same location , trying to load whilst having to move the truck .
Partly as a way of bumping the thread, and partly as a confessional, I admit that 3 weeks ago I allowed myself to be conned into helping friends move.
Not my truck, not my job, but out of all the helping hands who turned up the driver did seem to like asking me to help him lug big lumps of furniture with him more than the others.
I honestly don’t know how I did it as a day-in day-out job, but back then I was a lot fitter and a lot dafter.
The coup-de-grace (or final straw if you like) was an upright joanna that took four of us (the driver, his offsider, me and the man of the house) to get down from an upstairs bedroom then up 43 uneven steps cut into a rock face to the back of the wagon.
You’d think at my age I’d know better 
This “job” also reminded me why it’s so much better for all concerned when customers get the removals people to pack the contents.
- (most of the time) the removals packers have the materials and the know-how to pack a box properly (and so the poor [zb] who has to pick it up can pick it up)
- when you and your crew arrive, you know the place is wrapped, packed and ready to go
- when you’re the driver and responsible for how the wagon (or container) is packed and loaded, it makes the job 100% easier when you know you only have boxes in 3 sizes to deal with that have been properly taped shut, instead of 57,000 different shaped and sized bits and bobs with stuff spilling out of them.
You’d think at my age I’d know better
Yes you would,its not so much the doing its the aching after. 
Here’s another blast from the past an SB from the early 50s,the Caption is as follows.
This 1,835 cu.ft. pantechnicon on a Big Bedford Passenger Chassis has two full-length doors instead of the conventional half doors and tailboard,and the well at the back is sufficiently large to carry two pianos.The cab has seating for four,including the driver ( well thankfully he’s in then ).This special body was built by Ben Cooper Junr.,of Claydon,near Ipswich.
Mike.
thelongdrag:
0
Here’s another blast from the past an SB from the early 50s,the Caption is as follows.This 1,835 cu.ft. pantechnicon on a Big Bedford Passenger Chassis has two full-length doors instead of the conventional half doors and tailboard,and the well at the back is sufficiently large to carry two pianos.The cab has seating for four,including the driver ( well thankfully he’s in then ).This special body was built by Ben Cooper Junr.,of Claydon,near Ipswich. Mike.
I’m familiar with the usual Vanplan/ Marsden/ Boalloy integral pantechs, and even some of the later specials built on Leyland/ AEC/ Ford coach chassis, but not seen nowt like this before - on an SB of all things too. Can’t have been the fastest wagon in the west and 1835cu ft isn’t a small wagon either.
If you’ve got a flickr account, post it on the Pantechnicons & Removals vans group:
flickr.com/groups/1234733@N22/
Even if not, the group photos are well worth a trawl.
ParkRoyal2100:
thelongdrag:
0
Here’s another blast from the past an SB from the early 50s,the Caption is as follows.This 1,835 cu.ft. pantechnicon on a Big Bedford Passenger Chassis has two full-length doors instead of the conventional half doors and tailboard,and the well at the back is sufficiently large to carry two pianos.The cab has seating for four,including the driver ( well thankfully he’s in then ).This special body was built by Ben Cooper Junr.,of Claydon,near Ipswich. Mike.
I’m familiar with the usual Vanplan/ Marsden/ Boalloy integral pantechs, and even some of the later specials built on Leyland/ AEC/ Ford coach chassis, but not seen nowt like this before - on an SB of all things too. Can’t have been the fastest wagon in the west and 1835cu ft isn’t a small wagon either.
If you’ve got a flickr account, post it on the Pantechnicons & Removals vans group:
flickr.com/groups/1234733@N22/Even if not, the group photos are well worth a trawl.
I have opened a group on Flicr
flickr.com/groups/1922873@N21/
Marsden Coachbuilers and VanPlan speciaist bodies
ou will find Bedford SBs AEC Integral Leyland Leopard Integral, Bristol , Guy and Volvo itegrals. With man more to folloe. Plese feel free to add and genuine Marsden or Vanplan
ParkRoyal2100:
thelongdrag:
0
Here’s another blast from the past an SB from the early 50s,the Caption is as follows.This 1,835 cu.ft. pantechnicon on a Big Bedford Passenger Chassis has two full-length doors instead of the conventional half doors and tailboard,and the well at the back is sufficiently large to carry two pianos.The cab has seating for four,including the driver ( well thankfully he’s in then ).This special body was built by Ben Cooper Junr.,of Claydon,near Ipswich. Mike.
I’m familiar with the usual Vanplan/ Marsden/ Boalloy integral pantechs, and even some of the later specials built on Leyland/ AEC/ Ford coach chassis, but not seen nowt like this before - on an SB of all things too. Can’t have been the fastest wagon in the west and 1835cu ft isn’t a small wagon either.
If you’ve got a flickr account, post it on the Pantechnicons & Removals vans group:
flickr.com/groups/1234733@N22/Even if not, the group photos are well worth a trawl.
I have opened a group on Flicr
flickr.com/groups/1922873@N21/
Marsden Coachbuilers and VanPlan speciaist bodies
ou will find Bedford SBs AEC Integral Leyland Leopard Integral, Bristol , Guy and Volvo itegrals. With man more to folloe. Plese feel free to add and genuine Marsden or Vanplan
Yeah I saw that Marsden group. Some interesting stuff on there now, keep 'em coming Carl.
Not used as a furniture van but another early 50s SB operated by the famous Farleys Rusks,did you chew on these ?
Caption
Built on the Big Bedford Passenger Chassis by Tiverton Coachbuilders Ltd.
for the makers of Farley’s Rusks,this fine vehicle has a capacity of 1,500 cu.ft.
The body is airtight and damp-proof and is fitted with side and rear loading doors and roof ladder.
The cab has seating for driver (they got him in again ) and two passengers.
Probably a bit thick but whats the roof ladder for ? Mike.
JAKEY:
nice old van plan " proper removal wagon "
bloody hell my dad had CDJ135T a Van plan tk there is a pic on here somewhere
love the picture Legion 
This ford A series was bought by my dad to replace a old BMC EA van , it turned out to be a night mare and had trouble starting in all weathers , when the weather turned cold , dad did not bother to even try to start her , he didnt bother to get her sighn written and sold her after about two years , I should dad this photo today and he said " it was the first and last ford he ever bought " 
.
JAKEY:
Three of my trucks/vans .
I saw the new shape Merc when it was being built at MI Bodies, had to clean my ears out when I asked for a quote for one similar!
JAKEY:
And another photo .
The bodies and Daf were built for Silentnight Beds in 2003, who were owned by the same family.
JAKEY:
nice old van plan " proper removal wagon "
Now there’s a memory jogger, I can remember seeing their wagons and always got a big wave from their blokes as we passed.
NICE OLD 2100 , picture taken off na3t.
