lynx42 Rick Cove

A few more photos. So on with the thinking caps. Regards Rick

I have just been sent these photos of a very solid truck chassis. I do not know what it is so over to you experts. (I'll keep looking too.) The chassis may have been bobbed at the rear for a tipper body. There is a name on one of the 5 spoked front wheels and a manufacturers mark on the rear spring hanger, the rear springs are slippers at the rear hanger. The diff may give a clue. Thanks Looking forward to your replies. Regards Rick.

I've had a bit to do with TV shows and a couple of movies with some of my vehicles. It started with in the 1980's with the then mega TV series "The Anzacs" then "The Light Horseman"," My Brother Jack", a few minors and recently, currently on Australian TV, "The Other Anzacs" with my 1916 Albion A10. 3 tonner GS truck. I have made quite a bit out of it and it is up to you to negotiate the deal. The last one saw a good handful of money. Two trips to Adelaide (flying from Melbourne), accommodation and a hire car. The truck was tilt-bedded to and from and fully insured by the production company. When I went to hand in an invoice for the Chev Staff Car use in "My brother Jack", I was SPOTTED and became an extra as well. In "The Other Anzacs" I was used in long distance shots as in their words "Your not a pimply faced youth anymore!" It is fun doing the work and you get to meet the stars etc. I purchased a copy of the book behind "The Other Anzacs" and had all the stars and production team sign it for me. Certainly something to add to the trucks history and providence. Here is a publicity shot from "The Other Anzacs" Regards Rick.

How good was that!! Wish I had been there too. regards Rick.

Two shots of it in the first two minutes. I keep it at the Regular Army, Bandiana Military Museum, one of the best museums of its type in Australia. We can get it out as and when needed with no strings attached. Regards Rick.

Just thought I would let you know that you will see my 1916 Albion truck on ABC TV tonight at 8.30pm. If you look carefully you might see me too. (Only in long distance shots cos as they said, "You are not a pimply faced youth any more". Anzac Girls is a 6 part mini-series about a group of nurses during WWI. It was filmed in South Australia last year. Regards Rick.

Don't want to hijack this thread as the FWD is one on my wish list, but where did your Saracen come from? It is not one of the 28 APC version or the 2 fittters vehicles the Australian army had. Is it a Hong Kong import? Regards Rick.

That's very interesting. I have a 1914 Talbot type CB 15/20hp model. Nowhere as heavy as the ones pictured, but has the same shaped radiator, diff and exhaust manifold. Here is a photo of Jill and I out last year on the National Veteran rally, Shepparton. Our car was built on the 22nd. June 1914 and went to an orchardist at Kalista in the Dandenong Ranges just east of Melbourne. A streamlined 1914 Talbot (with a bigger engine but the same chassis as mine) was the first car in the world to travel more than 100 miles in one hour. They did 108 miles in the hour at Brooklands. Regards Rick

Yes, badged as Commer here in Australia. I think that there were only 100 supplied to the Australian Army. Here are a few photos of my FV1601 (Commer). The photo is not too clear, but I think the chassis number is 6310006 with engine number 13677. it has 22562 miles on the clock and the usual rust around the cabin. I must tell you of a funny experience when I went to view it up in far north New South Wales. The owner said that it ran very sweetly, but when he started it up it had a knock that was consistent with the engine revs. More frequently at higher revs and less at lower. It sounded to both he and I of a big end knock. "Never heard that before", he said. I said that I wasn't interested at his price with that knock as it looked like an engine rebuild was needed, so he halved the price. I had it tilt-bedded home some 1,200 km and when it was unloaded of course it was in the wrong place. The next day I fired it up to move it and there was no sign of any knock. That was worrying as an intermittent knock is often hard to find. I tested the lights, wipers and anything else I could think of including the air compressor and guess what, there was that knock again. It was the compressor working away and had been engaged when we tested it. Anyway good luck with your purchase. Regards Rick.

G'day Wayne, Thanks for that. The fourth one is actually an Australian Lithgow made SMLE bayonet. It is mint, never even placed into a scabbard. I have a USA. Remington WWI bayonet which has two creased in each side of the wood work to differentiate them from the .303cal. bayonets as they are made for the .306cal and the slot won't fit a .303cal. rifle. They are so alike that they had to mark them to avoid grabbing the wrong one in an emergency. Regards Rick.

I was recently bequeathed a number of bayonets, khukuris and foils by an old friend but I am unable to identify two of the bayonets. Also included in the bequeath was a French Artillery Short Sword with the numbers 537 on the hilt. The first one is probably WWI vintage as the font of the marks look similar to other WWI bayonets I have. This one is longer being 16 3/16th inches (416mm) overall with a 11 inch blade (279mm). It has a large hooked quillon and has a spike type of blade with 4 sides. There is some machined flattening on the sides of the spike.( Different on each side.) The ricasso has some marks on the it. There are the letters SG on the lower side and unidentifiable crown or something on the upper. There are also an identifying mark E9?5 on the quillon. The second one is Asian in appearance as the mark looks Japanese or similar. It is just over 14 inches long (370mm) and has a blade of 9 5/8th inches (246mm). and a hooked quillon. Any help identifying these will be appreciated. Regards Rick.

Not yet, but a few years ago I was barreling down the Hume Highway near Wangaratta in the White Scout Car with a trailer when I was rounded up by the boys in blue who pulled me up and advised me that they had clocked me at 109Km/h in a 100km zone. All they were really interested in was a look over the White as they did not think a WWII vehicle could go that fast. (They do, in fact it will go faster). The down side is of course that the fuel consumption goes through the roof. Twice now I have been stopped at a Booze Block for a breath test in the White and the office has tested my passenger. Guess who looked a fool, not me.:cool2: The first time I asked I he wanted me to blow in the bag and he said "No only the driver." took a second look and slunk away. The second just smacked his forehead and went away.:rotfl: Once in the camouflaged Chev Staff car I was pulled up for a check and the rozzer said he nearly didn't see me. (Ha! Ha!) Regards Rick.

Lets hope the scrappy doesn't get any of those lovely solid rubber tyres. There are enough there to fit all the current restorations with new tyres and more. There are many different sizes there. My Albion takes 720mm tyres which are impossible to find in Australia. Regards Rick.

Quite right Bob, but what about the restoration costs, seems to be a bit high to me. "B type bus which has it's original body and mechanics has been subject to a £ 752,000 restoration is to be taken to France for which they are looking for donations to cover the cost of £ 25,000."? I've been in the restoration game most of my life. (not professionally) I can't get my head around that figure to restore any vehicle. I recon there workshops it was farmed out to saw them coming as a milking cow money pit. Regards Rick.

Hi Keith, Looks to be part of the Australian Flying Corps. Only the Aussies had slouch hats like those ones pictured. Regards Rick.

Jim, It's been a couple of years since an update. How is it all going? We all want to see the finished article. Regards Rick.

Thanks Richard, I missed that one. Pity the FWD is in Nth Queensland or I might have been interested in parts for mine. Regards Rick.

I must be blind, Ben. I searched the forum and couldn't see that advert. Please point me in the right direction. Regards Rick.

Here's another with a higher price. Must put some of mine up for sale. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/World-War-II-U-S-Army-Photo-German-Troops-Flee-1944-/190362802255?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5281d84f

Optical illusion Doug. It certainly drops down NOT forward. Rick.

That is a very light chassis. I would suggest that it is in the under two ton range. Interesting though. Regards Rick.

My Albion A10 has the same plain bronze/brass bearings. I fitted felt seals to the front wheels to hold in some of the oil. On the rear there are dainty little V shaped directors which funnel the excess oil from the hubs onto the chains to help lubricate them. It then flings onto the ground. (Not the best thing on sealed roads I guess.) I haven't fitted seals there for that purpose. Current Australian Road Laws state that there be no oil drips from a vehicle. That doesn't apply to the Albion as that is how it was built and there is nothing that they can do about that. I also have a 1923 20hp. Rolls Royce which marks it's territory quite well.(Most British vehicles seem to do that.)

Great War Forum I have downloaded the two photos from the GW Forum. Regards Rick.

Yes, De Dion Boulton. Rick.

I have a pair of Schneider front wheels with good solid tyres. I picked them up in 1977 from a farm and the radiator was there as well. (Not now though). I was always surprised at the 5 spoke wheels as I have not seen any other make with wheels with 5 spokes. If someone is in need of them, let me know as they are of no use to me. regards Rick.