Runflat

This was local vehicle census system used in Egypt and seen in many photos.

Video of the arrival on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_xyqM4JNY Unless I'm misinterpreting the commentary ("here he comes..."), the arrival was expected by at least the cameraman and/or those around him... although the opening posts suggest he went round to land in the display area after first landing somewhere else.

Not quite the same staring role, but a Champ pops up in here: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=32203

I've spent many an hour looking through these films - it beats TV -and now have over 40 pages of notes (mainly WW2 vehicles). So do ask if you're looking for anything in particular.

Congratulations, Ivor, on securing this vehicle. I've always thought the CDSW range were the business ever since I set eyes on photographs of them over 25 years ago. Good luck with the rebuild - there's a hard slog in front of you trying to make an accurate body - I've never seen a survivor with an original bofors tractor body (several original FATs and light recovery versions exist though), although I do recall seeing a photo in Windscreen 20 odd years ago of one owned by a chap called Shakeshaft, which looked as if it had some original rear bodywork on it. Perhaps it's the one you now own! And the well known "HAD130" has original top boxes on it: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...03094308zSXadN http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p56892373.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/byjr/29...ry-vehicles-uk Although of a different overall design, the Australian equivalent may be able to provide some critical dimensions: http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15064 For your enjoyment, all of these have CDSW bofors tractors in them, albeit only a glimpse in places: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=12321 http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=25616 http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=25623 http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=52393 http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=75281

I've had another look at the photo. Like I said, it's not very clear. But it could well have a hinged lid to it - so entirely feasible it was a kit or tool locker. Of course, it may be a locally made one-off for that vehicle!

There's not much doubt that WW2 tracked armour and axis vehicles are sound investments (provided you don't pay over the odds to start with!!!). The problem is knowing what the going rate is as it is a bit of a closed shop. For axis vehicles, I've always loved the look of the Horch 901 series. There are several in preservation and come up for sale every now and again, such as this one on Milweb for 110,000 Euros (too much, surely?). http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?ad=53610&cat=3 Or if you fancy something else, keep an eye on the classifieds on VW166 site (all sorts of axis vehicles pop up for sale on here): http://www.vw166.com/schwimmwagen/ Axis Sd.Kfz. halftracks and armour are probably out of your price range. But if the Maultier at W&P were for sale, I'd jump at it if it I could afford it.

I dunno what's happened to this link. It was there this morning - honest. It was a news report that some new archive footage had been found showing the s-boats being built.

Fresh from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10973859

...and in case you're interested, the remains of an early Leyland here: http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/2008/08/scrapheap-challenge-2-more-anc.html

The canvass portion above the door was often half opened, like as in this photograph: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00826.214 I've also seen it fully furled up. As to what's inside, that's not at all clear. The only internal photograph I've seen suggests there was a full width box or boxed in section between the door opening and the rear of the body, which would have been good enough for crew to sit on. Certainly no division between the door entrance and the rest of the cargo area. The Australian War Memorial have a restored Leyland and so should be able to provide a clearer answer. I believe the body was fabricated from original plans. Some pictures towards to bottom here: http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=63528&p=3&topicID=15617881 As an aside, The Automobile magazine, Dec 2000, shows some early vehicle remains in Australia including what is clearly a Leyland RAF type rear axle (with diff). I hope it went to a good home.

25 Chinese-made 30T692 tanks have been dumped off Narathiwat and Pattani (Thailand) to create artifical reefs. http://aquanautsdive.com/old-tanks-go-into-service-as-artificial-reef-in-thailand/ I'm sure tanks have been used in this way before, but can't remember where.

The Museums Association's code of ethics is here: http://www.museumsassociation.org/download?id=15717 Disposals are covered at Item 6.

Well run museums will have an acquisitions and disposals policy, which may well be along the lines you outline. But I don't believe there is a statutory basis for this. I may have missed something though, so I'd be grateful if you could be more specific as to the governing legislation. The Public Libaries and Museums Act 1964 is here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1964/cukpga_19640075_en_1 The Museums and Galleries Act 1992 is here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1992/cukpga_19920044_en_1

I've been having a look at the Imperial War Museum Act 1920: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1920/cukpga_19200016_en_1 Section 2(1)© gives the Board of Trustees powers to dispose of duplicate assets and, subject to approval by the Lord President of the Council, any other assets. I assume the LPC is the Lord President of the Privy Council, which means the current incumbant is Nick Clegg http://www.privy-council.org.uk/output/page497.asp

I've had a quick scan through some of the few copies I have; the editors are very careful to spell out precisely which vehicle they are talking about - so no mention of "deuce-and-a-half" or "Jimmy". It's always "2 1/2-ton 6x6 GMC truck", or "GMC 2 1/2-ton 6x6", or some other combination. That said, the November 1944 edition says at one part, "...when you get a GMC 2 1/2 ton, 6x6 replacement engine for your duck or truck." Similarly, the August 1945 edition mentions "jeeps". So they weren't totally against using nicknames, just no evidence, from the copies I have, that 'Jimmy' was in common parlance. I understand that GM launched a GMC "Jimmy" circa 1970 - essentially a badge engineered Chevrolet "Blazer". What would be interesting to know is whether GM choose the 'Jimmy' name in order to trade on an existing nickname for GMC or if this is where things started. As a random thought, a long time popular song was/is "Jimmy crack corn". Is it too much to suggest that 'Jimmy', with its slave associations, could be easily applied by an errant GI to the army workhorse, especially when GM[C] is so close phonetically; or, dare I say it, becuase of the high use of African American drivers. Pure speculation though. You need to chat to some vets to find out what terminology was actually used - although sounds as if Degsy's been there.

I been looking through some back copies of The Automobile magazine and found reference in the Feb 2001 edition to another Guy Ant in New Zealand. An accompanying photo shows it to be a full windscreen model with humped bonnet. It's carrying a generator, but that's probably a later addition. Registred EA693 or EA693? and in need of rescuing. I wonder what became of it.

From here http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Meaning-of-the-Name-Jeep&id=2185870 and here http://42fordgpw.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/what-does-jeep-mean/ "I know that Military Vehicle Magazine was looking for (even running a contest) evidence that during WW2 the "Jimmy" or GMC 2 1/2-ton truck was ever referred to as a "duece-and-a-half" during WW2. As far as I know no evidence has been presented." But am i the only one singing the theme tune to Convoy? ...It was the dark of the moon on the sixth of June in a Kenworth haulin logs, and a cabover Pete with a reefer on and a Jimmy hauling hogs... Oh dear. Sorry guys.

Thanks Richard. Nothing like a bit of myth busting. And if you look at the photos in The Automobile it's quite obvious the bus body didn't quite fit.

I assume this T-S is the same that appeared in The Automobile magazine, November 1999. At the time it was up for sale and was said to be chassis number 632 - so presumably a typo along the way somewhere. The article said: ...Tim Olding has made good progess with his 1916 Tilling-Stevens TS3 petrol-elecric bus. Due to other demands on his time, he is unable to complete it. The engine (number 407) has been overhauled and all the tubes and side plates of the radiator reconditioned. The chassis started life with the War Department. From 1920, it belonged to Southdown [bus company], who sold it back to Tillings for reconditioning in 1931. It then joined the fairground circuit, where, as ever, its dynamo was the principal attraction. It was rescued from a showman's yard in 1964. An appropriate [bus] body with an equally intriguing history was later united with the chassis.

Looks ok to me, Tim. Okay the tow hooks are missing, but there are two holes on the upper sides of the irons just where the brackets for the brush guard sat; and which I've not seen on charas for example. Let's wait for Richard to post some better pictures. I've been trying to find some info on the Whitewebbs' chassis but am failing at the moment. Do you have something? They do, of course, have "Madelaine" the Belsize fire engine as well. Perhaps this is a good home for this new find? Oh, are you turning into your dad?

Richard, my first guess would be Belsize. A better view of the rear axle - especially the wheel hubs - would help me to confirm. The front axle wasn't particularly elegant - they were dead straight. So a better view of that would help as well. Normally you wouldn't see the front cross member as it would have been covered by the radiator, which is why it may not be the easiest thing in the world to ID. From memory there used to be a Belsize chassis at the Whitewebbs museum at Enfield.

Some pics taken in 1989 of Argie kit at Bluff Cove - by this time in civvy hands - and field cookers still on Mt Tumbledown.

A nice find indeed. A number of similar Tilling-Stevens were also used by the French.