smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know why
I remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Carl Williams:
The Syd Abram advert brought back many memories & can trace its DNA way back to 1952.In 1952 my dad saw an advert in Commercial Motor for a new Bedford SB(Petrol Passenger chassis) for sale. It was Blakes the Bedford dealership who had it. Although the cab design & bodywork left a lot to be desired he bought it as it was so large (The max overall length of Buses & Cvs had just been increased to 27ft 6in) and offered a lot bigger van that our Bedford OBs which were our biggest vans at the time
When NUP was put on the road it was probably the biggest van in County Durham & gave us an advantage on large removals where others needed 2 vans (three for Pickfords). CDJ & HTH soon followed with CDJ having a body by Mardens Of Warrington which was the start of a business relationship with them where we operated well over 100 van bodies built by them In fact 40% of all vehicles 1919-1986 had Marsden bodies. Marsdens built vans for us on Bedford, seddon, Dodge, Commer, Morris, BMC, Leyland & Ford.
In about 1959 Hills who were then Bedford Main Agents in Manchester had a weekly advert were they offered Bedford SB Marsden Pantechnicons with Quick delivery. Although we never bought off Hills & buying Chassis from Adams & Gibbon our local Bedford agents and dealing directly with Marsden to build bodies, they sold quite a few.
Then Hills stopped advertising but Abrahams had a weekly advert in Commercial Motor but with Bedford SBs with bodies by Bowyer Bros Congleton who eventually changed their name to Boalloy & made fame with the Tautliner curtainsiders.
As a teenager visiting Marsdens which still was run by Old Mr Marsden his son Ken who was with his younger brother Geoff working under their father told my dad of their dealings with Syd Abram. Marsdens had been approached by Abram to supply 100 vans per year 2 a week but at a cut price. At the time Marsdens on full capacity could only build 3 vans a week & so they would not have been able to supply all their smaller customers but also to achieve Abrams price they would have needed to cut quality. They turned down the order
Abrams went to Bowyer Bros and for some time advertised Bedford SBs with Bowyer bodies.
When plating & testing came along even with modifications we could only get the SBs to 9.5 ton GVW & with diesel tanks full etc they weighed over 4.5 ton unladen So the answer was Bedford KF chassis scuttles at 11.15GVW. Because of Marsdens slow delivery VPT828F our last SB arrived when we found out their days were numbered & our next Bedford built by Marsdens BUP312F was on the Bedford KF chassis. BUP cost us £2,800
About the same time Abrams switched to using the KF chassis scuttles and the advert shown shows one of their first. In G Reg we had 6 vans from Marsdens and we got two G reg Abram Bedfords with Bowyer Bros bodies., because slow delivery from Marsden (Chassis could stand in Longshaw Street warrington for 3 to 4 months before they even started building)
The first van in the line up in the photo was our BUP312F then aged 17 years old and still running on average at 1000 miles per week with the body in very good condition. Marsdens had offered full Fibreglass bodies since 1965 where as Bowyer Bros had managed to build front cab & roof in fibreglass but not for side panels. Our two G reg Abram Bedfords only lasted about 8 years with us before we sold them. Both had major cracks in the cabs (Through vibration) & in one case a windscreen had become detached & almost fallen out & water was coming into the bodies through where the roofs joined the body sides. Much of that was explained in the price. Presumably £1620 was for 7.5 ton Bedfords & I’m not sure what the KFs cost but even after Abrams had added on their profit margins they were considerably cheaper than we were buying from Marsden, but as the 1986 photo shows every penny we spent with Marsden was worth the money.
That’s not saying Bowyer Bros could build better quality. In 1971 Seddon introduced their Pennine Pantechnoicon at 13 ton GVW built confusingly on their Pennine Passenger Chassis by their own Company Pennine coachworks and made these available at all Seddon Agents. As Seddon found they needed the space occupied in this production for chassis building Bowyer Bros bought the glass fibre moulds and produced the Seddon Pennine Pantechnicon under licence for Seddon. They also adopted the front to Bedford & Ford We had about 5 but none had the lifespan of our Bedford Marsdens.
I wonder if anyone from the Manchester area know of the links from Bedford agents Blakes to Hills to Syd Abram were there buyouts or were the three working in competition or was it just a clever salesman that passed from one dealership to another taking his idea of off the peg Bedford Pantechnicons & customer base with him
Hi Carl…some real interesting information there…Yes I remember Abraham’s could always promise fast delivery on ordering…but like you say there the quality was miles apart between there sleepers and Marsden or Vanplan back in the day…Carl do you remember a company who also ran marsden’s I think they were based in Manchester…I think they were Harold Lomas !
They use to have religious slogan on the lutos of there vehicles ?
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Yes moved to Spain him and pam they were on a programme about a Spanish hospital neil is in his 70s I would say he got a house over here as well he was still using Jones number to do removals hiring vans for jobs he does a lot of keep fit he still tight with money 
on the day they buried Phil Jones he sent two 7.5 tonners and emptied the house while they were all in the crem ,so nobody could have stuff which he sold John
smallcoal:
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Yes moved to Spain him and pam they were on a programme about a Spanish hospital neil is in his 70s I would say he got a house over here as well he was still using Jones number to do removals hiring vans for jobs he does a lot of keep fit he still tight with money
That’s sad to hear John…it think it was pretty well known back in the day there was a rift in the family…wasn’t the W.Jones the grandfather Will John ?
marktaff:
smallcoal:
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Yes moved to Spain him and pam they were on a programme about a Spanish hospital neil is in his 70s I would say he got a house over here as well he was still using Jones number to do removals hiring vans for jobs he does a lot of keep fit he still tight with money
That’s sad to hear John…it think it was pretty well known back in the day there was a rift in the family…wasn’t the W.Jones the grandfather Will John ?
Will Jones was the founder he started the bisiness then helvet was one of the family he was always drunk ,Phil was gay I can find out the rest of my mother she will know why the rift was but Neil turned into a right money grabber he was like Scrooge
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Money does things to people…sounds like Neil followed the grandfather mate lol…do you remember the small pantechnicon Jones’s had I think it was a sedfon or something like that !
They still had it on the road in the 80s. …I don’t know what they used it on it couldn’t have been on Tyler’s it was to small.
marktaff:
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Money does things to people…sounds like Neil followed the grandfather mate lol…do you remember the small pantechnicon Jones’s had I think it was a sedfon or something like that !
They still had it on the road in the 80s. …I don’t know what they used it on it couldn’t have been on Tyler’s it was to small.
Hi mark you are thinking of the Albion that was on remploy doing 2 Broxburn a week Len drove that ynd was on Christies work then we would use it on removals if they were long distance Neil used to let me drive them on a car licence it was great 
smallcoal:
marktaff:
marktaff:
smallcoal:
I lived in Edward st round the corner the end house by the lane he used as a store I was born in that house my nan lived two doors up Niels father lived acrwoss the road they never spoke for years didn’t even bother with him I don’t know whyI remember Neil John…the last I heard of Neil was he had moved abroad John ?
Money does things to people…sounds like Neil followed the grandfather mate lol…do you remember the small pantechnicon Jones’s had I think it was a sedfon or something like that !
They still had it on the road in the 80s. …I don’t know what they used it on it couldn’t have been on Tyler’s it was to small.Hi mark you are thinking of the Albion that was on remploy doing 2 Broxburn a week Len drove that ynd was on Christies work then we would use it on removals if they were long distance Neil used to let me drive them on a car licence it was great
That was the truck an Albion…it was funny looking little truck wasn’t it, we all drove trucks back then we shouldn’t have mate… that’s how you cut your teeth back then lol.
Len drove the Albion ,I fitted all the Jones trucks with CB radios even the Albion had one
moomooland:
ramone:
It`s bugging me now what the place was calledIt was called Clearspan.
0
No thats not the place , i think it was on Wellington Rd or Street , they unloaded on the road side and put the stillages on to the second floor with a fork truck , then down the road to back round a corner by a row of terrace houses on the right . Then up the hill with the tight bend left at the top into Oldham ,it was around 2001 so i cant remeber exactly
smallcoal:
Len drove the Albion ,I fitted all the Jones trucks with CB radios even the Albion had one
Hi mark,will was the father ,Neil was phils nephew ,Phil was the tight one and Neil followed him ,the old man used to throw street parties for all the community ,this is what I drive
smallcoal:
smallcoal:
Len drove the Albion ,I fitted all the Jones trucks with CB radios even the Albion had oneHi mark,will was the father ,Neil was phils nephew ,Phil was the tight one ansd Neil followed him ,the old man used to throw street parties for all the community ,this is what I drive
Strange how things turn out John…the old man was a community man…and they turned out a pair of meanies…I will keep my eye out for you John…I’ve seen that truck on the road many times mate.
100% correct pete
pete smith:
Morning Dean,
The Atki belonged to Richardson Transport from Rugeley and the load more than likely was from ROM river in Lichfield, I hope I have posted correctly to keep the picture police happy!
moomooland:
2 Hi Dean it’s one of Lancashire Tar Distillers who had sites in Preston and Cadishead next to the A57.Part of Lancashire Tar Distillers Cadishead plant.
Good stuff paul, i see the company logo thats on the front of the truck is also on the storage tank in
the yard. 
Ray Smyth:
Hi Dean, The Seddon Atkinson is Lancashire Tar Distillers , Dock Road, Preston, beside the River Ribble.That is where Ribble Bus Co got its name from, and its Head Office was at Frenchwood, just down the
A6, not far from Preston City Centre. The fleet strength was normally around 1100 Machines.
I might risk putting a couple of pictures on here. Regards, Ray Smyth.
Thanks Ray.
moomooland:
Looks like Smiths liked their Leylands.Even though it’s a year older the 1981 registered Roadtrain looks a generation apart from the 1982 registered Leyland Boxer.
It always appeared to me that Leyland went a bit overkill in the 1970’s. They had so many different named
trucks it was unbelievable. 
Bewick:
I just wish I’d had a £ for every brick that AEC of LBC had carried in it’s time !!! £££££££ Cheers Dennis. PS and it has an interesting No. plate as well
You dont need any more money Dennis you are already the richest bugger on here !
Bewick:
DEANB:
Some period adverts.
The J W Graham advert is a collectors item as it wouldn’t be long after this appeared that Scotts of Nottingham were appointed Atkinson Distributors for ■■■■■■■ and N. Lancs. So Grahams lost the dealership but it was about the time that George Graham (RIP) wanted to start selling Scanias in place of the Atkis but I don’t think his brother Maurice reckoned much to the idea so George parted company with the family firm and opened up a Scania dealership in Carlisle via Union Trucks of Newcastle. Graham Commercials eventually became full Scania Dealers in their own right and have , of course, become one of the top Scania dealers in the UK. As far as J W Graham Ltd were concerned Maurice carried on running the firm at Bass Lake successfully and as well as continuing to run Atkis in the haulage fleet they also sold Crane Fruhauf trailers. I recall that my pal John McGuffie bought an Atkinson Silver Knight unit from Grahams in around late 70’ and then shortly afterwards he would buy one of the first Scanias ( an 80 unit) Grahams sold from Bass Lake so this would be just prior to the two Graham Brothers splitting up. As Bewick Transport I did a lot of business with Graham Commercials at Carlisle in later years when I was told we were, at one time, their largest spares customer. After I bought out McGuffie Transport in 74’ I carried on doing regular subbing off J W Graham which was both Rail and Pig Iron ex Workington Steel, the 7 Crane Fruehauf trailers I acquired in the deal had all been supplied to John McGuffie by J W Graham Ltd. Cheers Bewick.
You better raid under the mattress and make me an offer then chap ! On a serious note an intresting
post chap !
Chris Webb:
moomooland:
2 Hi Dean it’s one of Lancashire Tar Distillers who had sites in Preston and Cadishead next to the A57.Aye,Lancashire Tar Distillers at Cadishead.I spent some time in there int 70s when working for A E Evans. The place was a real gloomy hole,looked like a strong wind would blow it down,like a lot of the old tar distillation plants i.e. BSC Orgreave and BSC Port Clarence.
Not a bad canteen though.
“Not a bad canteen though”
HRS:
DEANB:
Did anyone read the article about the 52 ton trial ■■Hi Dean,
Yes I did, makes good reading, not sure we will ever be ready for double bottom outfits though.
In the 70’s a company in Stockholm called Bealspadition (or near) ran about 4 a night down to Gothenburg, ( big section of yard just for them) urban units 86 or 89’s would take the trailers on for delivery.
Shunters would have the trailers ready for thier trip back up, worked like clockwork. ( can you imagin uk companies keeping to the time shedual)
Backing up was ni on impossible in a cofined space, you had to connect the dolly to the front of your unit and push.
Thanks for bringing back some memories, Harvey
Good i am glad you thought it was intresting Harvey. Makes you wonder what’s going to happen in this country
as its getting more grid locked daily. No doubt they will price old motors off the road to try and cut down the
number of vehicles.