Richard Peskett Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Reference the additional magneto: Included in the announcement of the Provisional Subsidy Schemme of September 1911 this included a 'Special Inducement' in the form of an additional £10 to the initial subsidy given to owners for them to carry a second magneto ready for use As usual , according to subsequent correspondence all was not what it seemed and if the £10 was spent on the additional magneto it was considered to be the property of the War Department. Richard Peskett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I assume a road test of some distance in the Dennis prior to to Brighton event. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I assume a road test of some distance in the Dennis prior to to Brighton event.Doug In an ideal world -yes! Still lots to do with limited time left so maybe not.............We shall just have to wait and see. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 20, 2011 Author Share Posted March 20, 2011 Steve returned to Devon this weekend to work on the wing and mudguard brackets. Prior to his arrival, Tony had cut up all the required steel for them, drilled any necessary holes in these components and profiled them as far as possible at that stage of the preparation. The first job was to place a bend in the main frame part of the bracket - our usual procedure was followed here where the part was made red-hot and bent around to very roughly the required shape. At this stage, it was really just bent into two straights - the final precise and necessary curve in the bracket would be bent in later in the process. The smaller "branches" of the bracket were then prepared to be welded on to it. The rear mudguards are fastened to the bodywork by two brackets on each - front and rear of the mudguard. Each bracket is made up of four components which are welded together. The brackets were temporarily attached to the lorry body prior to the final bending and fitting to the mudguards. The final curve in the bracket was pressed in, just a little at a time, using the hydraulic press - and then offered up to the mudguard until the curve of the bracket matched the curve of the mudguard. It is very easy to bend this way and should it be over-bent, then it can easily be corrected by reversing the bracket under the press, and pressing it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenAnderson Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Hi, I've not long been a member of this forum, and have spent most of the last month wading through this thread from the start - very inspiring! Today, whilst ferreting around in one of my lockups looking for something else I found a small bag (100 or so) of what looked to be 3/8" by 1-1/2" coach bolts, either UNC or Whitworth, hard to tell in the poor light. Most importantly though, they all had square-headed nuts fitted to them. If they're any use to you I'll gladly let you have them. Not sure how best to get them to you as I'm in Kent and they're heavy enough to be pricy to post, but if you're not in a hurry and are ever heading past Canterbury on the way to the channel ports drop me a line and I'll rendezvous with you en-route. All the best, Glen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thanks Glen Thats very decent of you. I will have a chat with Tony and get back to you. Thanks. This series of four pictures shows the final fitting of the mudguard and positioning so that the holes from the brackets can be drilled through. Held together for the moment with temporary nuts and bolts. Here is a short sequence of pictures showing the use of the Press to obtain the required curve in the bracket. They are quite self-explanatory but I would just mention that it is not really possible to get the complete curve in the bracket in one go and that the bracket was moved along under the press so that just a little bit of the length of the bracket was done on each press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) Here is the final sequence of pictures showing the "eyeing up" and fitting of the other rear mudguard. Now that we know that these brackets fit, they will be finally profiled and cleaned up before painting - parts of bracket are of a partially rounded section and not just rectangular so there is still considerable work to do on them to complete them and make them look pretty! The wings and mudguards can now be finish-painted though we did not finish the front mud guard brackets today. Still plenty to do. Edited March 21, 2011 by Great War truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share Posted March 21, 2011 Hi, Today, whilst ferreting around in one of my lockups looking for something else I found a small bag (100 or so) of what looked to be 3/8" by 1-1/2" coach bolts, either UNC or Whitworth, hard to tell in the poor light. Most importantly though, they all had square-headed nuts fitted to them. If they're any use to you I'll gladly let you have them. All the best, Glen. Thanks Glen. PM sent. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Our old lorry friend and great enthusiast, John, dropped in today to signwrite the lorry for us - he did the FWD for us some time ago and was very pleased to do the Dennis. He used the Artwork provided by Andy and the original stencils loaned by Barry - all with great success! The photographs are all sef explanatory - the slight white smudging around the paintwork is from French Chalk - which will all wipe off when the paint is dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Suslowicz Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 This is absolutely stunning. :wow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Well guess what I found this week in rural Dorset: The shape is instantly recognisable, but the question is - is it a pew or a WW1 truck seat? Width 84", back height 44", front to back 24". There are three lids on the seat top. Doubtless it turns out to be not what I'd really like it to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share Posted March 26, 2011 Crikey. That looks a very familiar shape. Did it look like it sat on the floor, or were there any brackets or screw holes to bolt it down on to something? Steve, what should the measurements be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ours is 75" wide with a seat height of 23". Any wider than that and it is too big for a lorry. My money is on its being a pew but it is interesting to see what there is about. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bill Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 This is absolutely stunning. :wow: Thanks Chris. We have been very fortunate in finding such superb craftsmen to help us. I did try signwriting some numberplates once but they looked as if they had been done by a four-year-old. I like to try my hand at most things but sometimes getting an expert really pays. Steve :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) Crikey. That looks a very familiar shape. Did it look like it sat on the floor, or were there any brackets or screw holes to bolt it down on to something? Steve, what should the measurements be? It had a flat base, but some makeshift legs had been screwed on. A very substantially constructed piece of joinery. The shaped top rail looks maybe too elegant for an old wagon? My eye was caught by two old threshing drums in the sheds as we made our way through the yard, lots of very ancient farm equipment too - but whether there was an old WW1 truck chassis amongst the many brambles is anyone's guess! Yes, I suppose it probably is a pew, maybe next time!! Edited March 26, 2011 by N.O.S. pic added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I would say that it is/was a Settle! A lot of old farm houses had these in their kitchens - the high back to help protect from a draught - and certainly with storage space under them. As this one is on a farm, my bet would be that it was chucked out of the kitchen when the kitchen was modernised! And it does look now with the seat "up" that it was varnished or polished! Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Just googled settle and found an identical style with the three hinged seat bases, so you have nailed it Tony!! Apologies for having dragged you so far off topic, but it goes to show how informative and all-encompassing this thread is :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 Steve has done a few things this week. Firstly, he has made up some replacement ball joints for the throttle linkage. As they are not too critical they were only filed spherical to within a couple of thou which is good enough. Steve was fortunate to find some whitworth sized hex bar for them in his stock. He has also finshed off the rear wing brackets by filing them to the correct section. They do seem a bit odd as they are rectangular section at the top and almost half round at the bottom. However, when you look at the photographs, that is how they were. Finally, he has also made up the pick and shovel brackets which he will paint this week. These brackets are most peculiar because, whilst we have copied the drawings exactly, it is very difficult to see how they were intended to work! When looking through the photographs, we get the impression that the soldiers couldn't work them out either as they are always either empty or have the tools just tied on. Very odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 Our good friend Mark, retired submariner, museum conservator and amazing craftsman, has today delivered the leather straps which hold the hood in position and what a beautiful job he has made of them. They truly are a joy to behold. The top ends are wrapped around staples which are screwed to the underside of the cab bow. At the bottom end, they wrap around the radiator protector and are secured with buckles. Now this is the really clever bit. Because of the way they wrap around with the buckle on the top, a single continuous strip of leather would have the underside showing outwards at the bottom end. Mark has very cleverly cut the strap and scarfed a joint at the buckle so the outside of the hide shows all round the lower end and around the rad protector. It really is a super job and we can't thank him enough. Mark is one of those people who can make anything and whatever takes his fancy results in a work of art, whether it is leatherwork, toolmaking, steam engines or old motorcycles (1943 Matchless G3 amongst others). If you can spare a few minutes, his website is well worth a look: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/remark/index.html We have a number of friends coming around today. The aim is to get the seat box lifted on and into position. It is going to be a very tricky job. I will let you know how we get on later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 The time had at last arrived to fix the Seat Box assembly onto the body - it was a job that gave us a great deal of thought as the assembly was heavy, awkward and was going to be a very close fit! Some very good ideas on how to do had come from the forum and were a tremendous help to us in deciding the final method! It was obvious that we were going to need some more muscle and a request to various friends resulted in seven of them turning out at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning! With so little head room within our shed, the Dennis had to come outside - and this was the first time that it - or at least the front half had seen the light of day! We decided that the easiest way of doing it was to come in from the side - just behind where the seat would go - it was lifted out by four chaps - turned over on to its back with the bottom facing forward so that it could be lowered over the head board into position. Two chaps stayed in the back of the lorry to receive it, then hold and support it from there where it was to be dropped down over the petrol tank. Some old blankets placed across the top of the body to protect the paint work. I will post some more photos in a moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 This sequence of pictures are all quite self explanatory - the seat was lowered under full control - clearances were very tight and we estimate that there is only a 1/16" clearance each side of the petrol tank brackets! Some final adjustments to get it exactly in the correct place! Looking OK! Putting itaway - and trying it for size! A tricky job well done with the aid of all our friends. Many thanks. There is still a lot to do yet to get it running, so we are going to be very busy as the deadline is approaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davie Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 That looks absolutley excellent sitting outside for the first time. You must be well chuffed! Well done to all concerned, and good luck for the push to get the Dennis finished in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Larkin Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Looking OK! Great British understatement - looking brilliant is more appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 You guys never fail to amaze all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.