I used to have a key that allowed access to those AA boxes and If I’m not mistaken, the same key used to open the RAC boxes as well.
It was quite a handy tool to have back in the 70s , especially when trying to make a call from the Glasgow area.
There were a number of these boxes on the outskirts of the city from where it was possible to contact mission control, whereas trying to locate an operational public call box within a five mile radius of Glasgow green was tantamount to attempting to find water on the surface of Mars.
And if you did manage to find one, ( extremely unlikely ), then a bout of impetigo would most probably ensue. ( and it’s happened actually ).
I’ll readily admit that I have very little time for mobile phones if I’m being honest, but I’ve yet to contract impetigo from one, so that fact alone must score a point in their favour.
Now while I’m here, I recently bad mouthed the S39 Foden…but on reflection,…well, they weren’t that bad actually,…in fact, they were quite a handsome motor.
I also uttered a number of negative comments regarding the S80…comments that I wouldn’t retract even if the SS strapped me in front of a t.v showing continuous loops of the Ellen Degeneres show and lit matches under my fingernails.
Here are a couple of S39s from a few years ago whose paths just briefly happened to coincide with mine.
I think I still have an AA key, and yes, they did fit the RAC ones as well.
Pete.
Spardo:
pyewacket947v:
17 July 1985
Glos/Warks Railway
Toddington
Gloucs
Eng.Out of use. A still intact Bedford KM 4x2 tipper.
Drove a TM and a couple of TKs, but never a KM.
I had a lift in a short wheel base KM tipper once.
The ride was appalling.!!Midland Storage had a few when I joined, tractor units, I drove one for a while, found it quite comfy. But my eyes were set on promotion. Mk.1 Atki.
Hey Mick. Long time no see. That Bedford with the bikes on was a petrol engine if you remember. Cheers Shaker
Thanks to Bewick, pyewacket947v, gazsa401, Lawrence Dunbar and Eddie Heaton for the pics 
Oily
Bedford KM in OZ on maiden trip, credit to adze45 for the photo.
oiltreader:
Thanks to Bewick, pyewacket947v, gazsa401, Lawrence Dunbar and Eddie Heaton for the pics
OilyBedford KM in OZ on maiden trip, credit to adze45 for the photo.
That looks so much more purposeful than any KM I ever saw in England! I suppose it’s the sun-visor, the long wheel-base, the tasteful livery and the 40’ trailer that do the trick!
Oh! And it’s probably got a Detroit under the engine cover too.
In defence of the Bedford marque i found most TKs to be pleasant vehicles to drive,
and my one experience of a 4x2 TM fridge left no negative memory’s…
pyewacket947v:
17 July 1985
Glos/Warks Rly
Toddington
Gloucs
EngPart restored Morris MRA 4x4,
I drove a few miles in one of those at the BMC dealership in the early 70’s, a handy sized breakdown truck.
Pete.
oiltreader:
Thanks to Bewick, pyewacket947v, gazsa401, Lawrence Dunbar and Eddie Heaton for the pics
OilyBedford KM in OZ on maiden trip, credit to adze45 for the photo.
Even more impressive, I stopped at an outback roadhouse in NSW and there was one of those with a great big yellow Cat in it towing a low loader with a D8 on board. Actually to be more precise, there was a great big yellow cat engine with a KM cab perched on top and a couple of extra steps for the driver to climb up into it. 
pyewacket947v:
17 July 1985
Glos/Warks Rly
Toddington
Gloucs
EngPart restored Morris MRA 4x4,
I bought a wartime military version of one of those from a car auction for £65. My partner and I thought it would supplement our 2nd hand car sales site and I slept in it outside the police post at Trowell services after telling them I was ready for business, cars or wagons. Good job I only got car jobs though as the non power assisted brakes struggled to stop it on the mildest of slopes and I had to brace my back against the seat and straight leg on the brake with handbrake full on more than once. 
It had a straight 6 petrol engine, 6 volt system supplied by 2 gigantic 6 volt batteries behind the cab. I bought a genuine WD manual for it and, despite being no mechanic, was able with its baby steps to remove, clean out and replace the transfer box. The manual was bought from a dealer of such things for around the same price as I paid for the Morris, and when I sold it to that garage on the A 52 between Nottingham and Derby (Brian Clough Way) for a profit he wouldn’t pay extra for the manual.
So I still have it here now, just in case. 
That garage owner was Val Rawicz, the son of Slavomir Rawicz, the author of ‘The Long Walk’, about his escape via India from the Soviet gulag where he had been imprisoned after the war.
Thanks to pyewacket947v, Punchy Dan and DEANB for the pics
Oily
Bedford tippers 4 6 and 8 wheelers all courtesy of BedfordAl.
oiltreader:
Thanks to pyewacket947v, Punchy Dan and DEANB for the pics
OilyBedford tippers 4 6 and 8 wheelers all courtesy of BedfordAl.
The Newmarket 8 wheeler must be a conversion ■■
DEANB:
oiltreader:
Thanks to pyewacket947v, Punchy Dan and DEANB for the pics
OilyBedford tippers 4 6 and 8 wheelers all courtesy of BedfordAl.
The Newmarket 8 wheeler must be a conversion ■■
A guess at Primrose conversion Dean, best leave it to the experts 
Oily
Hi oily happy memories of the David Y Abbey KM.I think it was the first one in Scotland driven by Jimmy Murdison from new.My father was head mechanic with them and my brother and I would go with the drivers during school holidays. many thanks to you and everyone else for sharing your excellent photos cheers Ray
One of our OD’s, the late Frank Goodwin, ran a new TL Bedford six wheeler on a ‘C’ plate. It served him well for several years, he fitted an extra crossmember from a Leyland to support the Fuller gearbox as he thought it needed it. Later he swapped it for the AWD version and that lasted him until his retirement.
Pete.
