nz2

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