question Identify Truck with Searchlight

[Berisford]

I wonder, can anyone shed any light on this mobile searchlight truck. I assume it's in the Civil Defence with its civilian number plate? I'm not even sure what type of truck it is! The still is taken from an old home movie. http://www.macearchive.org/Archive/Title/collins-mansfield-at-war/MediaEntry/49861.html

[ted angus]

1937 all UK military vehicles displayed a county council civvy reg number, this is a R.E. TA unit. The Army reg is on the door in small letters. It looks like a Thornycroft ZS/TC4 a purpose built Searchlight truck with a generator under the bonnet in front of the engine.

TED

Edited August 18, 2013 by ted angus

[Richard Farrant]

I think the lorry in the photo might be a Leyland (Lynx?), the other ones shown in the film with open cabs are Tilling-Stevens TS19 models

[Berisford]

Many thanks for the rapid reply to my request Ted. Thornycroft eh, so obvious to see when you know! A good looking truck for its year. So were the regular registration plates used through he war years?

Edited August 18, 2013 by Berisford
Spelling

[Berisford]

I'll dare bet there was a scramble for the Thornycroft v the TS19's at that depot!

Edited August 18, 2013 by Berisford
Spelling

[wally dugan]

YOUR question about civillian type registration numbers this stopped been used on military vehicles after the fall of france

and was replaced by a system refered to as cenus numbers all vehicle numbers would start with a prefix letter this would tell you what the vehicle was IE A was a ambulance Z trucks under 1 ton and so on This would be followed a series of

numbers example Z 123456 the RAF and NAVY adopted there own system l hope this helps abit to understand

[Degsy]

Sorry Richard but I've got to go with Ted on this one, although the Leyland is very similar I'm pretty sure this is a Thornycroft

[Richard Farrant]

Sorry Richard but I've got to go with Ted on this one, although the Leyland is very similar I'm pretty sure this is a Thornycroft

 

Yes I can see it is now.

[Berisford]

YOUR question about civillian type registration - ......... - l hope this helps abit to understand

 

:tup::

[ted angus]

YOUR question about civillian type registration numbers this stopped been used on military vehicles after the fall of france

and was replaced by a system refered to as cenus numbers all vehicle numbers would start with a prefix letter this would tell you what the vehicle was IE A was a ambulance Z trucks under 1 ton and so on This would be followed a series of

numbers example Z 123456 the RAF and NAVY adopted there own system l hope this helps abit to understand

 

Just to add a bit to Wally's In the 1930s both CC reg and census numbers ran together, whilst vehicles displayed their CC reg number in the prescribed manner they frequently also carried their census number. There seems to have been a prescribed layout for the census number with the prefix letter above the numerals .

TED

Edited August 19, 2013 by ted angus

[Ex-boy]

Just to add a bit to Wally's In the 1930s both CC reg and census numbers ran together, whilst vehicles displayed their CC reg number in the prescribed manner they frequently also carried their census number. There seems to have been a prescribed layout for the census number with the prefix letter above the numerals .

TED

 

Am I seeing things, or does the blurb for the Humber Snipe say 9 feet 5 inch ground clearance?

[ted angus]

Am I seeing things, or does the blurb for the Humber Snipe say 9 feet 5 inch ground clearance?

 

 

It does I can't remember where I got that obviously a scan from a magazine possibly ??

TED

[defender90]

I know this is an old thread but im after as much info on the thorneycroft s/l truck as i can get.

[Bob Grundy]

A great photo, anything known about these blokes ? What's the div sign on the mudguard ?

[defender90]

they are 400 indep sl btry 51 Northamptonshire reg RA ta, somewhere in Italy in 1943, I'd love to know what the vehicle markings ment, i know 400 battery where sent to north africa in january 43 with the 30 surrey sl reg, then after being in algers and tunisia they whent to italy later in 43 but not sure who with? as searchlight seemed to be in short supply and seem to have been split up? (my dads in the top pic 3rd from left sitting on the step in vest).

[Richard Farrant]

I cannot tell you anything about the unit, but do know of the remains of one of the Thornycroft searchlight trucks, in a far off land lying in the bush, see photo. Also an interesting cautionary notice from the makers regarding surplus models being auctioned off.

[defender90]

Thank you Richard, do you know where the 1st pic was taken? what part of the world?

[Richard Farrant]

Thank you Richard, do you know where the 1st pic was taken? what part of the world?

 

Yes, a friend sent me this recently, it is in NSW, Australia and has been there for many years. Nothing else known on its history though.

[ScaffardiMarco]

Hi guys!

My boss have this Thornycroft ZS TC 4 but he haven't the image of the cockpit and then He fails to restore it. 

Someone has the image of this  original cockpit?

 

Thank you guys

[Richard Farrant]

Wow,, amazing, that is a rare vehicle. Is this in Italy?

[ScaffardiMarco]

Yes, this truck is set up in Fidenza, Via della Chiesa n.8, On Rover Joe Museum, visit our site 'roverjoe.com'.

 

[defender90]

On 2/6/2018 at 2:42 PM, ScaffardiMarco said:

Yes, this truck is set up in Fidenza, Via della Chiesa n.8, On Rover Joe Museum, visit our site 'roverjoe.com'.

 

is it possible to visit this? there can't have been many in Italy, wonder if it was one of 400 battery's?