N.O.S.

I was thinking about a British Army winch, which I bought from an ex-ministry dealer (for my local railway society) in the early 70's, a Trewhella Monkey Winch. Brilliant piece of kit, if a little cumbersome compared to a Tirfor. To my amazement, I discover these are still being made, by the same company! They also still make a Wallaby Winch, again supplied to the army. I imagine they were standard issue to REME units, but can anyone say if these winches had any other specific applications? Also, from what era - WW2?

I hope they get here before the New Years Eve party, 'cos my Dinner Jacket doesn't fit anymore :whistle:

If you need photos of this, Bodge, let me know - might get time to oblige.

We expect to see photographic evidence of the feline restoration..........

Heck No!!!! Mind you, I would never have imagined an innocent query re. GMCs would develop into a full-blown Dakota debate :rtfm:. And, it did not get political! I think my question has been answered, thanks all. Looks like Wheels and Tracks came up trumps again... Please carry on with Dakota-speak :whistle:

Oh yes :banana: You'll have got a lot of folk excited with this shot! I imagine those softer tryes help a lot with traction :dunno: Welcome on board, great to see you are not afraid to work your toys hard - its what they were built to do. :-) Usually the new boys get their tyres let down on the first visit to the clubhouse, but in your case (Antar and Dyson) it would be just too much effort :whistle: Tony

Looks like a mobile field BBQ, but I don't hold out much hope of a prize :-(

There are limits - repaint your cat to mat olive drab and white star PDQ or I'll report you to RSPCA!

Ha Ha My father tells a tale of hitching a lift outside Cambridge one pitch black night in '44. A convoy of GMCs rolled past, the very last truck pulled up and the negro co-driver said "hop in the back". He climbed over the tailboard and was thrown around onto something hard as the truck sped off. He struck a match to see what he was sitting on. It was a load of bombs.:shake:

It's just dawned on me that I've never come across any pictorial evidence or written reference to these GMCs actually being "AIRPORTED". Can anyone advise if they were ever used in the way for which they were designed?

Suspect this might be at the heart of the problem? Certainly is in my case (Swiss Airforce CJ3A), but learning to get over it slowly. At least it is on the road and a great pleasure to drive. Only experts know it isn't wartime!! What is yours if not wartime - Hotchkiss?

About as many as the Ford 150s if that is all 6 or 8mm plate!! Paul - any chance you could explain what CPOs and EODs are please :thankyou: Tony

Lots of people walking around in oil-stained uniforms where they've been sleeping under leaking jimmy transfer boxes?

No, I'M BEING THICK! I thought I could see slats inside, but now I can't but I can now see a guide rope at each end holding the hoops and canvas straight :oops: The priniple is still there though...

In Pat Ware's book RED BALL EXPRESS there is a wonderful photo of some temporary bivuac accomodation for Red Ball drivers - Rows of 'grounded' GMC truck canopies (timber seat/side rails, hoops and canvas). Perhaps the reviewer of this book might be brave enough to put the picture on here :dunno: Would make a good alternative for show accomodation? (for vertically challenged people)

These aren't by any chance the locally - crewed catering support trucks for your friend's team, are they?

Thanks Richard, well that makes a bit more sense! Back to the days of wedge and socket ends on dragline ropes :-) I'll send you by PM a copy of a civvy street WLF recovery article which suggests the guy uses these as scotches (I can now understand why he has modified them with extra lugs, but still can't work out how he uses the blessed things - I must make contact with him).

Thinking about it, I might be able to........ The workshop is a 36ft wide Romney with 18ft wide x 12ft high roller door and 9" concrete block walls either side, corrugated sheeting above door. The VERY LAST job on RAF Scammell Constuctor restoration, including a lot of cab plating and work on the tropical roof, was to install the spare wheel on its carrier in body behind cab. Decided to use the chain hoist and davit just for fun (a 4"dia. curved steel tube which lifts up for use as swinging hoist, drops down over spare wheel for stowage). In what should have been a very proud moment, the truck's first venture into daylight was accompanied by a horrific crunch of falling conrete blocks and a cloud of dust and debris. I looked out of cab to see the roller door swinging from a piece of 1 1/2 inch angle iron, still horizontal but at 45 degrees to shed, and one sidewall on the deck. :shake: I sat there thinking the cab would be a write-off, and then gingerly got out to find the (unstowed) davit was bent double. Would you believe there was not a single scratch on the cab or body? Easy bit was repairing the davit, it took considerably longer to install a new roller door and shed wall....... :oops:

GOOD LINK!! Some great practical examples of recovery. I was hoping to see these "Wheel Wedge Scotches" in use, but no such luck - can anyone explain how they are used, and what era? British or US? All I can tell you is that "These have been modified with lugs on the underside to help prevent wheels from slipping sideways when winching at an angle" :dunno:

Oh dear............ Did you not buy it off Milweb or CMV? :whistle: At least it will give the revamped WLF a suspended load to drag around :-D

This "tale of two helmets" has inspired me to have a go at moulding. I've just ordered a shed load of chemicals and mat, all I need now is for someone to lend me a Sherman tank......... :whistle:

Ahhh! Just found Mrs HF's thread on filmng of this, and recent posts. Been off line for a day or so................

Just seen a trailer for "Relief of Belsen" to be screened Monday 9pm on C4. Interesting clip, looks to be one of those 'docudramas', trailer showed an Austin ambulance and Bedford QL. I'm not up on detailed history or uniform detail, but it strikes me that these dramatised documentaries, of which there have been several recently, are very well researched and an excellent way to portray wartime events. It must help to foster interest amongst the general public for reenactments and 'Living History' events at shows etc.

Here's a compact mouse designed specifically for women..........

Thanks a lot David, suspected something like this, but sometimes not easy for civvies like me to interpret armyspeak :whistle: Tony