/F spanner to fit then you will find it is a Whitworth (BSW) spanner size as I think the pipe unions are British Standard Pipe thread. Certainly will not be Metric.

Mike, I cannot remember posting that, but think it may have been from a Bedford manual, possibly for the S-type. For use on a Diamond T I would think a Bedford or Ford ram would not be heavy enough. I am sure I have seen a simiar set up on a military AEC chassis. I cannot recollect if it was on the Mk3 Militant recovery or the AEC Dumptruk (also known as Aveling Barford 690). regards, Richard

Hi Ted, This could be going back to 25-30 years ago. I do recollect having to get in one as it had been parked on an area where we tested winches and I had to get in through the roof hatch. The doors looked normal (as your photo) until you opened them! The front of the one in your photo looks too 'normal AEC', I thought these ones were a bit more rugged armour look, but still recall the British Leyland badge and I'm sure a Mammoth Major one. Mind can play tricks though! It is not a vehicle that you find many pictures of. Regarding RAF Explorers, some were transfered into army service and I recall at least one having a new BT registration on transfer. You could always tell an RAF one as the inside of the cab was painted Eau-de-Nil colour. regards Richard

Hi Dave, You are bang on about the nuclear transporters being Mammoth Majors, they were Ergo' cabs which were then armoured. I recall them being Leyland badged and not AEC, so that would date them. I witnessed them being dismantled and cut up.

I have a new old stock water can which is green with ‘Water’ and Vocabulary number stencilled on the side. Definitely original paint.

Chris, That sounds like it! Bloody good stuff, it worked very well and extremely strong bond.

i am not sure of the number off the top of my head, but think it also had a name, could have been Multibond. Apparantly it was used by truck manufacturers to bond body panels on cabs.