Hi Carl
started my career as a sixteen year old drivers mate for G. N. Ridley (later known as GNR Vans), when I first started he had one Bedford TK and a KM. The KM was driven by Joe Robson R.I.P. and he mainly did UBU work either out of Chirton or Team Valley. I spent most of time with the boss Norman Ridley helping load/unload and delivering wood shavings that were collected at the UBU frame factory at Blaydon these he delivered to independent farmers around the north east and ■■■■■■■ he also had a contract with Ross Poultry and delivered to their hatcheries in southern Scotland and Yorkshire. He eventually lost all the shaving work when UBU wanted to change to bulk deliveries and he wasted so much time deciding which route to go that they gave the work to another contractor, also during this period he did removals as well and continued to do them all the time I worked for him (eleven years in total, he put me through my class 2 HGV).
He bought the KM brand new but all the other vehicles after that were bought secondhand he bought a few ex-Toothill vans and did a bit work for them delivering their three piece suites I can remember doing a few loads out of there and also on occasions driving their own vehicles through Ridley, he also did work for a firm based at West Cornforth called Combined Independents this was a group of independent electrical shopkeepers from around the north east that got together so they could buy electrical goods in bulk and then distribute the goods to their individual shops I did quite a lot of this work at first with a CF luton van then later with a 7.5 tonner later on the group expanded into north and west Yorkshire, he also did work for Gibstock Upholstery who made good quality leather suites they were eventually bought by Reid Furniture and we made regular weekly trips to their plant in Hillington Glasgow, after I passed my test I spent most of my time delivering bedroom furniture for Alpha Furniture based at Blyth in Northumberland all over the UK. regards prattman.
Found these, me at La Janquera October 1981 aged 19. Sat here for 5 days due to paperwork problems!! 
No air suspension back then, so pack it high and tight with plenty of blankets. Some of the roads to various villages in Spain back then where nothing more than dirt tracks. On this trip, one of the loads we had to deliver was to Almeria, a place called Las Negras. Back then it really was just a dirt track, rough as (zb) hence the need to wrap up and protect the furniture as much as possible.
prattman:
Hi Carl
started my career as a sixteen year old drivers mate for G. N. Ridley (later known as GNR Vans), when I first started he had one Bedford TK and a KM. The KM was driven by Joe Robson R.I.P. and he mainly did UBU work either out of Chirton or Team Valley. I spent most of time with the boss Norman Ridley helping load/unload and delivering wood shavings that were collected at the UBU frame factory at Blaydon these he delivered to independent farmers around the north east and ■■■■■■■ he also had a contract with Ross Poultry and delivered to their hatcheries in southern Scotland and Yorkshire. He eventually lost all the shaving work when UBU wanted to change to bulk deliveries and he wasted so much time deciding which route to go that they gave the work to another contractor, also during this period he did removals as well and continued to do them all the time I worked for him (eleven years in total, he put me through my class 2 HGV).
He bought the KM brand new but all the other vehicles after that were bought secondhand he bought a few ex-Toothill vans and did a bit work for them delivering their three piece suites I can remember doing a few loads out of there and also on occasions driving their own vehicles through Ridley, he also did work for a firm based at West Cornforth called Combined Independents this was a group of independent electrical shopkeepers from around the north east that got together so they could buy electrical goods in bulk and then distribute the goods to their individual shops I did quite a lot of this work at first with a CF luton van then later with a 7.5 tonner later on the group expanded into north and west Yorkshire, he also did work for Gibstock Upholstery who made good quality leather suites they were eventually bought by Reid Furniture and we made regular weekly trips to their plant in Hillington Glasgow, after I passed my test I spent most of my time delivering bedroom furniture for Alpha Furniture based at Blyth in Northumberland all over the UK. regards prattman.
Coming from Consett area do you remember Tom Liddle’s vans? (T T Liddle Stanley)
one scam I came acros we moved a very rich bloke under the bed was thick dust bed adent been moved in years .there was a brand new ten pond note no dust on it.hoping we would take it and get free removal
Hi Carl
If I remember correctly T.T. Liddles vans were dark red I can just about picture them, I remember Lewins removals better and have some photo’s as follows, they ran a couple of artics on a contract they had with the Clover Can company from Castleside.
Lewins were taken over I believe by Storemasters which in turn were part of the P&O group and Lewins relocated to their premises at Barr Hill Stanley.
Do you or anybody else out there know why furniture vans were called luton vans. regards prattman.
Hi Prattman ,
The reason why (certain) furniture vans were called “Lutons” , is because Top Hats were manufactured in Luton .
The name then became referred to the additional loadspace above the wagons cab , - a hat` , if you understand.
I hope this is of help to your question.
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
What about the term, “pantechnicon”?
Hi Roy
Thanks for that bit of information. cheers Gary
Retired Old ■■■■:
What about the term, “pantechnicon”?
Hi R.O.F.,
According to the Collins English Dictionary , the definition is :
" of Greek origin ,… pan = all ; tekhne = art . " …
…and it was originally a London bazarr later used as a furniture warehouse " .
I hope this explanation is of help to you.
Cheers , cattle wagon man.
prattman:
Hi CarlIf I remember correctly T.T. Liddles vans were dark red I can just about picture them, I remember Lewins removals better and have some photo’s as follows, they ran a couple of artics on a contract they had with the Clover Can company from Castleside.
Lewins were taken over I believe by Storemasters which in turn were part of the P&O group and Lewins relocated to their premises at Barr Hill Stanley.
Do you or anybody else out there know why furniture vans were called luton vans. regards prattman.
Thanks Gary,
I never thought I would see photos like those again.
There is a lot I will tell about Tom Liddle that I think is better on W.H.Williams Thread. You are almost correct.
Tom Liddle ran as T.T.Liddle from Sunnyside Garage Stanley. Probably the best premises any UK removal contractors had. Originally when I was young he had 3 ERF’s with pantechncon bodies by Jennings Sandbach and a ford Thames 4D see photo below.
He then bought 16 new Bedford TK with large luton bodies (see article in Commercial Motor when he transferred from B to A Licence.)
He then sold out to P & O and they built huge warehouses on his site dwarfing his original that were massive by 1950-60’s standards.
Getting sick of retirement he took over Lewins. The remainder I will tell on W.H.Williams thread later this week and I hope you can spare the time to read and comment as I will show vans repainted in our livery that you have shown above
Best wishes
Carl
B to A Transfer Granted
LAST week the Northern deputy Licens ing Authority, Mr. H. Bewick granted an application by T. T. Liddle, o Stanley, Co. Durham, for 16 fumituri removal vans on A licence. British Rail ways - objected.
Mr. B. G. Montgomery, for tht applicant, said the firrn operated removal service, mainly for the Nationa Coal Board, to the Midlands on a E licence. A certain amount of backload ing was done but this was restricted b} the licence condition.
Miitaging director of the firm, Mr Thomas Liddle, said that demands were great at the present time and a betel service could be given if the vehicles were on A licence.
In making the grant. Mr. Bewick said he was satisfied that the business for which the original licence had been granted had ceased and that an A licence was the proper one now.
Commercial motor 16 November 1965
Cheers, cwm. There’s always someone on here…!
I think the term “pantechnicon” came to be applied to those van bodies which were integral with the cab of the vehicle. Although I’m sure someone will correct me?
Retired Old ■■■■:
Cheers, cwm. There’s always someone on here…!
I think the term “pantechnicon” came to be applied to those van bodies which were integral with the cab of the vehicle. Although I’m sure someone will correct me?
I would agree with you
I surprised that no one commented on Fowler’s vehicle. Certainly an unusual artic before the days of the fifth wheel when the tractor unit’s tended to stay with the trailer, and in fact were bolted on.
Cold Up North:
Not sure about the otters, they were before my time. They phased them out as my dad started driving for them in the 70’s.
We had dodge commandos, Leyland Cruisers and Scanias with the same pod/demout setup. I don’t get why people are so against pods as the van plan ones had chests of drawers in them, loads of storage space.
We still have 3 marsden demount bodies that are going strong apart from the usual back door rot.
Those particular Silentnight Guy Otters with the Warrior cab were Gardner 5 pot engine, David Brown gearbox and Eaton 2 speed rear axle… used to fly down Shap out of gear !!
exsilentnight:
Cold Up North:
Not sure about the otters, they were before my time. They phased them out as my dad started driving for them in the 70’s.
We had dodge commandos, Leyland Cruisers and Scanias with the same pod/demout setup. I don’t get why people are so against pods as the van plan ones had chests of drawers in them, loads of storage space.
We still have 3 marsden demount bodies that are going strong apart from the usual back door rot.Those particular Silentnight Guy Otters with the Warrior cab were Gardner 5 pot engine, David Brown gearbox and Eaton 2 speed rear axle… used to fly down Shap out of gear !!
The Dodge Kew artics and Commer Commando pantechnicons had the Perkins 6.354 diesel engine, good vehicles in their day but very under powered by todays standards for thrashing up and down the motorways…
exsilentnight:
Cold Up North:
Not sure about the otters, they were before my time. They phased them out as my dad started driving for them in the 70’s.
We had dodge commandos, Leyland Cruisers and Scanias with the same pod/demout setup. I don’t get why people are so against pods as the van plan ones had chests of drawers in them, loads of storage space.
We still have 3 marsden demount bodies that are going strong apart from the usual back door rot.Those particular Silentnight Guy Otters with the Warrior cab were Gardner 5 pot engine, David Brown gearbox and Eaton 2 speed rear axle… used to fly down Shap out of gear !!
Hi exsilentnight.
Guy Otters with that cab on were rare. We ran three with 1600 cu .ft. Luton Bodies, but ours were fitted with Gardiner 4 cylinder engines. 45 mph up hill and down dale, no matter what you did you could get no more out of them. Pity they hadn’t 5 cylinder engines because I.m sure that would have made all the difference, because by the time we got rid of them they were beginning to become a danger on the road.
Carl
Hi Guys,
Im new to the site and just wanted to say hello! Im currently running a Merc 814 Marsden 3 container body (7.5 ton) and a Transit luton, so thought id share some pics with you all… Hope you like!
Cheers
Rob
(Not sure how to upload pics, so here goes…)
