nz2

And to be really authentic a few truckloads of sand and dirt over the sealed roadway for the photo shoot. The trailer certainly looks good. Doug

It is good to see another item of the supply column being rebuilt. Do you know much of it's recent history as it appears to be in good shape of all it's years of age. Doug

There is also a loco cab in the photo. No sign of a chimney or steam dome so perhaps its powered by an internal combustion engine. I understand the buses were used eariler in the war, so this would help date the photo. Doug

We have recently picked up an old orchard sprayer complete with wooden tank, with a set of cast alloy wheels. Could these be from a WW2 aircraft or from an air transportable piece of equipment? Tyre size is 34 x 7 giving a 20 inch rim. If it was from an aircraft I would have thought the rim would be wider. I'm picking they could be war surplus items recycled. Doug

The point Degsy makes is so correct. If there is money in it then a change will occur. However the comment was made a decade ago that libraries would disappear with no hard copy books about. They are still there. The use of the Internet has changed search options, where as once upon a time it was the encyclopedia as search item, now it's to Google. This has broadened the search for the more obscure topics but suffers from the lack of definition between fact and fiction. On the other hand the use of the computer has allowed individuals to publish their own material, either electronically or to hard copy. I still like to browse through a book and enjoy absorbing the information from within. A book does not close down when not looked at! The current project here at home is to place books in order on a newly acquired set of shelves. That is sorting through the piles of books and publications that have sat on the floor for the last few years as the other book shelves become over crowded, to the point where books sat on others and rows became two deep! The new set of shelves gives 10.8 metres of shelf space, however it is rapidly filling. Yes I enjoy books. Doug

Men and their toys! Though there were a few women piloting these vehicles. Looks like a fun day. I note there were no children about to show how fast they could control these on the rough surface. Doug

Looking at the Leyland, the rear section of the canvas cover is split up the centre. Was this standard, as other photos ( of army trucks) shows the rear canvas as a single piece. Could this have been a RFC type in the same manner as having access through a side door to the front section of the body and a opening there in the canvas. Doug

Prior to the sand blasting was there any traces of paint on this chassis? My pre war Thornycroft chassis has bits of grey paint about in joints between riveted sections of the cross members and the chassis rails.Grey paint is also about the wheels. Likewise the later chassis of circa 1924 also has grey paint in similar places, but of a different shade. On both chassis these places are out of direct sunlight and the area is only of a few square centimeters on each. I have cleaned these then carefully scrapped the paint away and kept the sample for future reference. The wheels show numerous applications of paint over the 100 years, the grey appearing as the base coat. Doug

This is a dying hobby as we all must die at some point. However I have enough projects on hand to see me through a reincarnation or two! As for the concept of encouraging others to join this activity it is no different to so many other leisure time activities. It is the personal allocation of time and funding to participate at a level that suits a follower. Shows and events are good to participate in( with any sort of transport theme), it is getting those that show an interest to take the next step and join that is the hurdle. Family members tend to follow the habit, bringing in strangers to an activity becomes more difficult. I was recently at an event where we took people for rides on traction engines and steam rollers and allowed them to steer the roller about the paddock. The joy of being able to activity try some thing like that out of the ordinary was so evident by the smile on their faces. Grandparents, parents and children all experienced the chance to steer about the route and throw firewood in to the firebox. The splattering of oil on their clothing was seen as a souvenir of their day. It will be interesting to see if membership numbers lift. Static displays have limitations as has been expressed by others. The problems associated with maintaining an active membership in not confined to the UK, it is also relevant to us on the other side of the world. Doug

I recently came across a sheet of very heavy corrugated iron with the ridge at a wide spacing. The ends had slots for bolts to pass through. The thickness of the steel and the distance between ridges ( about 4 inches) were the points that raised my attention. What was the thickness and nature of the steel used on a Nissen hut? The other option is from a heavy steel culvert. Doug

An interesting article to read giving the background to the many captured guns found about New Zealand in parks associated with memorials to troops involved with WW1. Over the years some have disappeared in some cases part of the scare of them being classed as operative weapons saw them removed from display during the threatened Japanese invasion of WWII. In some cases they were not repositioned back in the parks, with some buried still in parks. Over the years many received only the regular coat of paint while often the wooden spoked wheels decayed and were given replacements of the wrong size. Now with the centenary of WW1 approaching the importance of the items in the parks is being recognized with attention being played on their history. Captured guns on display are far more numerous than those as used by the New Zealand forces. Doug

Did the last three posted photos have any location ID attached. I assume it's East Africa looking at the tree type and native hut. Doug

To Allan and Richard; What were the features on this chassis that you linked to the Palladiumn? I don't have a copy Richard of the publication you refer to, to satisfy my inquiring mind. Likewise the photo posted is not clear enough to show features of the chassis hence the query. The use of the Detroit axles in the British chassis seems unusual, when most British vehicles of the time were built in house unlike the proprietary components of many American trucks. Vehicles were built elsewhere under license could this be one? Doug

The original chassis in question has no torque rods to the rear axle and no sign of any mounting points. GMC's tend to have these as shown with the type 41. Not a CMC 41. The diagonal bracing to the front cross member is a definite feature for id.It appears to be riveted in place on the left hand side, however they could be bolt heads shown on the right so may be a latter addition. The Detroit Timken rear end points to American manufacture, as do the use of the wooden spoked wheels. Interesting to note the bolted sections of the rear axle tubes to the diff casing, this being of a similar design to an early Thornycroft rear end I have here on a chassis. If we use that as a dating point it would place the chassis in question to the period 1912-14. However being American in origin that time frame could be extended out. Would it be possible to get a measurement of the wheel base and tyre sizes to assist with further ID. Are there are markings on the diff indicating a model? Doug

Yes, that point of lifting heavy items about leads to whole differing factor of injuries in handling supplies. Crushed fingers, pulled muscles, and the like must have been common. As for using mechanical aids could there have been a portable crane using a hand winch or block and tackle. Considering this same form of unit would have been used in the branches of industry previously. Photos of such items in wartime do not seem to be about. Hand carts and barrows seem to be those only appearing in photographs. Doug

So correct with my taxi drivers name. Perhaps instead I'll call on Dr Who for transportation! That is if the Tardis can bring back the items gathered. Doug

DR Spock Please beam me back in time to the warehouse of parts. I have a shopping list! Doug

These foundry photo lead me to another question. When the British Army established these foundries and repair workshops were they using established French sites or was it a completely new site. I would have thought the French Foundries etc would be busy repairing and rebuilding their own items let alone have spare capacity to accommodate any additional British work. Doug

I accept your comments Roy regards the tone of the writings in Commercial Motor of the time. They appear ( or at least from that reporter) to be quite biased highlighting factors that restrict or limit vehicle operation. Praise in some pages and criticism on another. The plus side of this is now we are able to read of these concerns, showing that the subsidy scheme and the purchase of vehicles at the out break of war was not a totally smooth transition. To me it also shows that while the War Office was influential in a design, the commercial users appear to have had more of a demand as to what they required, being more traditional lorries of a lighter weight. However, this is only my interpretation on reading such material, and like any point of historic research, differing points of view arise. All for a healthy discussion. Doug

The Commercial Motor articles show the troubles they had with the fixed standard. The ongoing problem of interpretation of the rules by one person then another ruling by another. Interesting to note the light lorries in the accompanying photograph show the use of chain drive. The use of chain drive in was not acceptable to the standard, yet was used by the War Office in many of the lorries supplied; ie Commer Car. I feel the writings from Hampshire Museum Service reflects the regulations latter in the war once supply was more organized. Doug

A week away and I'm asked for assistance! It's not Thornycroft as far as I know. How ever as they call it a Thorneycroft with an "e' and as that manufacturer does not not exist we could call it that! Those rear wheels do have a similarity to Sentinel DG steamer with the large rivets about the centres. Rivet numbers are wrong however. The rear spring hangers do have a sense of Leyland origin to them. The chassis cross members are too flat with no opening to allow a prop shaft to pass through, and the chassis appears too light in construction to be steam powered. Again it's in the pile of "to keep looking for similar photos". Doug

We have a similar situation here with our cat. He routinely comes to check on progress of work, sometimes will perch on a suitable spot and watch, or otherwise walk away to return latter. He has been nick named " The Supervisor". Doug

Even made the TV news coverage in New Zealand!

Looking at the photographs of your trailer shows a design similar to what I have planned for use as accommodation at rallies, as it fits a period of time that could be dated even earlier than WW11. To make one of similar proportions can you please measure the dimensions of this trailer. I take the wheels are 16 inch from a Morris or similar. How wide are the timber boards for the walls and how thick are they. Thanks Doug

Comparing this photo with that on a previous posting and looking carefully at the two I consider they are the same truck. The earlier posting shows a light coloured steel bar running up from the axle, in the same manner as the whole bar is shown on the photo of the complete truck. Also the photo used to identify the truck before ( from Michael Young's book) shows this torque bar as a complete unit. The semi vertical steering column is also the same. The rear wheel bearing cap in the above photo is missing, the rest of the photo has too much shadow about to compare in detail items like the rivets about the perimeter of the wheel center. Rod Dux in his book on Australian Military vehicles lists a number of trucks of German and European origin being seconded, others purchased and even a shipment of German trucks confiscated from on board ships at Melbourne. I'm suggesting it's again a Berna truck. Doug