Mark Ellis

Thanks for the offer, Clive. I'll leave the the F238 for now, and need to investigate realistic (cost and quality) production from microfiche. Seen some really poor examples that were allegedly done professionally. Sure that someone will loan a hard copy one day. I've done so well with the HMLC manuals. Re the 19 set group. I do have a copy of , and despite a conversation of why I wanted the files, they have provided one with my name and personal email splashed all over it. So I've advised members of the HMLC group to ask them directly. Rather oddly, they insist that you use your "paid for" internet provider's email - and I use Vodafone so don't own one. And have no intention of buying one to share files for other people. They also lock the files with a password - for files that are still marked Restricted. If the files are owned by the museum, then the museum as a body might be in breach.

There's a genuine original MK EMER F232 manual on eBay, which covers the Multifuel engine, if anyone is interested. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304708765304 I've been building up a collection of Military service and maintenance files for the Stolly, and now for the Bedfords. These files being free for anyone to download off my cheap website. I do this to help other people keep these things out of the scrap yards. https://sites.google.com/view/alvis-stalwart-hmlc-files If anyone does buy the EMER F232, I'd ask that you consider loaning it to me - so that I can scan it and share it with others. #BedfordMK

Would anybody be able to lend me the Bedford manual TS-1015 for Engine and Clutch, so I can scan it please? This manual being for the Civilian M type. I already have the TS 1016, 17 and 18 of this set on the website, and would be nice to complete the set. https://sites.google.com/view/alvis-stalwart-hmlc-files/bedford-files-m-type-4x4-4-ton?#h.6ok3gy5wnj1l

How did they attach to the TK?

Brilliant. Thank you, Bills

Funnily enough, I did that before posting on the group, Nick. Lots of UK council M type lorries, but not a single Green one in Germany with military kit on the front of it

Don't suppose anyone's got a photo of an MK or MJ with a snow plough fitted, or even an RL / TM with one come to that

The collection of Bedford MJ files has grown, including the dedicated Bedford 5.4 Turbo diesel manual. https://sites.google.com/view/alvis-stalwart-hmlc-files/bedford-files-m-type-4x4-4-ton?authuser=0#h.26er164n7ubt Just desperate for any MK files, especially for the Bedford 5.4 Multi Fuel engine - if anyone has a PDF of a hard copy that you could send me. Would be really appreciated.

If you have the French document, what happens if you scan it as a File type PDF (rather than an Image type jpeg PDF), open it in Chrome and ask Chrome to translate it?

@10FM68 Putting a watermark on something doesn't mean copyright - it just stops people selling documents that are freely available. All the documents that I've uploaded have all been declassified by MOD. They clearly state on them that they are free to download, and advertise the group. Some people will sell absolutely anything - and I'm not a big fan of that when documents can help to keep old vehicles out of the scrap yard. One person is charging for searches on and selling extracts of Merlin, which is freely downloadable off the internet if you know what to look for. This sort of damage below is caused by people not being able to get hold of the right documents, or not looking for them because they think they aren't available. And of course of not having a clue of what they're doing without the documents.

I'm all for watermarking things, so that they can be freely shared - and not be sold on eBay. I now have a copy of Master PDF editor, which makes it so easy to mark the whole document.

I should have mentioned this. Merlin shows that all the chassis numbers around the Austrian three came into service on 1st July 1967. The previous batch were given on 1st January 1967. 103 Stalwarts were given to the British Army on 1st July 1967, from chassis STAL II/118 to STAL II/271. The Austrian three are Stall II/169 or 170, 172 and 175, so would have been made perhaps in early March 1967. The German pair of Mk 2 - STAL II/16 and 17 were made in amongst a chassis batch of 17 that were handed over to British Army on 1st July 1966. The German pair had higher sides and tail, and if seen, stand out due to the extra hight

@Ex-boy you've lost me. There's a colour photo of 1967 or just after, and two black and white photos from I think the 80s. Where are you getting the Mk 1 from?

@Ex-boy What makes you think this Mk 2 is 1966?

No. The splashboard would be a part of the basic price. Removing the splashboard made little difference to the visibility, suggesting that it was an ex BAOR vehicle being trialled. Perhaps someone in Austria has better links to the military history, and can find some answers.

@motorfahrer This is the photo from the Pioniere Truppen Schule trial. Austria bought chassis number STAL 11 / 169 or 170 (depending on which book you read), 172 and 175 in 1967. Three in total. But the other photos of BH 82.196 without the Splash board are much later. BAOR started removing the splash boards and swimming gear in 1982, but many units didn't remove the gear due to the time it takes to do the work. My research shows that only the RCT Stalwarts appear to have had the propulsion systems removed.

@motorfahrer So what can you tell us about this registration? In the UK we can look up civilian registration numbers on line, and the history of military vehicles is also accessible

@motorfahrer I've previously been in communication with Hermann at HKFW. The Stalwart that they have is ex British Forces, to record the vehicles that Austria trialled. Hermann told me about the tragic death of a soldier that fell out of the rear louvers in full kit - into the river and drowned. Although, if the rear splashboard was fitted throughout the trial, then it's unclear of how that happened. This resulting in Austria disposing of the three, but nobody at the Austrian Army or Government appears to know what happened to them. But I'm also aware that Austria also trailed them again, possibly in the 80s. This vehicle has the front splash board removed, which is something that we started doing in 83, and stopped due to the time involved to remove the swimming equipment. Is there any way in Austria to see the history of BH 82 136 ?

With thanks to David Bradley, his PDF article on the origin and history of the Bedford brand. The-Bedford-Brand-Origin-David-Bradley.pdf It's also on my HMLC website, on the Bedford page https://sites.google.com/view/alvis-stalwart-hmlc-files/bedford-files-m-type-4x4-4-ton

Thanks. Corrected that. Would love to see a registry of Chassis numbers against the allocated numbers and SP registrations. But guess that doesn't exist.

Many thanks, @wally dugan Are you sure it's not Instow, where the Royal Marines have their vehicle testing location - where Camion was trialled? And is the year of 27/10/67 correct for PV9, when so many Mk 2s had been built by then. Or, was there a different engine or something? PV3 is said to have been a diesel or RR multi-fuel engine and Alison automatic transmission. I'll take absolutely anything you have on the Saladin chassis development, PV1 and subsequent Stalwart developments. Thanks

When is a bridge not a bridge ? In order to classify a bridge, one has to measure the span and know it's material and strengths, and then decide the weights it can carry. A scaffold pole bridge wouldn't typically carry the same weights as a concrete and steel road bridge. Does the top classification in the picture below mean that it can carry five lorries at 9 tonne each with wheelbase of 13 feet, or just one lorry under 50 tonnes?

I think you might be confusing the classification given to a bridge, compared to vehicle bridge classification.

Surely that's a matter of the tank weighing more at one end than the other, and whether the tractor or trailing axles are overloaded?

@wally dugan Can I use these Saracen images on my High Mobility Chassis web page please?