Runflat

Some IWM photos of WRNS drivers A 6045 A 6046 A 6047 A 18383 A 18388

Not all the official photos are online, and recent additions are simple scans of their reference prints rather than from the negatives. If you know the number, just enter the digits rather than the prefix and go from there. But if it's a low number you'll get hundreds of results!

Tim, the Silver Thimble was a charity that collected silver and gold oddments. It was registered under the War Charities Act and approved by the Admiralty and the War Office. They produced a number of postcards, one of which says that, 'since July 1915 £30,000 has been raised and has provided 9 motor ambulances; 5 motor hospital boats; disinfector £1,070 (somewhere in France); £2,000 to the Navy Employment Agency for Disabled Sailors; £2,250 to the Star and Garter Fund; £10,000 for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors; £2,000 to St. Dunstan's Hostel for the Blind; and £222 devoted to small grants.' The Foden disinfectors used Thresh's model QQ ('Quest'). A horse-drawn disinfector exists in store at Beamish: http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/transport-stocklist/horse-drawn/1904-patent-thresh-disinfector-ref-1970-61/

As military Museums on the continent close it's interesting to see a new one about to open in the US: https://www.nmmv.org/ With $100m said to have been invested, I wish the proprietor well.

Some info on the 1919 trials, also on Landships: https://landships.activeboard.com/t55561917/char-banc/

There's quite a bit on this 'attraction' over on Landships: https://landships.activeboard.com/t62859895/tank-joy-rides-southend-on-sea-1920/

I think that must be the 30cwt one? I seem to recall it was found in a farmer's duck pond requiring the need to remake the road wheels. Of the smaller type, I'm sure the one that Richard P posted is the one in the History on Wheels museum, as Ricard F says. The last time I was there it was parked next to a Citroen variant (of which there are many). The remains of second smaller type Crossley-Kegresse donated some of its transmission to the restoration of a Crossley six-wheeler but I assume the Kegresse parts are still out there.

Details here: https://www.nam.ac.uk/collections/templer-study-centre

The Thornycroft vehicle registers are online here: https://collections.hampshireculture.org.uk/topic/thornycroft-vehicle-registers On a quick browse, these chassis numbers appear: 11021-11022 (Sept 1924) 11211-11226 (Jan 1925) 11261-11268 (March 1925) 11945-11950 (Sept 1925) 12317-12323 (March 1926) I make this a total of 29!

And I've found this picture amongst the collection (not for reproduction). It looks like the front tilt design was changed and a front weather board installed.

Exciting stuff! Here's Commercial Motor's equivalent article from 2 September 1924: http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-september-1924/10/a-new-chassis-for-the-subsidy and in the 6 April 1926 edition they report War Office orders for 30-cwt. types from Thornycroft (and others) being made in February.

No problem. Wouldn't the Thornycroft Society / Milestones have records as well? And, go on, do say that someone has found a chassis...

...and for amusement from the 9 August 1926 issue:

Hi Tim. The simple answer is 'yes'. In its 1 September 1924 issue, Motor Transport gave 'first details of the new Thornycroft chassis that has been designed with an eye to large output, low production cost and the W.D. subsidy specification' - the specification being that for 30-cwt. vehicles. I copy a picture below. The article says that, "two of these machines... have, in fact, been actually constructed for the War Office...". An advert then appears on 13 October 1924. In the 7 September 1925 issue it is also reported that among orders given out during July by Government Departments were orders by the War Office for a number of 30-cwt. chassis with J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., the Vulcan Motor Co., Ltd., Hallys Industrial Motor Co., Ltd., and the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. So there possibly weren't many held directly by the War Office. But of course the purpose of subsidy schemes is to have a fleet ready for impressment when the need arises.

Lancia 1Z anyone? https://www.prewarcar.com/300836-1914-lancia-1z No pictures... and no body.

Finally for now, I reattach one of the reports I posted before but with the missing last page; and another about the Karrier test route. Karrier report 1.pdf Karrier report 3.pdf

Part 2/2:

And from 1918 (part 1/2):

Part 2/2:

Great to see such rapid progress. As further encouragement, some more ads. This time form The World's Carriers, 1917 (part 1/2):

Another picture from the darker recesses of the collection.. This one from The World's Carriers February 15, 1918.

A couple of pictures of the Wilkins Unloading Gear in action, and the articles they are from. The first is a Hallford, the second looks to be a Foden. Enjoy! Wilkins 1.pdf Wilkins 2.pdf

The catalogue I have only quotes 1 length chassis for the WDS: from starting handle to towing hooks overall - 20ft 10in. Of interest also is an insert dated 18 June 2019: The following special features hitherto fitted to this chassis to conform to the War Department's Subsidy Specification will no longer be supplied:- Water cooling system for footbrake drum; spare oil tank on dash; sprags; towing hooks; bolster brackets; head lamp generator and head lamp brackets; driving mirror; rear mudguard stays. The list of special fittings and accessories will therefore now be as follows:- Centrifugal governor; radiator guard of stout steel tube, supported by steel brackets from the main frame members and fitted in front of radiator; 4 steel mudguards, stays to front guards only; 2 paraffin side lamps and brackets; 1 paraffin tail lamp and bracket; 1 horn.

At one time it looked as if it was to be restored with a period removals box? I take it that is no longer an option?

It's only taken 10 years to find a photo - but at long last... Hope it's worth the wait!