One of Robin Phelps’s wagons (Faversham); and an old Firmins AEC. Robert
BJ Walton’s pod-sleeper C-series (C202 GKR) has been mentioned on this thread before (I did a couple of days or so with it back in the mid-80s)
BUT, I didn’t know it had a sister ship (C201 GKR) - pic of it just appeared on ebay!
Robert
tyreman:
Found this photo on e-bay of an AEC of HJ Cage of Whistable
I remember that! Cage’s were essentially coal merchants but they ran lorries on general haulage as well, including some artics - I remember a Mandator and later a NG Merc. Robert
Some great photos on e-bay this week. Here are some more HE Woodcock vehicles, and a Kent registered AEC Mandator that started life with Reeds Paper Mill, then sold to Jempsons of Rye.
Just spent a couple of hours reading through the forum and it’s brought back memories of my younger days. For those of you talking of Firmin,s dad is Frank Sands, 18 years or so at Firmin,s at Wares Farm. Linton and later at Snodland. He is 78, still with us and lives in ■■■■■■■■ Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke last year and his driving days are now by. Drove AF80, FKK398D, a couple of ERFs ( l reg A series and an S reg B series). He also drove for W.E. Haselden Strood (B999— ERF C series mainly on the London papers), Bruce Jackson (an OD operating 3x4 wheelers out of a farm near Rainham. A Fiat, Commer Comando and a Dodge) on MOD work out of Chatham Dockyard and work for ESAB ( Sittingbourne,welding equipment. Bruce was an ex - Navy man like myself). Dad also had spells with Blaw Knox at Rochester, United Tile/ Collinson’s Ceramics, Aylesford and Maidstone Commercials where he was allegedly the first man to drive a 4 axle tractor in the U.K. when he collected Cliffe Construction’s Volvo/Nooteboom outfit (pictured elsewhere in the forum) from Felixstowe when it first arrived in the UK from Rotterdam prior to delivery. Dad started truck driving, after leaving the Army, with Jack Manwaring based somewhere around Tenterden area (before I was a twinkle in his eye) putting up Atcost farm buildings mainly around Scotland. From there he went to Firmin’s. I spent many hours on the road with Dad right through my early years learning sheeting and roping and even driving whilst still at school. I was 12 when I first drove an artic solo (Mandator FKK 398D) as well as shots with the Mercury shunter at Pattenden. I was not allowed to follow Dad into the industry though as I had a grammar school education so I joined the Navy for 10 years qualifying as a marine engineer. Now 30 years on I have spent 25 years in the bus industry in Scotland and currently sometimes pilot a 50ft tri axle coach (ours don’t bend in the middle) carrying the most valuable cargo, 70-80 schoolkids? I shall need to dig through my photo collection as I have several pics of Kent trucks (Ridham freight Seddon Atki’s, Firmin’s AF105 when it was a 6 wheel breakdown, their ERF A and B series in the 70’s. I know dad has many pic’s of Firmin’s older AEC’s (from the AF plate years) and some really interesting pic’s of hop pocket loads stacked like upturned pyramids on the platforms (massive front and rear overhangs, HSE look the other way) . I’ll try and find them and post them on here later.
Another thought just occurred to me. Someone mentioned in one of the posts that Firmin’s removed all manufacturers logo from their trucks. That was true back then (60s/70s) Dad has sets of AEC badges and letters in the shed. They even replaced the AEC triangular radiator badge with one of their own with AF in the center and hops, apples and I think, cherries at the three corners reflecting their farming roots. I’m sure Dad has one somewhere. I remember a story of a new Mercury 4 wheeler arriving via Gatwards (AEC dealers) as part of a standing order Firmin’s had with AEC. Alan came down to check the new arrival over and on spotting the Leyland dust caps (AEC had become part of Leyland) on the wheels immediately refused to accept the truck even though they offered to change them for AEC items. He returned up the stair and immediately canceled the AEC order and placed a new order with ERF. Alan would never entertain anything other than AEC then later ERF in the yard and it was only once the boys took over that the European makes started to appear.
DavieSBusboy:
Another thought just occurred to me. Someone mentioned in one of the posts that Firmin’s removed all manufacturers logo from their trucks. That was true back then (60s/70s) Dad has sets of AEC badges and letters in the shed. They even replaced the AEC triangular radiator badge with one of their own with AF in the center and hops, apples and I think, cherries at the three corners reflecting their farming roots. I’m sure Dad has one somewhere. I remember a story of a new Mercury 4 wheeler arriving via Gatwards (AEC dealers) as part of a standing order Firmin’s had with AEC. Alan came down to check the new arrival over and on spotting the Leyland dust caps (AEC had become part of Leyland) on the wheels immediately refused to accept the truck even though they offered to change them for AEC items. He returned up the stair and immediately canceled the AEC order and placed a new order with ERF. Alan would never entertain anything other than AEC then later ERF in the yard and it was only once the boys took over that the European makes started to appear.
Great historical posts there DavieSBusboy. Keep them coming.
Hi there does anybody remember a firm that used to run in the 80’s called WSM? It was owned by John Waterman. All the lorries were red and white. I mainly remember Scanias but think he had MAN too. Think his yard was over Snodland. My dad worked for them and I used to go abroad loads with him. Some really great memories. Was hoping some of you on here might remember them or better still have some photos of their lorries. Many thanks Scott.
robert1952:
Not sure who’s ERF was pulling this Wood’s trailer.1
And here’s a pic I found online of a wagon I drove briefly on European work. It was actually a lovely lorry to drive with a beautifully installed Twin-splitter. Robert
0
Bowie’s from Sale Manchester Robert.
David
5thwheel:
robert1952:
Not sure who’s ERF was pulling this Wood’s trailer.1
And here’s a pic I found online of a wagon I drove briefly on European work. It was actually a lovely lorry to drive with a beautifully installed Twin-splitter. Robert
0
Bowie’s from Sale Manchester Robert.
David
Thank you! Robert
DavieSBusboy:
Another thought just occurred to me. Someone mentioned in one of the posts that Firmin’s removed all manufacturers logo from their trucks. That was true back then (60s/70s) Dad has sets of AEC badges and letters in the shed. They even replaced the AEC triangular radiator badge with one of their own with AF in the center and hops, apples and I think, cherries at the three corners reflecting their farming roots. I’m sure Dad has one somewhere. I remember a story of a new Mercury 4 wheeler arriving via Gatwards (AEC dealers) as part of a standing order Firmin’s had with AEC. Alan came down to check the new arrival over and on spotting the Leyland dust caps (AEC had become part of Leyland) on the wheels immediately refused to accept the truck even though they offered to change them for AEC items. He returned up the stair and immediately canceled the AEC order and placed a new order with ERF. Alan would never entertain anything other than AEC then later ERF in the yard and it was only once the boys took over that the European makes started to appear.
PM sent.
Hello, I am Ray Smyth, Ex Robert Baillie Transport, Portsmouth.
In the early 70s, we had an arrangement with Louis Reece of
Horsmonden in Kent, for the distribution of Guernsey Tomatoes
to the north of England. Louis Reece occupied the largest share
of the Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable Market at Wigan.
I would like to see some more pictures of the Louis Reece lorries.
Have a look at “Louis Reece Pictures” & “Robert Baillie Transport,
Portsmouth & Horndean”, here on Trucknet.
These 2 pictures courtesy of John Freeman, The gentleman in
the Leyland cab in the first picture is Johns Dad, and also stood
beside the lorry in the second picture. Regards, Ray Smyth.
Francis Davis had a Crusader but I’ve never found a picture of it until this evening - it was on TNUK! Robert
A few more on there today, too. Robert
robert1952:
A few more on there today, too. Robert1
I used to drive that very truck, seen here after a repaint.
Harry Monk:
robert1952:
A few more on there today, too. Robert1
I used to drive that very truck, seen here after a repaint.
Was that when they’d moved to Dargate (farm just up the road from The Dove pub)? Robert