Ashcollection

It is a LAFB-light assault floating bridge designed in 1947 and pictured at the RSME-Royal School of Military Engineering at Chatham. The flatbed Matadors were used in conjunction with a trailer to transport the component parts.

 

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aa7gAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=light+assault+floating+bridge&source=bl&ots=tgqT2ZV8_x&sig=TtuP7F-VbaWy90zvgtB3l0z5Cvc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD4Q6AEwB2oVChMI7LyQlaXFxwIV0grbCh1QlgwR#v=onepage&q=light%20assault%20floating%20bridge&f=false It even shows a view of the half built bridge.

On youtube there is a film of a visit by the Queen to Chatham, mid 50's ? not sure, it looks very much like that, worth a look lots of interesting lovely old plant working.

I'm not sure it's silly. For me, preserving items like that is just as important as, say, a CCKW, Ferret, Landrover or anything else; and speaking as an engineer, just as if not more interesting. They all go to tell a story of how things - problem solving, design, development, engineering, working, soldiering, whatever - were done historically. I always think it's a shame that specialist commercial vehicles tend not to survive, and most of the vehicles you see at shows are flatbeds.

 

Having said that, I'm not sure our own collection has been particularly eclectic or insane, unless you count the bridging rig. I fancied a mobile aircraft control tower once (in fact twice - a Bedford TK at Aston Down, and the Karrier that used to be at Middle Wallop), and came close a couple of times to buying a Thornycroft LMD. At a miscellaneous sale I fancied an Access Equipment Ltd 'Beanstalk' - essentially an upright mounted, multi-stage hydraulic ram with a chair fitted to the top - but it went for a surprisingly large amount of money.

 

The best eccentric collection I've come across, however, has to be at Nothe Fort, Weymouth, though sadly it's not on display any more - a collection of military moustaches.

We have a LMD as well, I'm also an engineer Not military back ground but my specialist subject was EOD, my dad was RE hence the interest.

Always thought this one would be good to collect (doubles up as card school or drinking table) the Minelayer, Mechanical, Towed Equipment, Mk 1. (aka The Beast) seen this back in 70s at RSME Chattenden)

 

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Acknowledgement to Clives mystery Item thread for photo

 

gary

Got one of those, has anybody else been that silly? also got 6 cranes, only 1 of them works (ok only half works) oh hang on this thread is the "strangest" not the stupidest!

You can get a mild acid solution for cleaning out tanks and it works reasonably well, but you also really need an in-line fuel filter that you can clean or replace regularly, especially if the system was full of fuel that bad.

 

We've had a hell of a time getting our Dingo to be somewhat reliable after cleaning it up. The strainer in the fuel pump and the flood bowl keep filling up with gunk, even after the system was cleaned and flushed.

 

Cheers,

Terry

We have had loads of "old Fuel" problems with our Martians and Stalwarts, we have given up using the fuel tank and have rigged auxiliaries, saves us hours getting things going and £££ in wasted fuel. its easier on big vehicles though, in a Ferret you are a bit limited for space.

Pete,

 

still nothing at this end

 

Can we PM perhaps

 

Robin

I was given this picture by someone who was in this training film. something for Bridging interest, Artillery and Leyland Martian lovers

wow that is knowledge that is hard to find..thanks for that...so replacements from a Saracen not easy...but some bits are interchangeable might be a fair description...

Typical British design then "all parts are interchangeable" except the ones that break regularly:D haha, and bugger I've got a stillage full of Saracen bevel boxes, are they compatible with Saladin then?

Good knowledge, thanks

Gone to the big scrap yard in the sky, (or to the far east to make washing machines and cheap cars) can't save everything, all part of the cycle of life! still hate to see it though.

Going back to the original question, which concerned postwar MVs:

 

The level of response to an advert I guess depends upon four somewhat inter-dependent factors: interest, desirability, affordability, availability.

 

Interest should ideally be of the military/mechanical kind - a true enthusiasm for MVs of a specific era, but may also be generated by mere desirability (e.g. as a financial investment). Is it reasonable to suggest that there is currently a greater level of military-based interest in wartime vehicles than postwar?

 

Desirability is determined partly by availability/rarity, partly by level of interest, but possibly (sadly) more so by how good the MV might be as an investment. A bit like classic cars and now classic tractors?

 

Affordability depends upon both the economy (how much spare cash do we have?) but also how easy it might be to sell the MV if necessary to recoup the initial investment (e.g. you might need the MV to work as a reliable investment in order to justify the investment of ownership).

 

Availability: I'm not sure that postwar MVs are any more plentiful than wartime ones so you can't argue - with of course some notable exceptions like tanks and Patton's jeep(s) - that it is all down to availability. Yes GMC prices have escalated in recent years once supplies of surplus vehicles dried up (for the first 20 years of ownership my GMC was only worth what I paid for it!), but what about say postwar British armoured cars? There are no more of them around either. And there is also the issue of spares availability which might steer people away from some postwar MVs - ok Jeeps cylinder blocks are becoming an issue but, like 1/2 track tracks, that WW2 market sector is big enough to find an answer.

 

I wonder if the answer is simply the number of postwar enthusiasts compared to the the vast number of wartime era enthusiasts? If affordability is key then a Bedford 4x4 or Landrover (**) might be your only way in to the ownership side of the MV hobby, but the choice between a wartime or postwar armoured car would probably be down to your specific interests rather than what a vehicle was worth.

 

** Both vehicles are iconic machines in their own right and deserve equal status to Jeeps or GMCs.

 

My solution to all this is to -

 

* Work on the basis that as soon as a new MV arrives home it becomes worthless

* Never buy anything with the intention of selling it on, let alone at a profit

* Only ever buy an MV because of your own enthusiasm for it

* Be guided by what an MV is worth to you more than what its supposed 'market value' is

 

That way you'll be penniless, have a yard full of worthless crap with no room to spare, but happy as a pig in sh!t

I second the very last phrase! its a bloody good description of my collection and I love it

Hi you may have all ready seen it but there is a picture of your Albion on the CCMV web page, it said it was part of a private collection. Its a good looking truck where are you based do you take her out much? SkippyPete

Hi yes that's the one, I'd like to find out who was looking after the old girl at that time.

Hi

Many thanks for the quick reply's on my search for my Dads Albion CX22 its been a great help, I've had some private

e-mails which have given me a couple of good leads.

Many thanks Skippypete

anyone know any history on my one?

before I got it I think it was used on an estate to take the shooting parties round, don't know where though

Hello everyone, As a newbie And just finding my feet on the site I hope someone can help me, I am building a scale model of the Albion CX22 an would appreciate any help with an deitailed pictures or drawings of said vehicle, There is not a lot of information out there on the web so any help would be much appreciated.

 

yours Prefab 073

Hi got one you can look at in Norfolk.

Interesting spin on the sales blurb........................ Withams ! nothing unusual there then :laugh:

haha yes, I've seen things made by a company I know very well, advertised as "from reserve stock" the MOD never even had them! but they where good pieces of kit and sold cheap so someone got a good deal anyway, at the end of the day we know the score and have a little grin about it. As they say Buyer beware, check your stuff before you bid.

just fount this thread, Yes he still has it, it runs and drives and stops as well now i believe, but is still as rough, he has the Neal crane from the Stondon museum and another very rough looking scrap rescue with the Blaw knox BK55 face shovel as well.

It's bed room mates.

I owned this militant back in 2000 but had to sell it on due to loss of storage space. I think it went to a guy from attleborough in Norfolk called Richard, but I've list his details.

I'm just wondering if he ever did anything with it?

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just fount this thread, Yes he still has it, it runs and drives and stops as well now i believe, but is still as rough, he has the Neal crane from the Stondon museum and another very rough looking scrap rescue with the Blaw knox BK55 face shovel as well.

Thanks John.

Has the Alvis Juggernaut found a good new home?

And as I previously mentioned at the the start of this thread, I saw last year an unrestored Albion machinery truck at the Muckleburgh collection in Norfolk

Yes of course, I know that one, its empty in the back and is in pretty poor condition, I did have a look round that one a few years back.

Just reviewing the topic, it looks like yours, the one David Crouch had, REME museum, the one near Bath, the one near Degsy and the one from Silsoe (assuming none of those are dead or double counted) plus unknowns.

haha so 3 still fitted with equipment, but maybe more as yet unconfirmed

Dear Ashcollection,

 

Hopefully you don't keep your wonderful collection in a big field and let them rot over the coming years (like a collection being disposed of in Wilts this weekend)

luckily we have some big buildings, quite a few of the vehicles we have where saved from that fate and the cutters torch! lets say some are rough, but at least they have survived! if i don't ever have time to restore them in my lifetime, someone else will get the option in the future!:-)

just a few.

6x AEC, 2x Albion, 3x Austin, 5x Bedford, 1x Dennis, 6x Humber, 4x Layland, 4x Scammell, 1x Morris, 1x Sentinal, 3x Stalwalt, 1x Saladin, 4x Saracen, 1x Salamander, 3x M series, 1x DAF, 2x Autounion, 4x Thornycroft, 1x Scania, 1x Dimond T, 3x Mack, 1x Ward la France, 1x Kenworth, 3x Zil, 1x Ural, 2x Berliet 1x Chevrolet, 2x Ferret, 3x Cheftain, 1x Centurion, 1x T55, 1x 432, 1x CET, 1x eager beaver, 1x Smith Rodley, 1x Muir Hill, 20x peices if towed kit, (155mm- 5.5"-35Ton trailer- recovery dolley- gen sets- mine layers- lube trailers- cargo trailers)

My shrink says its part of my therapy to confront my hording tendency's, and making a list is a start! haha. :nut:

oh and a REME fitters half track and some MG's, Alfas, Saabs, lancia, volvo, holy crap I do have issues!!!:shocked:

I don't think anyone's arguing about it, just trying to get to the bottom of what on the face of it is the wrong registration. It's probably not a surprise that your Haflinger might have had the same registration as the Champ as (I understand) RN registrations were re-used.

Evening Gents, still can't confirm the military reg number on my Albion, but the chassis serial number is 61103C, and back to the original question, apart from mine, the one David had and the one in the REME museum are there any more left that are still complete?

33KE44 was actually a Foden Recovery, so not sure why its number is on the Albion as it would have been in the B range of numbers.

A great asset to a workshop though, well kitted out.

 

regards, Richard

I'm not up on my numbers but i thought KE was a bit too recent, the chassis plate is damaged so its hard to tell.

Yes we have one,33KE44 I believe, Dave Crouch had one as well not sure if he still does, ours is in our workshop next to a REME Bedford RL machinery wagon, we have 3 phase in the building and have made up some cables so we can use them, all the kit is fitted and still works.

Dear All,

 

Out of interest, Andy Long's Martian recovery has a Cummins and Fuller RTO gear box which has overdrive. That would take 2200 revs to 2933 which is getting there. The original (and horrible) 4 speed synchro box would have been direct drive top. However, he did have to stretch the front a bit to get it all in. In Dorset (I think) someone has one with a Volvo engine and presumably an overdrive box.

 

One problem with fitting an engine with far more grunt than original is that the transmission won't take it if worked fully loaded. Therefore you see plenty of Scammell Explorers with very nice conversions and yet we know that problems arose with Constructors (with a very similar clutch / gear box arrangement) when running with just slightly more powerful engines.

 

The Leyland Martian Arty tractor looks lovely! I just love the crew cab. In the TA when I was using the Scammell Explorer to support 10 tonners I always dreamed of a Leyland Arty tractor and dummy axle. That was until I got issued a Martian Recovery!

 

John

 

John

Hi Ive got the one from Dorset with the Volvo engine, seems ok, we haven't done any road runs so not had the chance to open her up to find out though, but round the fields its sweet.

If it went just WW2 with the odd bit thrown in, I'd cancel my subscription.

Although it is interesting to read about them, there are more than just WW2 vehicles on the scene.

I'd like more modern equipment to get a decent share of the pages, after all, lots of things are considered classics nowadays.

I'm afraid I agree, I like reading detail on WW2 vehicles but how many articles can you print about Jeeps and Jimmies. I can understand how difficult it must be to keep the informed die hard collectors who have been in the hobby for 20 years interests placated against the more general readership who are learning. Difficult job! I wouldn't want to to do it!

Nice to see the ex Headcorn one still about. Is she still a runner?

Not running yet, but i don't see any reason why we won't have her going in the summer, everything seems present and correct, so with servicing of the fuel and ignition system I think she should go.