Runflat

At the time I visited the museum "fact sheet" listed the collection as: 1 - Daimler Dingo scout car 2 - Corgi whel bike (sic) paratroopers bike 3 - Willys jeep 4 - BSA foloding cycle 5 - BSA M20 motorbike 6 - Norton 16H motorbike (W & 79 markings) 7 - Norton 16H (this appears to have been a repeat of the previous listing!) 8 - Triumph motorbike (Guards "seeing eye" markings) 9 - BSA M20 (desert colours; said to have seen service in Libya and returned to UK via Malta) 10 - Beaverette Mk IV 11 - Guy 15 cwt (this was clearly a Quad Ant) 12 - BSA M20 motorbike (a third example?) 13 - Ariel 350cc motorbike 14 - Matchless 350cc motorbike 15 - Motor Guzzi Super Alce motorbike 16 - Sarolea cycle 17 - Condor A580 motorbike 18 - Bedford QL (appears to have been a QLR) 19 - Morris Commercial recovery (appears to have been a CDSW) 20 - Dodge ambulance 21 - Matchless 350cc motorbike 22 - Not listed! 23 - Triumph TRW motorbike 24 - Auto Union (post war 4x4) 25 - Morris Commercial Quad (a C8) 26 - Austin Mini Moke 27 - Austin Gipsy 28 - Bedford MWD 15cwt (roundel on bonnet) 29 - Austin 'tilly' (ex-Ken Dodd; I later saw this for sale at Roy Elvis' establishment and regret not buying it!) 30 - Volkswagen Kubelwagen 31 - Bedford RL 32 - GMC DUKW 33 - Scammell "series 1 heavy recovery tractor" (clearly a Pioneer but was this an SV1S???) 34 - Cable layer 35 - Coventry Climax wheeled generator 36 - Comet cruiser tank 37 - Daimler Dingo (presumably a second example) 38 - AEC Matador O853 39 - Leyland Hippo 40 - Fordson Thames 41 - White M16 halftrack 42 - Petters auxiliary power unit 43 - Thorneycroft (sic) Nubian 44 - Sexton 45 - Austin K9 46 - Austin Champ 47 - Landsvert (sic) Irish armoured car (this was a Ford Mk VI and is mentioned in Karl Martin's book Irish Army Vehicles) 48 - Dennis tipper 49 - Dodge weapons carrier (post war) 50 - Chevrolet heavy utility 51 - Canadian GMC armoured personal carrier (presumably a C15TA) 52 - Canadian Ford LAAT (though described as a heavy gun tractor! Appears to have taken part in Expedition Qattara) 53 - Ford jeep (fitted with desert expansion tank) 54 - Bedord QL (another QLR example) 55 - Anderson shelter 57 - Morris 6cwt wireless truck (presumably a 8cwt(!) FFW) 58 - six wheeled trailer (clearly a 7 1/2 ton light recovery trailer) 59 - Commer Karrier (presumably a Karrier K6) 60 - Cossack motorbike and sidecar 61 - Humber "Pig" APC (photographs show a Malkari variant) 62 - WW1 body carriers / stretchers 63 - Snow blower (Swiss army) 64 - 5.5 howitzer gun 65 - WW1 German 75mm field mortar 66 - T16 bren gun carrier 67 - German Pak 40 by "Metal Borseg Ltd" (??) 68 - Sea mine (found washed up on N Wales coast in 1980) 69 - Bedford OY 70 - Oerlikon 35mm - GD FOO 1 (ex-Argentian Army / Falklands war) 71 - Humber FV1601 (donated by Mr Trevor Harley, Harley's Garage, Mold) 72 - Sherman M4A1 (built by the Lima Locomotive works) 73 - Daimler armoured car And some pictures from the souvenir guide:

89YH99 at The Grange Cavern museum (now closed).

A copy of the 'flyer' for the museum. It must have got wet - probably a rainy day when I went! More coming up...

Have a look through here http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?10779

Welcome aboad. Nice photos. There's a Queen Mary thread here, which may have some answers and info: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?16478-Queen-Mary-Aircraft-Recovery-Trailers

I iamgine the original tyres were bonded to the wheels - a bit like bren gun carrier tyres. It would cost a fortune to replace them. Are the dimensions you're after near the wheels shown at the bottom here: http://www.castors-online.co.uk/acatalog/steel-centered-industrial-trolley-wheels.html I imagine it's the axle diameter and hub length that are critical?

I should have mentioned that the booklet also has some pictures of surviving YJ jeeps, namely: 47YJ43 (now registered 3211VF) 56YJ29 (now registered HYD813) 70YJ95 (now registered 3181NG) 74YJ09 (now registered KAA751) And here's a picture of 37YJ11 (not for reproduction)

About twenty years ago the Road Transport Fleet Data Society had access to the cards now at the RLC museum and published a number of booklets listing the British military vehicle serials they'd researched. Booklets 74 and 75 cover the YH and YJ series respectively. Unfortunately, I don't have the booklet for the YH series but the YJ booklet says this at the introduction: The British Army numbering system which commenced in January 1949 was based on a logical pattern and involved renumbering all vehicles from their old "W.D." numbers. Standard British Army stock was renumbered starting with at 00YA01 using all combinations except YI, YO and YQ and in size related order - thus motorcycles started at YA, progressing through cars, light utilities, trailers, light trucks, heavy trucks to tractor units. The "Y" issues being exhausted, the last few spilled over into ZA, and ZB and ZC were used for various types which were transferred from other services or armies after the war. The remaining "Z" issues were used for fork-lift trucks, engineering plant, tanks, etc. Vehicles stationed in Germany or Northern Italy at the time were given serial starting at XA, and this series was continued to be used for British vehicles stationed there, but bought on the "Berlin" budget for the post-war policing of Germany. This is only a broad generalisation as the "X" series contained various exceptions to the rule. With new vehicles in short supply after the war, an extensive programme of rebuilding was carried out, and from 1949 these vehicles were numbered starting from RA. Vehicles to be purchased from 1949 onwards were allocated series starting from BA (armoured vehicles) and BC (transport vehicles) - the "A" multiples had been reserved for Royal Air Force vehicles, and "N" was for the navy, though "RN" was later preferred. This publication deals with the YJ series which involved the remaining Ford or Willys jeeps continued from the YH series, plus the first Land Rovers ordered in 1948, and a few other oddments transferred from other services. The series ends with a further batch of utilities transferred from Commonwealth forces in the Far East. This string is now open to all "Y" and other 1949 series jeeps!

This is turning into a nice little thread on YH series jeeps. So far in this and the other linked threads we've mentioned: 20YH23 23YH35 23YH41 24YH46 46YH04 78YH97 I wonder how many others are out there? Do any of these survive (from my collection - not for reproduction)? 15YH36 (captioned, "Uijongbo - Korea June 1951. Me and my organ! What a stupid looking picture!") 42YH59 (captioned, "The lads of my staff") 78YH68 82YH09

Remember there may more to things than just the UK end. There may be a need to do something at the German end; and worse case scenario in each country you pass through...

My understanding is MERLIN only records information relating to after it was set-up. So it won't have any entry if the vehicle entered service pre-August 1989 and was struck off before then. If the vehicle's service life spanned that date then MERLIN will have recorded changes in unit etc after August 1989; whereas the RLC card will only have the history before then and a final note of when the vehicle was struck off. In other words, you may need to go to more than place if you wish to check the full history on your 1984 vehicle. Contact details: The Census & Registration Manager, Building 154, Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 5HA.

You don't say how old your vehicles are. For vehicles entering service after August 1989, records were kept on a computer system known as MERLIN. You'll need to contact the Census Branch at Chilwell. For earlier vehicles, try the Royal Logistics Corps Museum. Details at post 5 here: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?18192 Also, get hold of and have a read of the March and April 2011 editions of Classic Military Vehicle magazine - they have a write up on doing research.

More here (not mine):

Pete, it looks as if you're the third person on here with a jeep in the YH series - perhaps you should have a gathering! http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?23711-Jeep-chassis-no&p=255920#post255920 Obtaining the card may be productive - the card for a Tilly I used to own recorded the wartime serial that it had been converted from.

Probably me but the number looks like 64225?

Paul, For wings, try these people (who, I believe, made the wings for the WW1 Dennis restoration): http://www.vintagewingsandradiators.co.uk/pages/home.html I mentioned John Jackson's example. He wrote an interesting account of his experiences, which is well worth getting hold of if you haven't seen it already. It also mentions that there are/were the remains of two-and-half examples in Norfolk. He doesn't say, precisely where they are, so he'll be worth quizing (via the Crossley Register?) - He obviously wasn't put off by Crossleys as he is now restoring his second Crossley double-decker bus!

I don't know about an on-line chart, but people like the Green Spark Plug Co will soon be able to tell you what modern equivalents are available - and may even be able to supply original spec. (depending on what you're after). http://www.gsparkplug.com/shop/

I've now carried out some more research into these photographs. The 40 h.p. tractor was written-up in the August 19th, 1914 edition of Motor Traction, which concludes with the confirmation that the machine, with the exception of the engine, was indeed constructed by Messrs. William Foster and Co. Ltd. In its June 23rd, 1915 edition, the magazine provides a preview to the R.A.S.E. show: The annual show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England will take place this year under circumstances which are not only unusual, but entirely unprecedented in the history of this country. Indeed, the Council may be said to have taken a bold step in deciding to keep to the arrangement despite the unfortunate events associated with the war, and we trust, therefore, that the result will be entirely satisfactory, not only for British agricultural and national interests, but also from the point of view of the Society itself. So far as the motor transport exhibits are concerned, there will be, as was generally anticipated, a falling off in comparison with the last two R.A.S.E. events, which were held at Bristol and Shrewsbury in 1913 and 1914 respectively, due to the abnormal position in which motor manufacturers find themselves. It is a matter of common knowledge that they are occupied to their fullest extent upon the production of vehicles suitable for military transport purposes, and not only is this true in regard to most types of petrol vehicles produced in this country, but it is also true in regard to the manufacture of steam waggons. At one time it was thought these would be shown in considerable numbers, but the display in this section is not likely to be so representative as would have been the case in time of peace; still, those who intend visiting the Royal, which this year will be located from June 29th to July 3rd at Wollaton Pak, Nottingham, should not fail to visit the stands mentioned below. There is the possibility that one or two of these will not be occupied, but this will in no way detract from the interest attaching to the varied collection of machinery for road and farm transport which will be on view... The Daimler Co., Ltd., Coventry, will have three exhibits - a 40 h.p. agricultural tractor, a 2 ton lorry, and a 3 ton lorry. The tractor is extremely powerful and efficient, and will, it is stated, plough twelve acres a day, pulling 7-14 disc ploughs or 4-8 brest ploughs at a depth of 4 1/2in. to 9in., and at a ploughing speed of 2 1/2 miles an hour. This tractor is fitted with a four-cylinder Daimler sleeve valve type of engine. The lorries ae eminently suitable for the transport of farm produce or for the service of milling and other companies. A large number of them, we need scarcely add, are in successful use in connection with military transport, both in this country and on the Continent. The following week Motor Traction reported on the show and mentioned both tractors: Daimler Co., Ltd., Daimler Works, Coventry. Stand 236. The 2 and 3 ton lorries exhibited by the Daimler Co. are similar to those which this firm has supplied to the War Department, and in essentials also similar to the famous "B" type chassis that have made the London omnibus of to-day the success that it is. Indeed, it is not too much to say that the "B" type has done more than anything else to revolutionise the motor transport proposition, as those who remember the early struggles of the motor omnibus companies will freely admit. In these, as in all other exhibits by this firm, the Knight sleeve valve engine is employed in connection with live axle worm drive, the clutchshaft and the propeller-shaft being coupled up by leather universal joints, the credit for introducing which must, we believe, be ascribed to the Daimler Co., for their simplicity amounts to something near genius. The gear box can be arranged so as to drive either through spur gearing or through inverted tooth chains. Generally speaking, the company advocates the spur gear for freight transport and chain gear for passenger service or in cases where extreme silence is particularly necessary. Besides its standard lorries, the Daimler Co. is also showing a powerful agricultural petrol tractor with a four-cylinder sleeve valve engine capable of giving off 40 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m. This engine is similar to that used in the 3 ton lorries, and drives through bevel to a countershaft with sliding spur gears. For hauling on difficult ground a winding drum can be brought into action, and so powerful is this that it can easily haul loads of 8 tons up gradients of 1 in 3. As to its ploughing abilities, the machine is credited with a speed of 2 1/2 miles an hour hauling seven to twelve disc ploughs for four to 8 brest ploughs at a depth of 4 1/2in. to 9in., according to the the land. The big six-cyclinder 105 h.p. tractor drives through a gear box to worm gearing, which drives a countershaft having on its ends pinions that mesh with with big gear rings on the driving wheels. As the worm gear gives a reduction of 18 to 1 and the pinions and and gears 7 1/4 to 1, the power on the 2ft. wide treads of the great 8ft. road wheels must be enormous. Another feature is the winding drum. This is connected to the big gear ring on the driving wheel by a sliding pin, and the gear ring in turn is secured to the road wheel by two sliding locking pins. In going up steep hills, therefore, the locking pin holding drum to gear ring is withdrawn, and the drum being free allows rope to pay out by its own weight. At the top of the hill the gear ring is disconnected from the road wheels by outdrawing the locking pins, and the drum and gear ring are then connected so that the engine can work the gear without turning the road wheels. The tractor itself is said to be able to climb gradients of 1 in 2 1/2, and by these means can with the rope haul up a load of 32 tons.

Mike Conniford's booklet on the Humber FWD shows a RAF example with 15cwt body - probably a conversion. The example in your photo looks fictitious. You'll need to check the chassis number to find out the original type of body.

There's a tractor unit in the Shopland collection (see Military Machines International, Dec 2010), which I think is ex-John Rowell. There is also a crash tender at the RAF Museum Hendon. John Jackson has/had the well known long wheel base version with box body.

A bit of a long shot this one... The Jan 2000 edition of Classic & Vintage Commercials reported the sale of a collection of sorry looking vehicles including the remains of a Crossley Q type. The collection belonged to the Nicholson brothers of Faldingworth, Lincolnshire, the sale being on 29/30 October 1999. There's a phone number relating to an unsold lot which links back to these auctioneers: http://www.perkinsgeorgemawer.co.uk/ They may still have records of this sale and be able to put you in touch with the buyer...

Congratulations on a successful run - and good to see you all at Brighton. You should now know how accurate this is: Best wishes, RF

No problem - though it's illegible!

Thanks Rob. They are rather nice. Though they do look a tad uncomfortable to drive! Years ago I had a look through file MUN 4/2770 at the National Archive. I can't now remember anything about the contents, though I did obtain copies of these letters - as much for the letterheads as anything. They all discuss the supply of parts for water tanks, said to be Mk VI types, but I've not seen any mention of this type in my reference books, so no idea what they look like. The manufacturers are: W H Arnold & Co, 31 York Place, Baker Street, London; Keep & Company, Barn Street, Birmingham; and Brice & Harrison, 144-146 Sherborne Street, Birmingham. (Double click on the images to expand.)

What a lovely cart! Do you know which Mk of cart this is and the maker? Photographs of water tank carts are hard to find, especially those with 'circular' section tanks - those with a 'D' section seem to be slightly more common. Here are some from my collection (not for reproduction), which you may find of interest.