nz2

Good to see a new tread. Can we get the previous points on lamps from the Dennis restoration copied over? My son Karl asks if this will also include search lights as mounted on some vehicles? Stretching the context, but still a light! Doug

The use of theatre lighting gel I have thought of and is readily avaliable to me. It varies in differening densities of colour and would be the easy way to reproduce a coloured lens. Also thought of using the gel within a resin built lens. A question here as to the shape of the red lens; does it have a smooth exterior surface or is it patterned, or what ever the word is to describe the finish of multible cut faces. I note Millers have this multiable cut face lens on the side lamps, where as other manufacturers had a smooth surface. However there is always the question as to how was it done orginally and can it be done again in small batches. The concept of orginallity as per Tim! Doug

Tim, The Millers lights you showed on this thread some time back, were these standard issue WD to all makes of vehicles or did differing manufacturers supply lamps to pariticular truck builders? In the last week we have purchased three Millers lamps , one with WD markings but unlike yours no date. That one and a mate are side lamps with small red rear lens and a third lamp is the tail lamp with mounting point at the back and clear side lens. The last lamp is missing its main lens and assume this whole lens was coloured red. Not a common find to three together, in fact this pattern of lamp I have not seen before, but then that could be a matter of location. Thoughts of making replacement lens for other lamps as well using clear epoxy resin. material. I judge the temperature from the burners will be not that great to effect the resin. Interested to know of others exeperiences. Doug

Aside from the two gallon tins as described on the forum pages, what other sized tins were used for bulk carriage of fuel? I recall reading somewhere of the use of 4 gallon square containers which fitted into wooded boxes or at least a wooden frame, to give them more protection while being transported. On this point my dates would indicate 1920's on for widespread use of 4 gallon tins, so when were they introduced ? Were they date stamped? I have seen photos of these larger tins opened out and used as a wall cladding on buildings, here in the colonies, in the same manner as Tim mentioned with those of in Tasmania. Doug

Will copy off latter when the scanner is working. For transporting water over unevan ground I would say this design would most ineffective, with a great loss of liquid. I agree its a most unusual tank shape having no lid. Its more like a vat as used in a factory situation. Could have it been used for transporting material like molasses where digging it out was a method of distributing it. That would put it into the horse drawn era, as using the molasses as a tonic for the horses. My knowledge of the Hawaian Islands is not that great but I seem to recall a sugar cane industry. Molasses could have been transfered direct from a sugar cane processing factory for use by the army horse corps. Or a sludge or effluent transporter. The stinky and filthy jobs of handling such material would still have to be undertaken. Doug

The photos of the tank wagon (not a vehicle on tracks) could well be a water wagon. I have an illustration from an American catalogue showing a similar design of tank to this photo. It would appear to have been orginally horse drawn although could well have been altered or even manufactured as a tractor drawn unit. The query as to the smaller front wheels, this allowed the front axle to pivot and provide steering without touching the body on full lock. Larger diameter wheels require a wider axle spacing to gain the same turning ability. The curved base of the tank also assisted to give a better wheel clearance when turning. Tar tanks tend to be taller and with a rounded steel cover. The illustration I have does not show any cover to stop water sloshing about. I assume timber planks on top would over come this problem. Still if horse drawn the driver sitting on the front would still get a wet bum! Doug

Re concrete mobile pill box I question the accuracy of the published statement regards the pill box being mounted on a 1915 Leyland with chain drive. Leyland moved to shaft drive (aside from retaining chain drive for steam wagons) by around 1909. The truck chassis therefore can not be a Leyland product. There was an article in the Thornycroft Register Newsletter some time back refering to a Thorncroft J fitted with a concrete pill box. Doug

Great photo Tim. What is the truck in your photo? It appears to have a front drive shaft. We are missing the horn sharped sections that extend out front of the body on the remains of the tipper body here. The reversed curves to the body sides are interseting. Ours are plain straight. I will endevour to photograph the Wood version of the hydraulic unit today as I couldn't locate the previous images. Trouble is it's surrounded by other gear. It shows a variation to shape of the top section, but the principle is the same. Were these hoists used at all in WW1 or are they latter additions? Any photos about? Doug

The pattern of steel appears to fit that of a cable hydraulic hoist. The angled or curved pattern across the top of the mast fits this description. Hanging down from the ends would be the pulleys contecting cables to the deck. The Wood Hydraulic Hoist & Body Company of Detroit, made them. Have a Wood hoist here to remount on an early 1920's Leyland. Some where here are some photos to post for comparison. Doug

Familar events to what we have undertaken here in NZ. A few years ago we picked up a Wichita chassis (c 1917) that had a hut built upon it and had provided protection to the chassis. The front axle was totally seperate, the bolts holding it to the springs having rusted through. Getting the chassis out from were it lay took some effort from a large tractor with a set of 3 point linkage rear mounted forks, then towing it about a kilometre on to a loading bank. A rear wheel was locked up so rather than chew up a good solid rubber tyre the chassis was carried out. This involved placing the front of the chassis on the tail end of the deck of my Bedford J3 and carrying the rear of the chassis on the tractor forks, it then being driven backwards! At the loading back it was pushed on, chained down and safely made it home. Progress to date is little, having located a suitable Waukesha 4 cylinder engine but no gear box to match to date. Wichita was a major US manufacturer of trucks using brought in components. There appears to only be a few early Wichita's remaining. Doug

Extend that out to include amphibious pre WW2. What is about? Doug

Is there any early landing craft pre WW 2 about? Anything restored or at least retained. I understand there were some trailed in the 1920's for carrying tanks. Haven't seen much information on such items. While much of this forum topic relates to WW1 vehicles we seem to have little on support items. I guess that is what a landing craft is. Otherwise is it in the naval section. Doug

In NZ all trailers have to be inspected every six months, like all vehicles. The vehicle test is done by a certified local garage, with heavy trucks (over 3.5 tonne) being inspected by a different agency. Trailer inspections are simple, tyre condition, wheel bearings, lights, towing connection, and structural condition. Gone are the days of rusted out boat trailers been seen in use. However like all aspects of vehicle legisation, once the red tape beaucrates start with an idea it tends to expand to their wishes! Doug

Good to have another Kiwi on board. Doug

Aside from running pneamatic tyres on an amoured car (like on the Rolls or Croseley) when did a heavier duty tyre become available, that would give a similar use to that of a run flat as used today. That is beside the option of otherwise using a solid rubber tyre, but limiting speed The stones and rock as well in some desert situations would have been hard on convetional tyres. Doug:

Does British Waterways allow these in cannals?

Is this chassis chain drive?

Did the ladel identify this as a Mercedes Benz or as a Benz truck? I note this has a diff in the rear axle so probably a Mercedes Benz product, but like so many changes in name of manufacturers, production models can predate. I'm seeking information on chain drive Benz trucks from the period 1911- 1918. Doug

Talking of interchangability of wheels , and looking at this photo of the German aircraft, note the wheels on the aircraft are different. The far one has a wire spoke pattern and no tyre! It appears to be too small for to have come from the Crossley though! Doug

A great idea of being able to access photos of particular vehicles from one point. However this has its limitations with eariler WW1 vehicles as there are so few of us rebuilding such old gear. Great War Truck has a running photo collection of the Dennis and now from Texas the FWD or is it a Nash/ Jefferis Quad. Searching for photos without wadding through other chatter can be tiresome. Perhaps a separate file for photos only operating parrallel to the main file with photos and comments Doug

Quote: Preserved emergency vehicles are not officially permitted to have blue lights attached to them when on the road, even if they are completely covered up and inoperable. Put a sock on it! Would this not be an ideal cover over a round blue light. However if the sock was coloured blue what would be questioning from the police. It is not a light and can not emit light, but would it be otherwise classed as an imitation or replication of a blue light that could cause confusion to other motorists. Doug

I too have seen this "expert opinion" occur here around the other side of the world (NZ, especially on the steam rally field. And who were the worst offenders at this garbage. Those from the other side of the world! However I am not tarring all Poms with the same brush, just some. As earlier pointed out by others in this forum,its the attitude of "knows best" and to hell with the locals. I also recall a rally where a chap was proudly describing the features or his rarer tractor to a crowd of on lookers. The information he was using was so incorrect it was embarrassing. Some time later I caught up with this chap and asked him about his tractor ( I have one of the same model at home). He had recently purchased the tractor, had done only a little research, and was simply inventing a story line to suit the visitors. A cheque book collector who never gets his hands dirty. He was not interested in facts so I left him to his peril. Like Tim I will enjoy getting my WW1 trucks on to display and who then will be able to complain "that it is not as it was it my day" Doug

What weight is the Shortland all up? I assume the heavier plating is only about the cabin. Thickness of this plate? Is there protection for the radiator? Doug

A form of Artillery tractor? If so how far away from the guns and noise would these elephants be held? Doug

Interesting problem over there. What do those controlling the rules class as military? Would a Landrover set up as a field ambulance be military because of its paint job, but what of an identical vehicle body with a different paint scheme, say a Red Cross Ambulance? Doug