gingerfold:
As Bewick has mentioned the ERF trailer can best be described as “solidly built”. Peter Foden told me that their trailers were built to last but ultimately could not be produced in sufficient numbers to compete at competetive prices and weights in a very fiercely contested market.
Whilst on the subject of minority trailer manufacturers does anyone remember Farnworth Trailers made by John Charlton of Farnworth, Lancs?
I recall buying an Homalloy flat platform frame of John Charlton which I used to replace the wooden flat on my D1000,it made quite a weight saving at the time by using marine ply flooring.A year or so later I do recall Farnworth trailers but from what I gathered no two were alike and the odd one or so I came across looked a bit “heath robinson” from memory.Cheers Bewick.
gingerfold:
As Bewick has mentioned the ERF trailer can best be described as “solidly built”. Peter Foden told me that their trailers were built to last but ultimately could not be produced in sufficient numbers to compete at competetive prices and weights in a very fiercely contested market.
Whilst on the subject of minority trailer manufacturers does anyone remember Farnworth Trailers made by John Charlton of Farnworth, Lancs?
I recall buying an Homalloy flat platform frame of John Charlton which I used to replace the wooden flat on my D1000,it made quite a weight saving at the time by using marine ply flooring.A year or so later I do recall Farnworth trailers but from what I gathered no two were alike and the odd one or so I came across looked a bit “heath robinson” from memory.Cheers Bewick.
Probably they were cobbled together from “recycled” components from lorries and trailers John was breaking. He was also a dealer in second hand lorries etc. and dismantler. One of his yards was cleared about 6 years ago, supposedly for building development, but this got put on hold because of the recession. It looks like something could be happening there soon. His other yard where the trailers were assembled was cleared about 3 years ago including some derelict trailers amongst piles of other scrap.
I was searching for something on the ERF ‘European’ thread and found that ‘ERF-continental’ had very kindly posted a couple of illustrations of ERF trailers, so I have reproduced them here. Robert
Bewick:
Who’s axles and running gear did ERF use ? Bewick.
According to Dai Davies’s book, ERF: The Inside Story those pictures refer to their 1966 design. It was 33’ long and designated T30, as it was plated at 30 tons GVM. A shorter version, the T28 was plated at 28 tons GVM.
To answer your question, Bewick, it used Rubery Own running gear and a four-spring bogie. The chassis and outriggers were designed to save weight.
Apparently, ERF had been making single axle trailers between 1939 and 1945 in ‘considerable numbers’, so they were not new to the job!
I am assuming that very few British truck manufacturer’s made trailers as well, I believe that Atkinson may have done and of course Fodens and Scammell did, but not sure if any other’s did?
Bewick:
Who’s axles and running gear did ERF use ? Bewick.
According to Dai Davies’s book, ERF: The Inside Story those pictures refer to their 1966 design. It was 33’ long and designated T30, as it was plated at 30 tons GVM. A shorter version, the T28 was plated at 28 tons GVM.
To answer your question, Bewick, it used Rubery Own running gear and a four-spring bogie. The chassis and outriggers were designed to save weight.
Apparently, ERF had been making single axle trailers between 1939 and 1945 in ‘considerable numbers’, so they were not new to the job!
Robert
ERF’s wartime output comprised mainly tractor units with AEC 7.7 litre engines and trailers that were allocated to users under the auspices of the Ministry of Supply. Remember that in 1939 such as ERF and Atkinson were very small companies in comparison to such as Leyland and AEC, both of whom were producing specialised military vehicles and tanks.
windrush:
I am assuming that very few British truck manufacturer’s made trailers as well, I believe that Atkinson may have done and of course Fodens and Scammell did, but not sure if any other’s did?
Pete.
Most of the main marques dabbled in some sort of trailer production at one time or another, usually when lorry sales were low. Several also had a go at the farm tractor market, including AEC, and IRC I believe that at least one AEC farm tractor survives to the present day.
gingerfold:
Most of the main marques dabbled in some sort of trailer production at one time or another, usually when lorry sales were low. Several also had a go at the farm tractor market, including AEC, and IRC I believe that at least one AEC farm tractor survives to the present day.
Thank’s for that gingerfold, I only ever came across Foden and Scammell trailers during my fitting days. The others somehow passed my by.
hiya…I,am i bit shocked at the amount of ERF trailers that seem to be about i,am certain they must have changed hands
from haulier to haulier…possibly saying they was a good product. there was no sort of assembly line just a pile of girders and channels
with a couple of axles that took shape over a period of WEEKs yes WEEKs that emerged as a trailer. as in my first post i,am stunner to
find there was more than 6 or 8 trailers made… UNLESS i have just thought of a new factory at Baddley Green called ERF engineering where
where some heavy metal items was made…not known to me but maybe some trailers may have been made there…
the shed was only about 80ft long and 20 ft wide so no production line would have been set up there just a one off line…
i know of one person who worked there i ll ask him
John
Hiya ERF Continental…thanks for the mention on the Ensor lorries. i ve just had a look. i am in Spain at the moment the Laptop give
up on me so i ve been off the net for 10 days. back up and running now cheers John…nice to be in touch again…
Retired Old ■■■■:
You won’t be having all this weather, then?
Hiya mate…sitting here at 8.45 your time in a pair of boxers typing this all the doors and roof lights open
Love it.i did go onto the cat and fiddle web cam and the flash bar one to see the snow. brrrrrrrr
see you soon john
Retired Old ■■■■:
Mutter, mutter, whinge, moan!
I’m staying indoors with a drop of Scottish fluid until it thaws!
I reckon both “cattle wagon man” and “3300 John” have been appearing in “Benidorm” I’m sure if we watch closely we will be able to “clock” them and I suppose this acting career they have found to top up their large pensions will set “ROF” thinking he’s in with a chance ! I reckon “ROF” would be a good stand in for Tim Healy the “■■■■■■” barman !!! Now I think I would make a good casting manager and I wouldn’t have to look any further than TNUK to sort a great cast out for a British based situation comedy,now lets see what might the title be ■■? Ah! Skegness Cheers Dennis.PS or “Morecambe” maybe
Retired Old ■■■■:
Mutter, mutter, whinge, moan!
I’m staying indoors with a drop of Scottish fluid until it thaws!
I reckon both “cattle wagon man” and “3300 John” have been appearing in “Benidorm” I’m sure if we watch closely we will be able to “clock” them and I suppose this acting career they have found to top up their large pensions will set “ROF” thinking he’s in with a chance ! I reckon “ROF” would be a good stand in for Tim Healy the “■■■■■■” barman !!! Now I think I would make a good casting manager and I wouldn’t have to look any further than TNUK to sort a great cast out for a British based situation comedy,now lets see what might the title be ■■? Ah! Skegness Cheers Dennis.PS or “Morecambe” maybe
You’ll have to do better than that, Dennis- totally wrong accent for “Lesley”, the barman! Maybe one of the yokels in Vicar of Dibley might be more suitable.
And I would have thought that you would want to keep schtum when talking about the size of other peoples’ pension funds. You must pay more tax on your pension than all the wages I ever earned as a driver! Not that I want to complain about my Basic State Pension, of course.
