A haulage company in his back yard that had been there since 1918!!
John Haydon (founder) with a new Albion (early 60s) RF 249 was the registration of his first Albion in 1929.
kingswinford kit:
volvof10:
143topline:
dennis maxim artic of alf arrowsmith at honeybourne sheep sale 1967?
anybody remember this motor?0How coincidental - Mac Arrowsmith was only taking about the Dennis’s he used to run the other day. Will ask him about this one later and see what he has to say. Any more of the AA+S fleet you can post he would be more than happy to see
CHeers
HHi all am i correct in saying that Arrowsmiths at one time had a Dodge LAD 8 wheeler conversion ?
Hi,
Spoke to Mac tonight, he say’s that they had two 8 wheel LAD Dodges. Doesn’t think he has any pictures of them but is going to have a delve.
H
I don’t know when this was taken but it’s an oldie as the phone number is Biddulph 4! In the right of shot is another old motor - maybe this was late 40s early 50s. Tell you what though, the street lamp was still there in 1982!
Albion on the road
This is a great thread with some wonderful photos but hey, it’s making me feel melancholy today. Sunday afternoon was the only time Haydons rested with a snooze after lunch as the yard would fall silent until early Monday morning. As a boy I’d be getting ready with my Nan to leave for Coventry about 5pm, either train from Stoke or by car - as a young man I’d drive up for the day to collect her. When I stayed at Wharf Rd, in a house opposite the yard, in the middle of the night the wagons would let off random air ‘pshhhhh’ now and then 
Now it’s all gone and so have most of the people 
That’s life I suppose but thanks for stimulating the memories on here 
HI Gardner 120 as promised the B/W version
Super photo Chepstow Chap!
When and where did you snap that mate? I’d love to know how many miles that old Atki had done at the end. Looks a bit tired doesn’t it?
Gardner 120:
Super photo Chepstow Chap!When and where did you snap that mate? I’d love to know how many miles that old Atki had done at the end. Looks a bit tired doesn’t it?
Hello Gardner 120, it was taken on the A41 between Prees heath and Whitchurch i guess around 1985 . Yeah looks a bit tired but it was a wet and dull day !
Loading and unloading - at Stone I think. I remember when I was about 13, unloading at Arthur Green’s abbatoir in Kidsgrove one night, a large beast fell through the side gate, snapping it off and I jumped for my life into some nettles! 
If my Mum had seen it … I shudder to think. The days before health & safety when you had to look after yourself with speed and agility eh 
It wasn.t just the cattle or horses that could hurt you. I was about 12/13 loading sheep just as in the photo above. For some reason one stubborn tupp decided to return to the shed and when chased out by my cousin it ran at speed lept over the door catching me right in the chest, knocking me on my arse and winding me. Glad it happened at the farm and not the slaughterhouse or market. Felt a right fool.
Yep, I had an experience at Banbury market loading sheep too. One decided to leg it and my uncle Tom (in picture) shouted “Hey up Mike, get 'old of it” so I dived full length, grabbed two handfuls of wool and went for a 30 yard drag until an adult helped me and my skinny 12 year old frame
Another old photo - this time of a new Albion before its box was fitted. Look how simple the chassis was, just steel and a fuel tank. I’m thinking late 40s to early 50s.
I well remember seeing Haydons Merc 6 legger washing out at Manchester at the back of of 1975 and thinking now they have gone foreign,though obviously not.I drove a couple of those Mercs later on though not on livestock and they were good wagons. Did Mears have a Merc 6 wheeler with a single wheel tag axle as is common nowadays.In 1990 I was stopped at Pandoro lights going straight ahead to Swinnerton and this wagon was turning right for Mkt. Drayton it was definitely the same colour, me and the driver let on to each other for some reason though I was pulling a Fridge and going down that Norpak place near the Feed Mill. With regard to escapees, back in 1969 when I was 13 I was with my long gone Dad at Llangefni on a Friday and stood at the side while he drove em on,some 12 cwt type did’nt fancy the tailboard and headed for me instead and clearly was’nt going to stop so off he went up the yard.This was the day after the market but there were some other cattle wagon lads around,though not loading, who quickly came to our assistance. Dad was sympathetic though and did’nt think that one would have stopped for anything anyway.
Evening Boden - yep the Haydon’s Merc was LBF 828P - in August 1975 I went in it from Chelford market to Chard in Somerset when it was brand new. On the way home driver Arthur Unwin & I stopped on the M5 for egg & chips and he put £7 in to get us home! That’s about 30 miles today 
I think you’re right mate, Mears did have a Merc 6 legger and I’d plum forgot - well remembered!
Ours had an exhaust brake, weird thing, next to the clutch - made a right noise. They said it went through tyres like a knife through butter too.
Thing was, Haydons were planning on an Atkinson 6 wheeler, brand new but it was £000s more expensive and another 6 months wait.
In the photo, driver Harry Worthey early 60s - he was still working bits & pieces (Sundays etc) in the late 70s. A good old lad
Gardner 120:
Evening Boden - yep the Haydon’s Merc was LBF 828P - in August 1975 I went in it from Chelford market to Chard in Somerset when it was brand new. On the way home driver Arthur Unwin & I stopped on the M5 for egg & chips and he put £7 in to get us home! That’s about 30 miles todayI think you’re right mate, Mears did have a Merc 6 legger and I’d plum forgot - well remembered!
Ours had an exhaust brake, weird thing, next to the clutch - made a right noise. They said it went through tyres like a knife through butter too.
Thing was, Haydons were planning on an Atkinson 6 wheeler, brand new but it was £000s more expensive and another 6 months wait.
In the photo, driver Harry Worthey early 60s - he was still working bits & pieces (Sundays etc) in the late 70s. A good old lad
Ethan 123 - yeah I remember Beeston market well, used to go there on a Friday. It was on a busy road with a railway line directly opposite.
Here’s another shot of the old and new Albions parked up at Biddulph in the early 60s.
my dad drove for w g yates of newtown bloxwich about 74-75 they had a six wheeler aec marshall,he done the markets at hereford gloucester market drayton and newport shrops just to name a few,would be very grateful of any pictures.shaun
Gardner 120:
Ethan 123 - yeah I remember Beeston market well, used to go there on a Friday. It was on a busy road with a railway line directly opposite.Here’s another shot of the old and new Albions parked up at Biddulph in the early 60s.
Hi i can remember Beeston too .Can anyone recall a SeddAtk 400 4 drawbar that regularly visited the market . I think it was from the Tarvin area ? regards kk
kingswinford kit:
Gardner 120:
Ethan 123 - yeah I remember Beeston market well, used to go there on a Friday. It was on a busy road with a railway line directly opposite.Here’s another shot of the old and new Albions parked up at Biddulph in the early 60s.
Hi i can remember Beeston too .Can anyone recall a SeddAtk 400 4 drawbar that regularly visited the market . I think it was from the Tarvin area ? regards kk
nelsons i think now running a daf 85 4 wheeler and drag