Chaindrive

I need some help to identify a pair of front truck wheels I have located. The rim diameter without the tyre band is 850mm which would make the wheel with rubber stand about 1metre tall. It has unusual bearing caps of brass with no markings. I would be interested to learn what type of truck they belonged to.

The picture is perplexing. Does the wheel belong to the truck or are the chaps working on a wheel belonging to something else. It does look rather small in diameter and its angle in relation to the truck looks wrong. Also if the wheel was attached to the truck the fellow leaning over it would have to be under the rear body of the truck. My idea is that they are working on something beside the truck,not the truck itself....however i could be completely wrong.

Robert Below is a picture of a early Thornycroft wheel minus its backing plate and axle,which is a good match for the picture you posted on page 1.

Thanks for moving this thread to Pre WW2 Vehicles. I have not seen it before and am simply amazed by the pictures of what lies on the ocean floor. I recently came across some old Thornycroft J type parts and a hoist like this was with the parts. I came to the conclusion that it could not belong to the Thornycroft as hydraulics were a much later invention. Seeing the truck on the ocean floor with a similar hoist has me re-evaluating my earlier assumptions. Below is a picture of the hoist. I had to have it pulled apart for freight. The wire rope wheels don't hang down on this one but are mounted on each side. If anyone has any information as to when hydraulics,and in particular this tipping arrangement, were first used on these trucks,I would be very interested to know.

A picture of the individual clutch plates which are 'sandwiched' together to form the clutch pack. One plate engages the outer drum and the next plate engages the inner hub. The total number of individual plates is closer to 50 making up the complete pack with 24 or 25 of each type.

I have had a look at the clutch setup on the part Thornycroft engine that I have (page 81,post 809). Looking at the remains of what is left,it is not leather,but looks like the material used on the Dennis pictures on the previous page. What is interesting however,is that in this case 4 rivets have been used,not 3 as in the Dennis. Does this then make the Thorny better than the Dennis!!!? I would imagine that it would have originally have used leather material which was replaced at some stage during its working life.

There is a plug hole just visible in the clutch outer casting in the last picture. I don't know how much oil is required to be in the clutch. Maybe the hole needs to be at the 8 o'clock position and filled until the oil/paraffin mixture runs out. Jaroslav or Richard would no doubt have the answer.

I thought that some pictures of the clutch mechanism would be of interest. Here are some pictures of a Fiat 18BL clutch assembly which is ,i would guess, be very similar to the Fiat Ter.

Item 32 in the Fresne collection looks like it is possibly be a Fiat 18BLR rear axle and wheels???

It looks to be in amazing condition for its age. It would be great for towing behind a WWI restored truck in parades and displays. Looks like the pull is the only part needing repairs. Tyres look very good also. How is the condition of the springs? Hope I can find something similar to compliment my Fiat 18BL when it is restored.

A substantial wheel for a Thornycroft ??? that i bought off ebay. Any ideas as to what size truck it may have been from? Were these early Thornycrofts available in different carrying capacities or just the one model? The wheel does not belong to the differential that it is attached to.

Just an update on the parts that were on ebay (post 761) . I now have them home and have had a closer look. It is interesting that the engine block number is 7857, which is just eleven from the block number of the Thornycroft on this thread (from memory from an earlier post was 7869). The wheels that were attached to the diff housing are both different ,one being a J type and the other which may have been from an earlier Thornycroft????. Does anyone have any ideas to what model it may be from or what maker if not Thornycroft?

The Fiat 18BL has the same parts including the clutch,fan flywheel and under motor cowling. It's amazing to think that wet clutches were around 100 years ago and were reliable. The 18BL saw service in the Italian military up till the start of WW2 during that time they were upgraded to pneumatic tyres but in other respects were the same as when they started production in 1914.

I agree with Robert. Wow,what a great find. It's always great to see these old parts rescued and preserved.

I managed to secure the parts,so they are now safe from the scrapmans grasp. Now to organise freight as they are about 2000km from where I live. i should add that I am enjoying this thread very much. Very inspiring as to what can be achieved with a few tools and a lot of passion for restoration. Keep up the great work. Dale

I have asked the seller about these parts and he has relisted them on eBay . Just working through freight issues at the moment. I hope to secure these rare parts so that they may have the opportunity to be used in a restoration rather than scrap steel for China Dale

Very nice old trucks. Would be a relatively easy restoration for someone since most of the parts are there and in reasonable condition. I especially liked the front bumper that has the elaborate and well thought out spring arrangement in one of the photos. Very interesting to see.

Thanks Marcel. The Belgians had quite a few of these trucks,so its good to be able to see some pictures of these in 'action' .

This picture is in the book '100 YEARS OF FIAT TRUCKS' Information about this picture states that the trucks are Fiat model 2F.They have a carrying capacity of 1000kg. The picture of the Royal Navy trucks probably dates at around 1912. The 2F started production in mid to late 1911. The engine was rated at 20HP.

Hi Marcel it does look like a close match for the engine. I have not seen a picture of this side of the engine before. As someone recently told me, the best chance of finding an engine would be if it was used to power other machinery after its time as a truck motor. This forum is a helpful asset in the restorations of these old trucks. Restorers and enthusiasts willing to help each other in the search for parts and information.

Not sure of what make it is but at AU $12000 it is a little out of my reach. He may be just fishing.

Some more pictures. Timber top now removed it is starting to look more like a truck. The pull arrangement attached to the front of the chassis has resulted in a badly bent front axle and steering rod. The axle has been bent forward in the middle and bent up on one side. The front axle has been reversed so as to use the steering drag link in the trailer steering arangement. Heavy duty rear axle consisting of two channels riveted back to back.

it has been written before ....the chassis is always the last part of a truck remaining.... They are still out there but every year that goes by they get more scarce. I was fortunate to find this one-it could have been snapped up by another restorer years ago. It has been in a field near a busy road as long as I can remember and I never paid it any attention. That was until I discovered the other chassis I have - the Fiat 18BLR with its large cast steel back wheels which got me hooked on old trucks. It was only after finding the Fiat that I noticed the hay trailer with the large steel wheels sitting unloved in the field. It had been sitting there for about 20 years or so and I had driven past it about once a week in that time. Now I am always looking in paddocks for other old relics. I wish that the mechanicals were as easy to come by. It's going to be a long time searching for parts for both of the chassis I have. If I can find an engine or gearbox/differential for either will determine which chassis I start first. More pictures will come soon. I have removed the timber trailer top leaving the bare chassis which is in reasonable condition. Some deep pitting along the top of the rails where it contacted the timber of the trailer,but repairable. Considering it has spent much of its 100 years out in the rain and elements it is in overall good condition. Even the springs have little rust between the leaves.

I would be very interested in seeing some photos of these trucks in army service with the Belgian army if anyone has come across such pictures.

Here's a picture of a Lacre as a timber jinker in Australia taken in 1919. The Belgian Army used these trucks in WW1 taking all production from the Lacre factory for two years following the outbreak of war. This might be an actual picture of the chassis that I have as it was in 1919. I am currently trying to get a clearer picture from the Queensland library(who have this picture) to check out some similarities with the chassis I have.