brown cow

Hi Rupert You have many colours to choose from. My mid war (contract S538) heavy utility only has one colour throughout, inside, on top, underneath everything including chassis, all panels I have touched. Dark green. I'm working on the front seat box covers at the moment, so recognised your panel with the brown paint. regards, Andrew

This is where I'm at with my Humber in recent times, doing a lot of small things now. These heavy utilities have a lot of parts !

Hi Rupert I just went to the shed and pulled out the drive shafts from my project, not fitted yet. A bit dark but they are as in the parts book. Your vehicle being early could be different but unlikely. My vehicle was fitted with a diff from a car of the era which has a higher ratio and the shaft was lengthened by about an inch because the civvy diff looks to have smaller bearings and not as bulky as the military diff. I did get the original diff as well luckily. regards, Andrew

A couple of 'screen shots' from the TV , from The Guns Of Navarone.

The first one looks like a Bedford MW, they have a distinctive bonnet side. The Humber FWDs have a big brush guard in front of the radiator which is quite high and cycle type mudguards which would make it difficult to casually lean on unless your about 6ft4in (guestimate !) The second one looks like a 'Monty' open style Humber 4x2 car, so getting closer. One of those would be nice to motor about in.

A heavy utility features in couple of scenes well into The Guns of Navarone, where Gregory Peck and his gang dress as Germans and travel in a 'German' Humber to enter the castle lasting a few minutes. Quite good for the Humberphile.

Hi Rupert I have been working my way through the ex WA Humber for some time. Everything I touch needs work. Most Humbers seem to have the square windscreens, late contracts have the rounded version for extra strength I believe, and probably better weather sealing. They all had sliding roof hatches , mine is over the rear seats, the later ones were in a different position moved forward although l haven't seen an example. I have known your vehicle for many years, I had a visit from Nigel many years ago. Looking at the floor of your vehicle, it looks original up to the rear arches. The 2 'boxes' in the floor were for storage of tyre chains ! Your car looks like it has a Bedford radiator from other pics I've seen as they have a distinctive filler cap. The LRC radiator is the same as the HU. regards, Andrew

Just thinking (always dangerous) that if the sets were issued when new and the (training ) pamphlet lists all the components like microphones, cables, batteries (and watch) then they would presumably issued complete. Does that still mean they left the factory complete with everything ? Only someone who was there could give a definite answer.

I can't answer that except that the WS 11 set training book lists the watch as an accessory , and the training book for another early Aust set (WS101) from 1941 mentions in the 'complete station' list that the watch is stored in the holder on the set. The Maple Leaf Up site article mentions that earlier in the war sets came with the watch but later on they were left out as too many disappeared. My earlier trg pams show pictures with the watch in place. The WS19 Aust MkII pam (1943) shows pictures of the set with a watch in place, but an Aust reprint of British Working Instructions for WS19 mk I & II - undated show illustration of front panel with empty holder. I guess you can take that either way , the Brit pam has line drawings not photos so may be the artists interpretation. (pure speculation on my part !)

Hi Tony I opened up the GS/WT watch from my earlier post : Swiss made, 15 jewel , non-magnetic but no maker. I can see presumably a serial number under the main spring wheel (cannot remember correct name) that's about it. JWH was J W Handley who made many types of instruments during WW2. the underline V means they were based in the state of Victoria. A method of marking on many items including clothing. For the watch enthusiast a couple of pics of my Aust general purpose Waltham, and an Omega bought at a motor swap meet years ago. The seller had 8 or 10 to choose from, all 'non goers'. None of mine operate. regards, Andrew

Hi Tony I haven't had a chance to open the watch yet (I have to excavate into the garage shelves again), however Hummermark may be interested in the entry in the 'complete station list' in my copy of the signal trg. pamphlet for WS no11 (Aust) and a couple of other early Aust trg pams. "ZA7400 Watches, non magnetic" with a footnote "or watches GS, Mk II (Sect. V2) in lieu" ZA7400 is a Brit. Cat no. as, if it was Aust local manufacture or design it would be ZAA...…... I have a couple of pams for the no.19 set but they don't show the 'complete station list' - most unhelpful. regards, Andrew

I have a watch made here in Australia (don't know about the movement) which appears to be specific to the no.11 & 19 wireless set holders. It doesn't have a ring at the top spindle at the winder although there are recesses for one. It fits neatly into the holder whereas if the ring was there it would interfere. This watch also has a square profile unlike the usual pocket watch. This is the only one I've seen but there must be others about. Were any British watches like this ? Australia was still using WS11's quite late in the war and they were getting 'tropicalised' with a stencil 'TT' - tropic treated. Anyway hopefully my photos will attach. A bit dark unfortunately. regards, Andrew

Hi all I had a couple of WOT2D's many years ago and they didn't have badges. In my photo research then, it looked as though only early models A & B seemed to have them, presumably deleted as unnecessary use of metal. One of my friends had a WOA2 without a badge. He got a badge off a civvy COE model 7V truck. I couldn't help myself and attached a V8 badge from a cab12 CMP because nobody believed that there was a V8 under the bonnet. regards Andrew B

The two main dials with the rectangular knobs look like they are off the type 3 mkII spy radio

I made up some 1/4 inch using normal coach bolts to use in my Humber heavy utility floorboards. I machined a countersunk hole into some thick plate, the hole large enough to let the square fit. I then heated the head red hot, dropping it quickly into the hole and hammered it into the countersunk hole with a large punch and hammer. After cooling down I lightly machined the head flat. I did about a dozen, they weren't perfect but good enough for floorboards, and they worked ! Afterall you only see the top of the head. The square parts were only damaged slightly if the bolt went in crooked. Easy if you've got all the equipment to hand, and some practice. (sorry no pics to hand) regards Andrew

Hi Amphib Andy I was mumbling incoherently when I saw your recovery pictures, now I'm mumbling incoherently AGAIN at the results! A BIG congratulations from me. My Humber is still between 1st and 2nd base. Any chance of some pics during the restoration? Are you going to do the 2nd vehicle or was that a donor? regards Andrew B

Just to give LarryH57 more grief, my 1942 Humber heavy utility (progressing slower as I get older) is also painted in lovely dark green. Although it was reco'd around 1956, I've found a couple of parts that probably not touched at that time. One is the rear cover for the transfer case inside the cab, other is one of the rear doors,inner masonite lining fallen off to reveal colour. regards, Andrew B

I have an early C8 FAT Instruction book that has a drawing showing the front wheels mounted inside out as it were, the explanation being to mount chains. When chains were not required the front wheels were to be mounted the 'normal' way. I will have to find the book and if found I can scan the illustration. regards, Andrew

in the 1980's I picked up a new girlfriend at her house in my Porsche 356B, she looked at it and asked "what, are we going in this old car ? We weren't together for very long ! Andrew B

A BIG thanks to you Nick. After reading about the digitised key cards I looked up my Humber 4x4 79ZB53, paid the money (ouch in Aust dollars!) and there it was to see after a few minutes. I now know the original WD number. My Humber was struck off in Nov 1956 and apparently migrated with it's owner to Western Australia not long after. The card even shows a Humber living in New Zealand as yet unrestored. Like Pete Ashby I had previously sent payment to be told that the record could not be found. (25 pound fee I think!) I would never have given this another thought. thanks again. Andrew B.

Hi Chris I have pondered on the handle of the wooden reel. That's the way it came to me, and thought the same, then wondered if the reel would rotate better on the wooden piece like a roller. Maybe I should carry out field experiments! Some extra snaps, a close up of the markings on the Aust. reel, a second plywood reel with a full load of dusty black wire, and what looks like a swords to plowshares example of postwar 'bell wire' - the same wire. Andrew

Hi All Fellow Wire Lovers, I have collected several similar reels here in Australia. Somewhere I have a book produced shortly after WW2 by a small plastics company here in Melbourne with great detail of how local assault wire was produced, the big problem being attaching the PVC coating successfully and in large quantities, apparently a new process of the time. The assault wire was to be used in the islands as first line of communication with advancing troops, with more permanent D10 being laid when the area was secure. There was even development of portable 'sectional steel poles' made in approx 6 ft. lengths , tubular and tapered so they were quickly connected and put up vertically. (Sadly,I've got a couple under the house!) I'll attach some photos , one showing 2 handles, one Aust -round bar-with tropic treated finish - looks like between galv. and zinc, then painted. A lot of stuff was finished like this for use in the tropics. (that's a whole separate story- "tropic treated") The other handle flat aluminium looks more British made marked A.C.L No.10 YA7475 (Aust equiv would be marked with YAA). The Aust made assault wire is brown colour like undercoat paint, and the two 3 ply reels I have - 1 with the same brown, the other wire is black coated. regards Andrew B

Hi Steve here's a welcome up north in Victoria. There's a guy here who's had a WLA since he purchased it from a disposals sale in the 1970's. Just maintains it, never been repainted and still sounded great the last time I saw it. (a while back) Good luck with the SMLE tools. Probably lots gone during the buy back scheme if there was any money in it! rergards Andrew B

Hi Eben Here's a belated welcome from Melbourne. There's always plenty of updates etc to read. Calms me down before bed time ! welcome from Andrew B

Hi Rick, I have just seen the photos of the Humber remains in Sydney. It was a 4 door heavy utility as the side step is visible, which extends full length between the front and rear wheels. It may look bad but there are sure some parts there I could use (for a second vehicle project!) If I ever get that far. Thanks for showing us. regards Andrew B.