Great War truck Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 Like New Zealand, there are still WW1 trucks to be found out in the bush. Take this FWD. Seen better days for sure. Another one, this time built under licence by Premier. This one is just post war, but too good to leave out: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share Posted May 6, 2008 Another Thornycroft: A very fine looking Albion, but on pneumatics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted May 6, 2008 Share Posted May 6, 2008 How come there is so many out that neck of the woods Tim2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 How come there is so many out that neck of the woods Tim2 My thoughts exactly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 A good question and i like good questions! Several reasons really. There was no big scrap drive in Australia during WW2 like there was in the UK, so these things survived. After the war, the price of scrap and the diverse locations of these trucks just made it uneconomical to recover so they were left where they were. Lots of them are still where they were last parked. I will post some more pics later. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Brilliant stuff, Tim. Very interest. Post as often as you want.You have a very receptive audience here, as you know. MB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Excellent series of pic's, Tim. Have always looked at the number of WWII armoured vehicles, that have been 'adapted', since that conflict, that still earn a living out there.Never really thought the same for WWI stuff, so great to see you posting this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Here is another selection of Australian trucks photos: An early Dennis rad needing some attention Some more Thornycroft chassis: A Thorny Diff !!!!! A wonderfully restored civilian Mack AC. Extensively used throughtout the war and made up until the late 1920's. A Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 More Great pic's. That Mack AC looks the buis.......:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 Here is another one. Dennis this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papav66 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Hello Tim, thanks for all your recent post & pics I do enjoy browsing through. Its all very well being able to restore these pre WW2 vehicle, but Baddy says what about the brakes on your daughters bike? hehehe Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 13, 2008 Author Share Posted May 13, 2008 A good point. Baddy certainly doesn't miss a trick. The bicycle brakes have been problematical as they seem to keep readjusting themselves. Anyway, i stripped the whole lot down and reassembled them and they were working fine last time i looked. I must admit that i am always so busy that i had not given them the priority that they deserve. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 It may seem that there are lots of vintage or veteran trucks in Australia, however when you consider the size of the country they are in fact few and far between. There are active groups and individuals there preserving and displaying these vehicles. The photo of the Albion of Brunt's is part of a interesting and nicely restored collection in Victoria. Like here in NZ legislation has been tightened in the last few years restricting the export of heritage items. A factor from this is noticable with the recent purchase of steam traction engines with overseas people retaining the engine for use in this country. They fly out for a holiday, attend a few rallies, then park the engine up till next year. As for the photos shown of Aussie, a number of them are from New Zealand in fact from our own collection here at home. These were sent to Tim's brother and duly forwarded on and posted. Time to put some information on regards each of the photos. Photo 2 & 4 This is a Thornycroft chassis I think about 1923-24. The design of it points to this time as it has an extra cross member in front of the gearbox and a heavier gearbox than earlier model J Thornycrofts. Photos 3 & 5 Another Thornycroft which appears to be from the first batch for the War Dept. Small front wheels, spring hangers on the front and an unusual diff housing of 5 sections bolted together as opposed to the more conventional diff of 3 sections. Also early design of front axle, hubs and unusual pipe cross members above the rear wheels. Tim's brother has forwarded a photo of such a truck ready for delivery to WD in late 1912 or early 1913. These features about the front axle and springs are clearly noticeable. The chassis and hub in front of the photo is Leyland of 1925. Photo 7 This is Karl's 1924 Dennis having a life as a shortened wheel base farm truck. Recently purchased and now waiting for rebuilding, and could well be retained in the present form as an altered vehicle, characteristic of that what undertaken 50 odd years ago. Doug :coffee: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 Thanks for the corrections there. I will try to keep better records of photos when they arrive. Do keep us updated with your finds and discoveries as i (and many others) find them of great interest. Tim (too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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