nz2

My apologies Serg. I thought you were referring to the system of using wooden blocks as tyres on traction engines.As I read of it it was not all that successfull One day will remove one of the sections of timber on a Ransomes wheel to check the timber shape. Tim has no worry as to the future of these wheels as they will be used on one of the Thornycrofts. Doug:coffee:

I agree it seems a valiant charge to make up against a larger ship and explode a charge at close range. I have taken the liberty a copied sections from the web site describing the vessel and its history. There are some interesting photos on the site including one of the remains of the vessel on display. http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/thornycroft.htm Defender The first modern torpedo boat was built for the British navy in 1877 by the shipyards of Sir John Isaac Thornycroft (1843-1928). Torpedo boats were adopted by most of the world's major navies, but as they increased in size the destroyer was developed as an effective defense against them. They diminished in importance after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5. Defender was something of a curiosity. With a length of 63 feet, she was only 7ft 6in in the beam and her displacement was twelve tons. Steam power was provided by a locomotive boiler to a single engine of 173 horsepower. She had two funnels side by side and a conning tower with quarter-inch bulletproof plating to protect the coxswain. Defender was originally capable of steaming at 17½ knots over a measured mile; a high speed for those days. The boat was equipped with a 36 foot spar tipped with a gun cotton charge, which projected over the bow of the vessel and would be exploded on the side of a ship below the water line. A Nordenfelt gun was also fitted. 1882 Ordered by the government in response to the "Russian Scare", the first warships were acquired for New Zealand's external defence at a cost about £4,000 each. These were four second class spar torpedo boats. Yard number 168 was the first and constructed at the Thornycroft Shipyard at Chiswick on the Thames near London. Doug:coffee:

The wooden sections referred to on traction engines wheels were blocks bolted as a tyre to reduce road noise on cobbled streets in villages. The wooden blocks as tyres in wet weather were not the most stable to operate with as slippery surfaces resulted and a loss of traction. In the photos of the Ransome wheels we have here, the wooden sections are packers and not part of a tyre. The steel band for the tyre is 755 mm ID where as the Ransome wheel is 720mm OD. The 755 mm is the same as on an American truck here on solid tyres so the question is posed if this was an American size of wheel and has been adapted to fit on the small wheel. Doug:coffee:

There is the remains of a Thornycroft torpedo boat in a small museum near Christchuch, New Zealand. The same style of boat as the one in the question, with a long pole carrying the explosive charge. It would appear the illustrated drawing of the Russian boat has the pole in a transport or loading position, prior to it been moved forward. This boat was buried in the sand hills for many years at the end of its useful life. More recently retrieved and placed on display. Doug:coffee:

Sorry Tim, getting you and your brother confussed. Did Ransomes along with other manufacturers make such wheels under contract to the WD repalacing the spoked wheels on subsidy trucks? Doug:coffee:

The painted Ransomes names appears to be orginal, while the grey paint about the rest of the wheel shows signs of lifting off in places. The white painted area has been cleaned for the photos.The brass plate gives the diameter as 720mm, a standard measurement of the day for tyre size. My orginal query was to find how common such manufacturing of after market products ie wheels, was during this period, or were these as a brought in item by Thornycroft? Like Steve suggests these are similar to Thornycroft wheels, I must set to with a tape measure and compare them to a Thornycroft set here. The wooden spaces I have seen on other wheels, although not common, and again would be interested to here as to how common this approach in fitting tyres was. Have a soft spot for Ransomes products( is it a disease to become attached to a manufacturer or a type of item and it variants) with a range from mowers to steam gear in the collection. Doug:coffee:

We have this set of wheel as per the photo with the name Ransomes painted across the inside. As this is the only set I have seen interested to know of any other similar Ransome wheels. These are a military style an so different to the otherwise agricultural wheel produced by Ransomes. Ransomes wheel1 alt.jpg :coffee: Doug

That speed record has been past. JCB took a tractor to Bonneville Salt Flats as a pusher for the land speed attempt using the tractor to push start the record breaking diesel car. That car was powered by two engines originally designed for a JCB tractor. The pusher tractor I understand also set a record! Will check out the speed involved and report back. Doug:coffee:

It may seem that there are lots of vintage or veteran trucks in Australia, however when you consider the size of the country they are in fact few and far between. There are active groups and individuals there preserving and displaying these vehicles. The photo of the Albion of Brunt's is part of a interesting and nicely restored collection in Victoria. Like here in NZ legislation has been tightened in the last few years restricting the export of heritage items. A factor from this is noticable with the recent purchase of steam traction engines with overseas people retaining the engine for use in this country. They fly out for a holiday, attend a few rallies, then park the engine up till next year. As for the photos shown of Aussie, a number of them are from New Zealand in fact from our own collection here at home. These were sent to Tim's brother and duly forwarded on and posted. Time to put some information on regards each of the photos. Photo 2 & 4 This is a Thornycroft chassis I think about 1923-24. The design of it points to this time as it has an extra cross member in front of the gearbox and a heavier gearbox than earlier model J Thornycrofts. Photos 3 & 5 Another Thornycroft which appears to be from the first batch for the War Dept. Small front wheels, spring hangers on the front and an unusual diff housing of 5 sections bolted together as opposed to the more conventional diff of 3 sections. Also early design of front axle, hubs and unusual pipe cross members above the rear wheels. Tim's brother has forwarded a photo of such a truck ready for delivery to WD in late 1912 or early 1913. These features about the front axle and springs are clearly noticeable. The chassis and hub in front of the photo is Leyland of 1925. Photo 7 This is Karl's 1924 Dennis having a life as a shortened wheel base farm truck. Recently purchased and now waiting for rebuilding, and could well be retained in the present form as an altered vehicle, characteristic of that what undertaken 50 odd years ago. Doug :coffee:

Tim bet me to the mark in posting this picture. I sent it to his brother originally seeking an opinion as to repairability considering the tasks they have undertaken. I'm prepared to spend time rebuilding this, shaping steel sections to allow them to fit, and if to be taped and screwed in place I'll undertake the work. Concern is there regards expansion rates between steel and cast and welding techniques if a decision is made to weld. Checking out suitability of firms to take on the welding. Will check as to the availability of Belzona here in NZ. It sound like a useful product. We had another 36 hp engine along with the rest of the truck made available, however before we could collect it the scrap price rose and its now gone to China. Doug:coffee:

Thanks for the info. Have visited the Sawmill Cafe and have discussed the availability for including in a restoration project. The RAF type wheels on a trailer need following up again. Doug

It been the influence of the Great War Truck and his brother that brought us to this site. I say us, as restoration here is a father and son effort. Karl has mainly Leylands in his collection, (1916 to 26) with the earliest having a military backgrond. My interests are in Thornycrofts ( 1912 to 27) with one appearing to be early WD issue. Like the Great War Truck collection other makes have turned up as bits and pieces over the years. The objective is to get some military style vehicles going for the centenary events of the Great War. Location; New Zealand Doug

It is pleasing to see these comments as to the early WW1 truck types in New Zealand. The remains of those are very few and far apart. The images shown are spread over a number of years, and as shown nothing is complete with a bare chassis being the most frequent unit found as old trailers. As some of these images are mine and forwarded on to GWT, I can speak on them. The Thornycroft engine has been retrieved from in the trees, and is planned to be installed into a pre WW1 chassis. The Thornycroft chassis photographed under trees will become the donor chassis for another Thornycroft project. The restored Auto-car is part of the display at the Richardson Truck Museum. The Benz wheels are again from a trailer Mikes photos of his bits show again the type of condition as found Its a long term search for parts. Doug