Tomo.T

Tim, could the top no. be the chassis no. ? The lower group could well be a date, 4 / 2/ 20 (I have seen dates written like this on War time docs.) Any more pics of the dispersal sales please ?

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Thanks for all the input. I like Iain's idea best, and will try and implement this one. A good example of the forum working to provide solutions to a problem. Anyone got a source for 4 small winding down Jack wheels ? ( About 3 to 4 inches dia. would be good.)

Work on the engine has stagnated recently, due, in part to the lack of a suitable engine stand. The current version being of lightweight construction and quite unsuitable for the task in hand. This has just been partially sorted by Stan, who has rescued this heavy duty trolley base from the scrap man. With an impressive max payload of 7 tons it will be more than adequate to support Mr Thornycroft's best efforts. One problem is the wheels, which although good and solid are fully swivelling and have no brakes fitted. Maybe simple chocks will suffice ? Any thoughts on this please.

My spare time is at a premium atm., but I made the effort to get another set of angle brackets cut at Phil Honour's. These were duly fitted and it wasn't until I pulled the seat up into position, that I realised another cock up had occured. I had actually managed to produce another set, the same as the first, ie 2 inches short ! Obviously, my memory is no longer reliable, and I need to write this stuff down in future. In the meantime I needed to rescue the situation. One good thing was, I had a plentiful stock of spare metal, which would provide extension pieces. Unfortunately, as I had already drilled the holes, it would mean extending the brackets both ends. All I needed was a saw and a good welder. After lunch, I have discovered, is a good time to mention things like this to Stan. I also offered to cut and prep all the necessary bits. To cut a long story slightly shorter, Stan performed a perfect job and then ground the surface flush, enabling my embarrassment to be permanently concealed under a few coats of paint.

The mystery fitting is now identified, and it turns out to be a support for the transmission brake linkage. This took some finding, as it doesn't appear in any pictures I could find and is even absent from the original parts book ! Eventually I found a pic of the top of it which confirmed it's purpose, and that it bolts to the inside of the chassis. I therefore created some clearance for the bolt heads of my hypothetical casting and bolted up the angle plates, only to discover that I had misread the dimensions of the angle iron brackets and they are 3 inches too short. So, all in all, somewhat limited progress !

Hello David, Very interested in your latest project. Here is a well known IWM photo which may be of interest. The pic shows a standard Foden 5 tonner waiting to deliver roadstone at Zillebeke in 1917. Useful detail includes the buffers for protecting smokebox on convoy work, the heatshield for a single acetylene headlamp in front of the chimney and the position for the Pyrene extinguisher. This Foden still carries its Bulford induction reg. No. which was usually replaced by a WD No. beginning with S ( for steam ) once in service.

I have had a good break from things Thornycroft, whilst gathering up some paying work, but managed to push on with some chassis fittings yesterday. First job was to re align the steering box which was clearly not vertical. This was soon accomplished by shimming up one of the three mounting points with a mk 1 washer. I temporarily replaced the inner steering column and the result was pleasing. Next on the list were the angle iron plates for the seat mounting. I had a lucky find of some 2" angle in good order ( Thanks Phil.) and these were clamped up level with the frames and drilled through the original holes, before temporarily bolting up. (Proper 3/8 bolts are on their way.) Even a simple job like this has it's problems and in this case the drivers side bracket is fouling the two top holes of an unknown fitting which I dont have. I am guessing it's a pivot for the brake linkage ? and fits inside the chassis. In which case I need to relieve the angle iron to clear the nuts or bolt heads. Any wisdom on this would be much appreciated. Another 'simple' task, was to refit the scuttle brackets that came with the job. These are not J type, but Q type brackets and although basically the same, they do differ slightly and don't have the large opening that J types do. Adding this opening will mean cutting through the Thornycroft lettering ,which I am reluctant to do, so they will hafter doofer now. One of them lined up perfectly, the other was well out, and considerable filing was needed to elongate one of the holes in the casting. They were eventually brought into line, fitted with their correct wooden spacers and given a coat of Service Colour.

I suspect that all the stamps were applied by the same rather heavy handed worker, whilst the forging was still very hot. If he was on piece work this would have kept a tally and also supplied a source in case of complaint. Not neccessary in this case as the pick served about 60 years and would still do a turn today !

Replying to Surveyor, above. I presume that is the 'class' of the pick , rather like an 8 lb sledge hammer there is also a 6 which might have identified the individual maker ?

Here's some pics of my pick. The head is dated 1915 and manufacturer was I think J. Yates of Birmingham (Stamp of name is not clear) The forged helve socket is marked 'THE HARDY PATENT PICK Co Ld' 1915 SHEFFIELD. with 'UNIVERSAL 2' on the reverse. This pick is a contender for the longest serving pickaxe in the British Army. It was bought from a Military surplus sale in the 70's having had its ash helve replaced (complete with Nato stock no.) This has been fitted to the Hardy's socket. As well as it's 1915 build stamp it also has a very small WD arrow and a '40' stamped into the front edge. ( Too faint and small to photograph, I did try !)

No idea, sorry.

This vehicle is currently for sale on another site. Google Leyland SQ2.

Interesting trailer, with double turntables, steers both ends ! Taken outside the Eagle Trailer works too.

Karrier WDS as supplied to British Army in WW1.

Stab in the dark, try raising the needle a notch ? Also check slide is not too large in the cut away. Sounds like too much air/ not enough fuel. Tomo.

Been beavering away on Stan's Garrett wheels but snatched a moment to further clean up the internal passages including inlet and exhaust ports which were all heavily carbonised and had evaded my attentions before. This was a somewhat delicate operation to avoid damage to the newly recut seats and sleeved down valve guides. Could have done with doing this first before engineering happened of course !

Looks like a job for a Portapak ?

A preliminary verdict has been returned after close examination of the defendant. The crack is about 1 mm deep with a flat bottom and no sign of anything deeper. It is therefore a casting mark and a non crack. (Subject to confirmation by clay dam, once Stan has found his plasticene.) Good news, and a Merry Christmas to all our readers.

Hi Prof, Here's my twopenneth, the'U.S' mark would have been recognised as meaning 'Unservicable' in the British army. This may well have been a source of amusement to the troops in the Front Line who were already 3 years into the War when the Yanks turned up !!! .............Just a thought 😁

Fine looking lorry that is !

The jury is still out Ian !

I agree. I thought it looked like someone has explored it with a scriber to test the depth. Good call with the clay dam, will have to wait till next week now.

Looking good chaps 🙂

More of the same today with the rear set, but this time I found a lot more rust and scale in the internal passages, so first task was to sort this out ( again !) The rest was a repeat of yesterday's effort and we now have the 2 sets in primer. No problems this time and this cylinder block is as perfect as you will find for it's age.