nz2

It is pleasing to see in the photograph of the body mounts, an apple box in the background with a New Zealand label. Was the contents of this to give nutrition to the working crew? Also appropite to the labeling on the truck. A comment to the NZ label. The 1 numeral needs moving over a little, leaving a wider gap to the N letter. Presesntly it looks like INZ. I have another photo of the silver fern insignia, a variation again on the pattern. Unfortunately its on my main computer which is down at the moment, and the lap top is a seperate system. I'm off this morning picking more apples. They are for the local market so it was not ours in the box! Doug

Similar to hallmarks, it is currently a criminal offence to reproduce the broad arrow without authority. The Embezzlement of Public Stores Act 1698 in clause 41 makes it illegal to use the "broad arrow / King's mark" on any goods not for His Majesty's government's use. http://www.coffinisland.ca this website deals with glass bottles as used by the navy in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. I'm interested to know if the Broad arrow Act is still in force and otherwise the implications for using it on restored items. The stocks, a hanging and quartering perhaps? Doug:cry:

Good to see another colonial joining. I'm down the far end of the Bay, about 2 3/4 hours away. Can't help much with the Morris as its too younger vehicle for us. Doug

The truck is a Leyland Class A, War Office subsidy class vehicle. The term RAF Leyland refers to those trucks brought back from the War Office and reconditioned by Leyland after hostilities ceased. As this has electric lighting and pneumatic tyres, it shows as a rebuild, along with the military style body and canopy. The curved front axle also indicates a 4 ton vehicle, however the bonnet does appears to a mismatch. The top section of the bonnet should be flat ln both directions, where this has a slope from the scuttle towards the radiator. It does not fit well around the radiator either. The radiator should have cast alloy side panels, where as this one shows only a black section. Perhaps a radiator of a latter pattern has been installed, and this would account for the il-fitting bonnet. These comments are made from observations from our own collection of such Leylands. Doug

Steam power again. In 1769, Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot designed and constructed the first working self-propelled vehicle for human travel. Perhaps best described as a power tricycle about the size of a small present-day bus, it had one wheel at the front under the boiler and two-cylinder steam engine, and two wheels at the back under the freight area. Called a fardier a vapeur (steam dray), it had a top speed that was slower than walking, about two miles per hour, even without factoring in that it needed to stop 4-6 times each hour to restock its water reservoir and allow the steam pressure to rebuild. A 1771 incident where the driver lost control and the cart ran into a wall is sometimes cited as the world's first automobile accident. Cugnot's cart was intended to serve as a gun carriage for moving heavy artillery or up to four officers on the battlefield, but beyond a few prototypes it was never manufactured, due to a lack of interest by Louis XV's court. In 1801, Cugnot's steam-powered automobile was moved to France's Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, where it has been on permanent display ever since. Inventors Searc This would be the first mechanised, non animal powered Military transport (aside from sailing ships). Being still in existance must put it at the top of a list, but not that of currently still serving. (unless its still owned by the French military). I have not found to date any information to say that it was ever tested towing guns of the time. Doug

Thank you Chris for the information. I recalled reading something of the effects of air pressure on artillery some time ago, but was not familar with all the possable influences in a round not scoring on target. Doug

Further to the series of questions Robin Craig is hosting regards longest serving MV and parts. I was looking at a barameter to-day and the thought struck me as to its origin and history. Aside from a weather forecasting instrument, the same forum of instrument becomes an altimeter as per for aircraft use. From that came another question; When using large calibre artillery pieces (land based guns) is there a piece in the equation of range finding that considers barometric pressure? Doug

Thank for that warrior. I saw the legs out the back but did not realise the length to which the frame extended out from the chassis. Any idea as to the weight of the bridge? The stresses and dynamics on the beam and truck would be high. Doug

With the present price of fuel perhaps a return to steam. Anyway any vehicle requiring a pressure gauge for hydraulics, or air etc would have its ancestry with the steam gauge. Many are a different size and face to the orginal but the same internal mechanism. As for current useage of the same size and form as 1900, that would be on plant and equipment operating pressure vessels, pumps, boilers etc.If we could include marine craft as contenters, then the pressure gauge would certaining be included. The interesting point overall is an item with its origin in steam days is still commonly in use today ( in many situations the size of the unit has changed) Class it as another aspect to the search. Doug

Another contender as longest part in use. A pressure gauge. As used on Fowler B5 traction engines in the Boer war delivered in South Africa July 1900. The pressure gauge remains the same format and operation to this day. Doug

I watched the video, including the nice little man!. The filming shots show about the bridge but not to the front of the main truck. To have 56m of arm extended out initially I would have assumed some counter weight was attached to front of the truck to cover those forces. Also the support on the far side appears quite light in construction to also carry the bridge weight in the sliding transport mode, but then the design works, and I"m not paying the 3 million for it. Still a remarkable piece of engineering to allow it to be assembled up so rapidly Doug

The horn as per the advert photo is the same as on a 1953 Series 1 Land Rover, Ex NZ Army. That it is a 12 volt unit. The same basic design is also on the front of my son's Leyland Cub of 1930. That has a chrome surround to the outer edge, and chrome domed nuts holding it together, otherwise it the shape appears to be the same. A different mounting to the latter models, but only a variation to the pattern. There are no numbers stamped on the base but has Lucas New Alto stamped to the chrome surround. Could this take the use of this horn pattern continuous back to 1930. Leyland Cub's were used by the Army here in NZ.? Doug

Bedfords were the mainstay of Government vehicles in N.Z, in the period in question. The wheel base for this body is too long to fit on for a Bedford LM so the O appears to fit the need. Doug

A most interesting bridge being assembled. Question; Is there a counter weight on the crane unit to cover the weight of the bridge as it's carried across? Doug

Thanks for the link.The use could be much the same pattern. The design shows a few differences, mine having rounded corners as opposed to the square corners of the advertised one. Also it appears to a door at the back where mine has two doors one each side towards the front. As for the truck it was on I would suspect something like a Bedford O series. Doug

Regards the horn can someone post a photo of the item in question. If its the pattern I'm thinking of it could date back to the 1920's as per some trucks of the period. Doug

I have recently acquired this truck body. No labels have been found to show a builder, however on the sliding widows are MOT 73; laminated .38; register no 298; Auction Glass. On the window frames are small metal plates; Young Windows; Wishaw Scotland. A Google search lists Youngs of Wishaw, but no further information. The unusual feature of these windows is the four parts to the sliding section and that they open from the centre. Looking through photographs of coaches I have yet to find a similar sliding window set. One suggestion to me as to it use was for the transporting of air crew to Sutherlands and similar larger aircraft. Another ex RNZAF employee looked at the box, and he like wise thinks it could be ex air force , but doesn't recall any about from the early 70's when he joined. My thoughts as to construction design would be late 50's into the 60's If not Air Force it could be for another Government department. I originally thought of a mobile clinic or similar, but why with two doors at the front, if it has only a few people inside. The Scottish windows could link it back to being British built, and later to NZ perhaps through Singapore as that base closed down. Otherwise an import of the windows and a locally built body. Doug

Good having the clarification as to what you are seeking. I've gone off on a bit of a tangent therefore, but still it makes interesting research as to the life span use of some of these items. Doug

With my reference to a radiator cap I acknowledge changes have occurred. Non pressurized systems would be superseded by pressurized radiators in the 1940's. Caps now tend to be smaller , ( 1990's onwards). That would be a 50 year plus time span. Should larger caps still be about and used on particular applications the span lengthens. Much the same with a fan belt, differing profiles over the recent years, and again the same part is applicable for different uses; ie as a drive belt on some other application. So a belt as used on a 1930's vehicle could still have an application today. That would be a span of 70 years. One aspect of MV parts not raised to date has been the role of parts in aircraft or of marine application. That then is another can of worms! Doug

I assume a road test of some distance in the Dennis prior to to Brighton event. Doug

Absolutely Brilliant. Follows along the lines of another great British humor personality, Spike Miligan and company. Doug:)

If I went in person to room 211 to inquire what sort of reception would I get now? Taking a copy of the advert of course. Doug:)

I'm going to throw in more thoughts about mechanical parts. Lets try a for a standard part radiator, fan, or water pump. Two items in this area of an engine stand out though as being contenders; the radiator cap and even more so, a fan belt. Doug

Perhaps I'm being confused here. Are you searching for an item still in use, as of a new vehicle? Having a familiarity with early vehicles of the period from around 1910 I naturally started from point, thinking of items that remained the same for some length of time, These probably were up dated by the late 1920's, however what could continue for much latter? A magneto for ignition was still in use for some engines into the 1950's, Spark plugs have changed in size, but large size plugs are still available. Plug leads have changed the insulating materials. Doug

The concept of long term use of a part is interesting. No doubt there are many smaller parts that are in common. A few examples would range from switches, control knobs, dials, keys, speedo cables,lights, rubber boots, Spark plugs, hoses, seat fittings and so the list continues. Some items are plain and usable over a wide range of applications other for a particular application only. I guess its a search of part numbers that will bring up the answer. Doug