Only just got round to looking at this thread and its one that I could really get my teeth into. Dave Miller mentioned a company that ran yellow Fodens late 60’s early 70’s. Well Dave I can tell you that company was P.B.C. European.
The company was started and ran by Frank Allen who was a very astute business man.PBC stood for Public Benefit Coal because the company started as a coal haulage firm, picking up coal from the midlands back to their
yard in Sholing, Southampton and to various coal mechants around the south.
They ran a fleet of mainly 6 and 8 wheeled Fodens. As the coal industry was declining Frank decided to divert into general haulage with the continent being high on his agenda. He had a superb yard and workshop from where he started PBC Engineering Ltd. This company was used to cut down his rigid trucks and make them into tractor units and ended up a mixture of 4 and 6 wheeled units. He refurbished some secondhand tilts and Hey Presto !
P.B.C. European were born.
His first work was mainly Rouen and Paris all done then under T.I.R. reg’s.
At one time he worked very closely with a french company from Rouen called
SATCO, who unknowingly donated to me (an o/d) many a tank of deisel in the dark of the night. I hasten to add from the pump in their yard as I have never stooped to a piece of pipe !
Later in the 70’s PBC went in with Cabmont but after a while was all taken back
over by Frank Allen and his son Tim. This was then turned into a company called British International Ltd. mainly running to the Iberian peninsular,Spain
and Portugal. From their yard in Sholing they built up quite a fleet of trucks and trailers which was made up of Transcons,Daf 3300’s and 2 Roadtrains.
The company ceased to trade in the late 80’s as a transport outfit but kept the workshops open to a later date and rented the yard out.
Well here endeth the lesson on PBC who do we start on next, Jameson ?
A great history TIR, I’m just thinking that all those international wanabees (like me before my first break) must have thought all their christmasses had come at once. One minute you’re on a dirty old ‘local’ coal hauling job and the next (figuratively speaking 
) you’re off to foreign climes with a big blue plate on the front. 
Something similar did happen at Bulkliners, not when I was there though (between stints as it happens). They were formed to load open top containers with coal and coke around the Midlands and S. Yorks for the Freightliner trains from Nottingham to London. The next time I worked there they had had blokes running round Poland with a variety of motors and trailers. Then they went back to the boxes.
Yes. Tell us all about Jamesons. Also tell all the knowalls that they didn’t go bump because they had all those kangaroo trailers.Best firm I ever worked for.(And got the sack from)
Thanks for your coments on my history lesson Spardo and your info on Bulkliners. I’m sure the name Hercock & Simpson must ring a very familiar bell on these accounts. One day you are a haulier of coal and the next day you have been whisked down to Italy with no mention of coal in either direction ! !
I think their history is self evident but if anyone should wish to elaborate ? ?
By the way Charlie I havent got the hump with you just got a few things going on at the moment as you know. In for more tests tomorrow. I will however put the record straight on Jameson later and yes the best job for miles if not in the Country.
My sincere abject sorrows for my stupid remark TIR Original.It was uncalled for and I withdraw my statement unreservedly. Forgive.Looking forward to hearing your stories on Charlie Jameson.
Right folks lets clear up the facts on Jameson Transport Ltd. First of all lets get one thing straight and that is the fact that they were not originally a Southampton company. The company was started in Heywood, Lancs by a
Charlie Jameson, so was basiclally a Manchester company. All this took place in the very early 50’s before the Operaters License, when it was A,B,C,D & F licences. A lot of his work as did so many others brought him to Southampton docks and surrounding industries, so this lead him to open a Southampton depot. The first depot was near Cobden bridge that spans the river Itchen in an area called St. Deny’s. Then the livery was maroon with yellow signwriting.
In the 60’s the depot moved to Endle Street , Southampton. near to the new Itchen bridge(close to what was later to become Lorraines lorry park).By now Southampton had become the main depot for Jameson, who still maintained a nightly trunk service to Manchester as well as entering into the continental side of transport. As well as running an ERF fleet as they had done from the begining, they started to purchase Scania Vabis units that had not long become available in the UK. Later they were to change to the 110 models when they came onto the market. The service they ran was to Italy mainly and a weekly groupage service to Paris. They remaind a private enterprise until about 1969 when they sold into the United Transport Group.
Because there was another company in Southampton of the same group they were forced to amalgamate with the other company and relocate to Smith of Madiston’s depot at Totton, Southampton. This however was only the UK side as the continental side was not sold and remained as Jameson Europa Ltd.
Endle Street Southampton.
[ Sorry but will have to do episode 2 later ]
TIR, Just found this one, It says A.C.Jameson, Derby (Or Derry ) Mill, Heywood Lancs on the Tank. Any good■■?
Blimey, no headboard and not even a cross. 
Would that Scanny have a flat bench passenger seat and a flat cushioned back to the driver’s seat (which folded down) do you think?
I had one for a time with Rodney G. Closs of Bulwell and it was very comfy - if you didn’t mind the lack of space and curtains. 
Spardo,
My dad had a G reg 110 with the bed arangement you describe, as a boy I could sleep from the Blackwall tunnel all the way to Glasgow on it! Mind you I did the same leaning my head on the bonnet of a Mandator before the Scania appeared!
Me again! Just had a flashback to that old 110, it was 2nd hand when my dad got it, reg was VYG 753G, anyone have any clues as to where it started its life?
newmercman:
Me again! Just had a flashback to that old 110, it was 2nd hand when my dad got it, reg was VYG 753G, anyone have any clues as to where it started its life?
Smith and Robinson had some 110’s with that sequence of reg.nos based at Trafford Park I’m almost sure.They did two trips a night with 2 x 20 ft containers to Sheffield BRS on Staniforth Road for Proctor and Gamble.
YG was Yorkshire West Riding and S & R’s HQ was in Rothwell Leeds.
I’ve had many a lift with them fiddling home to Sheffield from Manchester and I reckon that reg you mention was one of them.
Only a guess though mercman.
Great photo Lemonmouth really brought back some old memories. That was a day cab UK unit in the later livery blue cab with white band and grey chassis.
I bet Charlie 1 appreciates it as well as we are both of the same opinion on that Company. I would also like to put the story to bed that they went ‘bump’
due to buying loads of kangaroo trailers. (and I promised this to Charlie).
Do any of you old fogies out there remember seeing regularly railway wagons on low loaders around the streets of Italian cities. These were specially constructed trailers incorporating a legnth of railway line to shunt the wagons onto the trailers. This enabled the wagons to be tipped or loaded direct at the factories and therefore did away with double handling of the goods thus cutting down on damages. Make sense ? Well yes but then someone invented the kangaroo trailer which doubled as a railway wagon or a conventional road trailer. Being a foreward looking company Jameson’s purchased a handful of 12 metre kangaroos to give it a try. Unlike Interoute Ltd of Thame, Oxon who went mad and purachased loads.I would agree to it being a good idea if you were operating from mainland Europe but we have water between us and France and they hadn’t dug a tunnel yet. Nevertheless Jameson carried on with their regular Italy service as they had done in the past and using the trailers in both capacities. Then what caused the demise of of Jameson’s ?
That can be answered in a nutshell, the same as happened to many other good companies. People running on bent road permits, paying peanuts,no road tax, using red deisel, cutting rates to the wire…
… Need I go on ? That is why they shut the gates and sold up!!
Absolutely spot on young man.I’m very pleased you have put the record straight about Jamesons.One of the few internationl hauliers I ever worked for that ran correct. And as you say TIR got pushed out by the bent boys. Gone but not forgotten.
Right then Charlie, I’ve put the record straight on ACJ as promised so now it’s up to you to give us the saga of your sacking.
What about Squibbs Transport also from Southampton. This was started by the well known ex: world champion speedway rider Jim Squibb. For many years he rode for Southampton and later joined Cradley Heath and dragged them from the bottom to become the top of the league. He was a rogue when he entered the transport arena but nevertheless a likeable rogue. He was a good man and I knew him well. I borrowed a trailer from him once to load at Vono Beds of Birmingham. I was trundling along well over the limit with one of the famous red trailers marked SQUIBB in letters about 6 foot high on the side, when I was stopped by a police car (this was some time in 1970). Had the usual question, " In a hurry are we?" Then asked where I was from. When I told him he then asked if this Squibb was any relation to Jim, to which I replied “one and the same chap”. His attitude changed somewhat then and sent me on my way without so much as a rollicking and said any Squibb driver would never get done around there. Obviously a speedway fan then. When I told Jim he laughed like a drain.
As I mentioned before about hauliers taking short cuts and spoiling the game for others, Jim was one of the guilty. I remember being at Seagull Ferries one evening and seeing two of his F 88 trucks there. Something was strange and at first I didn’t twig but then it dawned. They both had the same reg No. and one had a genuine set of documents and tax, while the other had duplicates of everything. Cuts the cost in half !! But both on the same ferry ■■
I’m not sure that you are ready for this story of my demise from ACJ.I will post it a little later as I’ve got to get my wifes tea.She is the only person in this world I’m scared of.
Hello TIR, thanks for your interesting memories.
Was wondering if you recalled Summerfields? ran orange and blue Fodens?
TIR Original:
Well yes but then someone invented the kangaroo trailer which doubled as a railway wagon or a conventional road trailer. Being a foreward looking company Jameson’s purchased a handful of 12 metre kangaroos to give it a try. Unlike Interoute Ltd of Thame, Oxon who went mad and purachased loads.
Well here goes the saga of my sacking from Jameson Europa.Dont know if it’s of any interest except to TIR Original.I waited a long time to get a job there as there was a long waiting list .However being a wheeler dealer in those days,I had a few contacts there.I had a phone call to tell me that a few drivers were being sacked for fiddling expenses. Shock horror !! Did drivers do that? So I phoned and said that I was available.Two days later I was offered the job. Start next Sunday night. So away I went. Cracking job.Running straight.Very difficult to get into when you had been working bent. However I soon got in the hang of things.The only problem was the company had taken on a load of complete novices and they all needing nursing. So these are the events I left on a Sunday night for Milano.Closely followed by this ex copper from the Isle of Wight.Nice guy but panicking We arrived at Aosta.Him having taken the wrong turn and gone through the town.I sat at the Autoporto and when he turned up he had taken the side out of his tilt on a balcony.I got on the blower to Angelo Bavinoni the manager at Italmondo and gave him the trailer numbers.He told me to go directly to Milano and the other one to go to Concorrezo.The other driver nearly had a baby.How do I get there.What do I do in the morning etc After about half an hour of his bleating I said I would take him.What a prat.When we arrived at Concorrezo we parked up. I told him to pull his curtains and put the bunk light on.I then took him to the in gate and told him what to do in the morning.I told him I was going back to Milano so I could have a lay in.As we were walking back to the park I looked across the park and saw there was only one motor there. Please God let it be his.No way There on the park was the rear glass of the volvo.They had put a nipper in through the window and it was away.I’m standing there in my shorts and vest and flip flops.Phoned the Italmondo manager and he came out and got me and took me to the Policia Centrali inMilano then to an hotel.Following day sat in office…Angelo is on phone to Soton.When he put the phone down he said"When you get home they are going to sack you" The following day the truck was found minus the load.I loaded out of the Magasini and off I went back home.On arrival at Soton I was marched into the office My stripes were cut off and I left.However in my pocket was the 300 quid running money which had been stolen out of the truck.Started for Jimmy Rawlings the folling day.Alls well that ends well.
Hi Les, you asked if I remembered Summerfeilds. I certainly do mate but not in the colours tht you mentioned. Are you sure that you are not getting the colours mixed up with another company. The Summerfeilds that I knew ran a large fleet of Fodens and the livery was dark green with yelleow signing. They had the contract out of ISR (International Synthetic Rubber Co.) at Fawley, close to the refinery, Southampton. I have checked with my brothers and they say that is correct. I hope this is of help.
And what a good and informative bit on Interoute, 240 Gardner. Thanks for the reminder that they were a subsidiary of F.C.Bennett, absolutely correct cause I had a couple of mates on for them. Interoutes main depot though was at Thame as I went there on more than one occasion.
Thanks TIR.Well, the rubber bit rings a bell because i am sure they ran to Membury with rubber.No doubt you are right about the colours, my poor old memory is shot away.
Used to chat to one of their drivers when i was down at dock gate 57?, i was working for Howard Tenens out of Swindon at the time.
I cannot for the life of me remember his name, big tall fellow, always wore denim jacket, looked a bit Mexican to me.He could certainly tell a story.
Happy days in my Guy Big J4