Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 As a follow on to the 'Sherman spotted on the A12' thread where I mentioned an M10 going the other way, this thread is about said M10 as the owner has asked me to post some pics and info. I first heard about the M10 many years ago but only knew it was in a childrens playground, somewhere in Yorkshire. I did not follow it up at the time as I had other things to think about... It cropped up in conversation again at Stoneleigh 2001 and I managed to get a location. Strangely enough, I was asked at the same show if I wanted to buy a 6046 Detroit twinset, the correct engine for the M10. I decided it must be fate so said yes! I eventually tracked down the owners, it was in a private trading estate, but they were not willing to sell it, nor the Windsor carrier it sat next to. I asked again every few months or so always to be told ''no thanks''. Out of the blue around October, I was asked if I was still interested as they had decided to sell after all. I put in an offer for the pair which was accepted and I became the proud owner of one tired M10 and a slightly more tired Windsor carrier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 Transport was easy to sort out, the hard part was the insistence of the owners that I would have to crane the vehicles out and to do this the road, which was a public road, would have to be closed for the duration of the lift.... Amazingly, everyone concerned, the Police, the Highways Agency and the crane man were all for it and apart from a very early start one Sunday in November, it all went smoothly. The following pictures are not the best quality but show the size of crane required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 Following an uneventful journey home, I unloaded the new toys, an exercise in itself as neither vehicle had rolled for some 20 years. The Windsor very quickly found a home locally and is undergoing a steady restoration back to full health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Wow... all we get in the playgrounds round here is dog poo! how complete is the M10? any internals... looks tidy has the carrier suffered much for its exposure to the elements? (and more importantly) exposure to little fingers who could probably strip it to its component parts give half a chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnixartillery Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Adrian, I also tried for years to aquire this M10 but was told each time that it was not for sale.The carrier was completely gutted but had excellent tracks and running gear. Did your friend also buy the pirate ship !!!!!!. Rob....................rnixartillery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 Both the M10 and the carrier had been completely stripped before going into the playground, they had even cut the back out to allow the little darlings inside. Later, it was sealed up to prevent access, it's a pity that hadn't been done originally as then it would have been more complete. Right place, right time Rob, as is so often the case in this game! I bought both vehicles with the intention of restoring the M10. However, my circumstances changed a little and I decided to sell, still having a Cromwell to restore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 That looks fairly solid in there to me. Is the transmission block at the front okay? will it be an addition to the Barrell armoured column... Oh and how big are the access hatches ... and when can i have a go in it? and can i have it cause its rusty an' that and you don't really want it swop you it for a pug 406... erm dodge... erm 5 year old kid (keeps her room tidy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 All will be revealed tomorrow, as I have most of the pics on my office pooter..... But for now, the gearbox was gone but the rest of the transmission was ok, I've sold it so it's unlikely it will be mine ever again (unless I win the lottery), hatches are Bodge size, much bigger than my Sherman, the owner intends bringing it to A&E...... and no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnixartillery Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 :cool2: Right place, right time Rob, as is so often the case in this game! You are quite right Adrian,its all about timing. I landed 17 and 6 pounder A/T Guns through being in the right place at the right time. You win some,you loose some ! Rob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 Mind you Rob, you have to put yourself in the right place to start with.... I think you can make your own luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Adrian-you really international man of mystery!!!!! Ready for A&E - that is awesome news and a privilege for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil munga Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) looks to be a good project for the new owner , by twinset I take it this is similar to Crawfords machine that was made to pull a plough with two Detroit diesels ,, We've used Helmsly cranes before on a job down Skipton and seem to be canny lads , looks a good size crane , will the M10 be over 30 ton Edited January 13, 2010 by phil munga more to add Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antony Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 As Adrian has started the M10 restoration thread, I have some pictures to contribute. Starting with the M10 in the field, Adrian getting the M75 out to move it into the yard, and finishing with a period car someone turned up in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Adrian-you really international man of mystery!!!!! Ready for A&E - that is awesome news and a privilege for us! It's already booked in Jack, just need all the stars to line up now...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 looks to be a good project for the new owner , by twinset I take it this is similar to Crawfords machine that was made to pull a plough with two Detroit diesels ,, We've used Helmsly cranes before on a job down Skipton and seem to be canny lads , looks a good size crane , will the M10 be over 30 ton Yes Phil, the M10 was based on an M4A2 chassis which is what Crawfords run. I was impressed with Helmsly's, they were a lot cheaper and more helpful than others I had tried! The M10 goes 29 ton when finished, roughly the same as a Sherman gun tank. The hull is much thinner but the turret is very heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 We seem to have leapt forwards a bit now but.... I spent a few years trying to find parts for the M10 as well as restore the Sherman and apart from the engines referred to earlier, I had not found a great deal. There is not a lot in an M10 but major componants missing were mantlet, hatches and engine decking. I had aquired radiators, fan cowls, header tanks and filter panel as well as a few smaller items but it was still a long way off a complete package. I found out about three M10s on a range in Scotland and apart from the hatches and mantlet, these would give me most of what I needed. I found a mantlet on another range and hatches in Holland. Unfortunately, the latter were sold on despite being promised to me! At this point, I decided not to proceed and sold the project on with all the contact details for recovery of the other parts. The new owner decided to have us restore all the damaged and missing parts on the vehicle and make new internal parts, reusing whatever original material we could. As Tony posted earlier, I used my M75 to put the M10 in the yard prior to beginning the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Much of the initial work was to remove cover plates that had been fitted for it's playground use. The interior floor was completely plated over as well as fuel tank compartments and all hull openings. Removing all of these showed just how corroded it was under the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Just about everything on the floor with the exception of the front engine mounts had to be replaced along with engine deck outer support angles and the missing rear plate sections. Fortunately, the upper rear hull plate had been refitted, albeit not very well but at least it was original. The rear plates were typically cut out when the engines were removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Oops, wrong picture....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 As well as all the internal work, the exterior needed a lot of parts making. All lifting eyes, light guards, brackets and any small projections that were easy to remove had been! Light guards are no problem, we've made many sets of these before but the lifting eyes werea bigger job. Originally cast with an integral pad for welding on, the pads remained behind on the hull. We removed these and made new assemblies by fabrication. Together with all of the stowage brackets and tow hook support, the fitting of these parts helped to make the exterior rather better looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Internally, new parts consisted of all the tinwork, such as there is in an M10 and various brackets as well as fuel and oil tanks and their associated cover plates and mounting parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Slightly off topic, but given the intensley cramped nature of the engine bays in tanks do you ever find old dropped tools and such when you're removing panels/engines that have rattled their way to the bottom over the years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Slightly off topic, but given the intensley cramped nature of the engine bays in tanks do you ever find old dropped tools and such when you're removing panels/engines that have rattled their way to the bottom over the years? You do occasionally find things. Some vehicle are more prone than others. I remember taking the remains of an engine and gearbox from a Cromwell on a range and there were three header tank filler caps on the floor! There is only one on a vehicle so I assume there was a particularly clumsy fitter on that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Adrian, After seeing the pictures of the work you did on the RAM for a client I was hoping on similar pictures of the M10.....and there they are. It's really fascinating to see these old pieces of armor come back to life. I am still hoping to see your M4A4 with my own eyes one day, but I have to say that I can get pretty enthusiastic about the RAM Kangaroo and Achilles as well. You don't happen to have some pictures of your Cromwell online? (although I think we got a sneak-peak of it in the background of one of the M10 pictures) Didn't it come from a mine in the Czech republic? (I think we talked about it on MLU???) Alex p.s. The Windsor also seems to be quite a rare beasty these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hi Alex, my Cromwell was a Charioteer but came in from the Middle East some years ago. There is a thread on here about it. http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?11288-My-last-vehicle-restoration&highlight=charioteer Adrian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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