N.O.S.

Just found this picture of a Cletrac and Autocar tanker pulling a B17 to firmer ground in Italy I believe. Of interest maybe is the application of "BodgeDeep" artwork to the rad. guard of the Autocar - not seen this before on any vehicle other than control vehicles.

Brilliant - will be in touch.

Jack - ITIR that Shillingstone quarry was sold about 6 years ago, the new owners inherited several ex MVs in the quarry including one or more Bedford QL spreaders. Ring any bells?

Thanks Ed. I was certain mine had that problem and that's how we sorted it. Often operators overlook the governor level plug, thinking there is just the one to check.

If you can find it Deuceman, there was a thread featuring post war jimmy uses, I put up a catalogue picture from the manufacturer of the spreader - Kenwall of South Wales. It would not surprise me if this truck still spreads for a living - I too would appreciate any info. There certainly was another in Wiltshire which was in use very recently (again, I think someone posted a pic of this somewhere). I'm certain this would be a post war conversion as opposed to a recent builds restoration. I went looking for one which was ofered to me in Norfolk 20 years ago (to use!!!) - apparently it went to the Bristol area and was supposed to have been turned back to wartime spec. Jeepers it was bad - chassis cracked and patched up everywhere, not to mention corrsion from spreading salt fertiliser. Immediately post war a GMC chassis cab with zero miles and frosted block could be had for £150. Not surprising they were popular for lime spreading. I had an old Kenwall body (finally used as a gravel feed hopper) until 2 years ago, had thoughts of making one up but that's as far as it went. Some operators put Chev diffs in (faster and stronger) - weak points were clutch, gearbox/transfer box prop and rear bogie trunion bar. Oh dear, you're yawning already....

Hi Bumper, does it hunt a lot (revs slowly go up and down causing near-stall)? This could just be the governor running dry - am I right in thinking there is a seperate filler for the governor part of the Matador fuel pump, experts? Might take a little while for it to improve once oil is added. If engine oil is a nice silver colour, start worrying. Even a kn&ckered Matador engine might well start and run really nicely until it gets warmed up well.

So nice that we can agree to disagree so amicably :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Absolutely discraceful (apart from the WW2 jimmy that is....). He should "unladen" his "bin" and put the rest of the stuff in there :whistle:

I agree, but it's still just a complete load of old trailers Andy :whistle: And what are you doing letting Antamike off the hook so quickly - I was enjoying the sound of teeth being pulled out by Scammell winch rope :-\ None taken, Mike - I'll be in the cluhouse WW2 bar at 9.30, mine's a pint of EP90 please :-D We love you really :n00b:

Yep, I was thinking of the steel bodied ballast tractors built for the RAF in 1960......:???

You can't leave it at that - please tell more Mike!

Many thanks John. I thought it would have been a relatively straightforward job to track down what remains from a flet of just 20 trucks and tie up their history, but I'm having a job keeping up with it all :sweat:We're getting there slowly!! Tony

Agree - top film that!

That short wheelbase stepframe trailer is pretty neat - can you provide any info on it? Cheers!

I took a friend down to look at the DTs by the M25. He came away with the green one (which is now in Suffolk - nice truck) and I came away wih the orange Chaseside loader We went to inspect the Pickfords one, but both resisted with difficulty. Some weeks later I weakened to the point of making the phone call, only to discover it had just been taken over to Normandy. Oh well, probably for the best :-(

The wording on the card is as below (the words somehow seemed appropriate): Pte. B. Jackson Killed in action in France Sept. 2nd 1918 ATTACK At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun In wild purple of the glow’ring sun, Smouldering through spouts of drifting smoke that shroud The menacing scarred slope; and one by one, Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire. The barrage roars and lifts. Then, clumsily bowed With bombs and guns and shovels and battle-gear, Men jostle and climb to meet the bristling fire. Lines of grey, muttering faces, masked with fear, They leave their trenches, going over the top, While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists, And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists, Flounders in mud. O Jesus, make it stop! Siegfried Sassoon

I learnt last week, from a guy who spent his post WW2 US Navy career being launched (in fighters) from catapaults off carriers, the reason why he always carried postage stamps in his cockpit.......:confused: Gremlins of course. He has a first edition of "The Gremlns" published in 1942 by Walt Disney and written by Roald Dahl. This blows the lid on the mystery surrounding those mischievous ceatures who get into aircraft and cause havoc when least expected. The pilot told me that they are thought to have originally inhabited the woodlands of England along with elves, pixies etc. When woodland was cleared for the construction of airfields during WW1 and later, those who lost their homes would hide on aircraft and then create their particular mischief once anyone got airborne. This is of course how they came to populate the clouds, they would then simply step from cloud to wing tip of an unfortunate passing flyer who might then, if he upset the gremlins, begin to experience problems. For example, a Gremlin might walk slowly down the top of fuselage to the tail and cause the pilot to adjust trim, then suddenly rush to the front and cause the plane to nose dive. The same procedure on take-off or landing has been the cause of many a bent propeller, if not worse. Some foolish bomber gunners would take pity on them clinging to the outside, and invite them into their turrets to warm up. But once on board all sorts of mayhem would ensue. Gremlins are only visible to aircrew. And if you thought all small holes were caused by flak, once you have seen the drawing (by Disney's artists) of a Gremlin drilling a neat hole in a wing with a bit and brace you will understand the real cause. It is generally considered that if you fly sensibly and carefully, the Gremlins will leave you alone. But if you fly like an idiot or abuse your plane, then they will go all out to get you. So why postage stamps? According to the pilot I met, they are a favourite food of the Gremlins, so sensible pilots will always carry a goodly supply of same in the hope that an occasional ofering will keep them friendly. Roald Dahl had spent the early part of WW2 in the RAF and had become acquainted with Gremlins folklore. After a bad crash his flying career was over and he was posted as an attache to America. He wrote a childrens story based on the Gremlins folklore which came to the atention of Walt Disney - who was keen to turn it into a film (some pre-production work had already started). The problem was Dahl claimed ownership of the concept (at this time Disney would not touch anything they could not could not secure the rights to), but Disney's staff discovered that Gremlins had been a topic of discussion in RAF messrooms going back to the early 1920s, and early sightings were also claimed. I found this pilot so plausible that I googled Gremlins when I got home - and he is right! For a good summary see an extract from the RAF Journal of April 1942 - www.angelfire.com/id/100sqn/gremlins.html So in the end the film never got made, although the attention was enough to secure widespread public awareness of Gremlins - which lead to the 1984 film (these are a different family, but the condept is there...). But hey Walt, it's never too late........please?

Those remains are well spread out, Kuno. The vultures must have overdone it judging by the amount they've left! And yes, timber cab frames are good at flexing, as long as water and termites are kept out they are good for a long service life....

OK, I'll try for 1pm too, but have to meet a low loader at 2pm :sweat:

In hand due entirely to your timely reminder.......will be there for 12.00 hrs(he fell between 1 and 2pm as far as we can tell from the diaries).

Flipping heck David, that was a wake up call and a half - well done! Without your post I'm embarrassed to say I would have forgotten tomorrow. I'll pay a visit to the Thetford memorial. Mrs. N.O.S. beat me to remembering our wedding anniversary today as well.... I realised about 3 weeks ago that it was already far too late to get anything into magazine print for this year, and I'm still no further on with any better trench maps than those found and posted, but have one more thread to explore. I would really like to visit Beugny at some stage - could possibly do a day trip, or maybe one night if anyone is interested - but it would be good to get a better idea of the route taken before doing so. I will contact the local 'Mairie' to see if there is any local knowledge (as TonyB suggested). As yet we have no suitable resting place for the stone. The Thetford history teacher has retired this summer, without at least one positive school contact we cannot be sure the stone would be used in this context. I have yet to speak with Thetford RBL. I'm quite happy to keep it safe for now, but it needs a long term solution. I'm sorry I haven't found the time to resolve this yet, but please put my lack of progres into context with the fact that I haven't taken the GMC out since February, have not had a chance to prep and mot the Jeep since it ran out in May, and the Autocar hasn't turned a wheel since being delivered :-(

A great gesture - somehow makes the world a smaller place. Thanks.

Adrian - I've seen a Constructor with twin tanks where one has been converted to a stowage locker. Maybe not in line with your stunning restoration, but (if well done so the hinge cannot be detected) a very good use for a dud tank

Steve, any news on development of this website? Saw a Thompson 3 wheel refueller at W+P, must be ex Hughes (he had it for sale 2 years ago). Tony

Great post Nigel - an amazing display of patriotism!!