PAUL GEE's PHOTO COLLECTION (Part 1)

[deanb]

Buzzer:
Dean just noticed the Atki of Smiths transport of Axford near Marlborough coming out of Poole docks, Roy Smith one of the brothers drove for us in the 90’s but they ran a MAN on traction for Solent Shipping & Transport out of Southampton and here is a picture of said vehicle as we both loaded out of Manitou forklifts in Ancenis in France in the late 70’s they used to tip in Chandlers Ford but now are at Ferndown in Dorset, cheers Buzzer.

Thanks Buzzer for that bit of information. Like you say must have been the 70s as Landais transport have
been doing that job since the 80s. Thanks for the pic !

mushroomman:

DEANB:

mushroomman:
Deano, could you ask Paul if he remembers the café on Golden Valley Way (A40) in the late sixties/early seventies.
I think it was called The Golden Valley Café.

Regards Steve.

Hello Steve, Paul has said he can not remember the cafe and asked if it was on the old road before
they built the dual carrigeway ■■?

Hi Dean, I remember that it was on the left hand side heading towards Gloucester as you came from Cheltenham. The section of the M5 wasn’t built then as the M5 finished at Strensham in the late sixties. I called into that café a couple of times and as it had a few photos of old aircraft on the walls I am wondering now if it could of been called The Airport Café.

Regards Steve.

Ok Steve, well Paul will read this and no doubt let me know so i will get back to you mate !

[deanb]

Humber McVeigh Borderer

Arthur Mitchell from Bradford ERF

Cant make the name out on the ERF

H.Baker from Bradford AEC 6x2

W.Liptrot Guy

VIP petroleum.

Green brothers Atkinson Borderer.

Wim Thompson F86

BRS Seddon

JCD car transporter, anyone know what JCD stands for ■■?

[bewick]

That Atki of Humber McVeigh was IIRC a Silver Knight and was a sort of interim between the Mk1 and the longer WB Borderer being introduced. I’m sure Chris Gardener will put me right but I think the wheelbase was increased from 9 ft to 9ft 10" for the Borderer. Useless info I know ! Cheers Dennis.

[bewick]

Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

[5thwheel]

DEANB:
Humber McVeigh Borderer

9

Arthur Mitchell from Bradford ERF

8

Cant make the name out on the ERF

7

H.Baker from Bradford AEC 6x2

6

W.Liptrot Guy

5

VIP petroleum.

4

Green brothers Atkinson Borderer.

3

Wim Thompson F86

2

BRS Seddon

1

JCD car transporter, anyone know what JCD stands for ■■?

0

Perhaps “Jack’s Car Deliveries” Dean,lol,lol!

David

[buzzer]

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

Dennis I was the proud owner of a AEC Mammoth Minor as it was called on a J reg but on round timber it was a nightmare, like a bloody see saw so the second steer axle I had removed and had a long wheel based Mandator but with AV760 she could fly and was more comfortable because of the longer wheelbase.

[gingerfold]

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

The early Ergo Mandators with the AV691 engines were the troublesome ones, overheating being the usual problem caused by a combination of thick cylinder liners, small radiator, and poor air flow around the engine because of constraints caused by the cab. The AV760 with thinner cylinder liners which dissipated the heat faster was a different proposition all together and a much more reliable engine. The twin-pass radiator as it was called, also improved cooling. By early 1967 the AV691 option had been quietly discontinued for lorries although it was still used in horizontal format for the AEC Reliance coach, which could carry a much bigger radiator. The last Mammoth Minors were made as late as 1971 for Air Products. There was no need for that axle configuration by then for 32 tons, but Air Products had designed some trailers specifically for going behind a Mammoth Minor, and rather than alter the pin position on an expensive pressure tank they asked AEC to build some Mammoth Minors for them, unbeknown to the top brass at Leyland, who weren’t at all happy. As for the twin-pass radiator, when I had my restored Mandator it put the fan into the rad one day when I was running unit only over a very rough road surface (the fan on a AV760 engine ran very close to the rad) and when I had the rad rebuilt it was done, wrongly, as a single pass system and afterwards even running light there was a noticeable increase on the temp. gauge when climbing a hill. Previously with the correct rad. the temp. gauge never moved.

[moomooland]

A colour shot of of a H. Baker AEC Mandator loading up in Bradford.

[punchy_dan]

Looks like there’s a Foden behind John wards 88 pushing him on a straight bar

[ramone]

The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

[bewick]

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

The idea was brilliant “ramone” and on the face of it was economical just using the fron’t end( and one drive axle) of an MM but in practice the engine and its ancillary equipment sunk it ! Plus British Leyland were arrogant ■■■■■■■■ so they got “theirs” and were wiped out by a combination of Atkis, ERF’s and the Scandinavians ! eventually the Scandinavians came out on top , unfortunately, but that is life and business ! Cheers Dennis.

[buzzer]

Bewick:

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

The idea was brilliant “ramone” and on the face of it was economical just using the fron’t end( and one drive axle) of an MM but in practice the engine and its ancillary equipment sunk it ! Plus British Leyland were arrogant [zb] so they got “theirs” and were wiped out by a combination of Atkis, ERF’s and the Scandinavians ! eventually the Scandinavians came out on top , unfortunately, but that is life and business ! Cheers Dennis.

Always told that DAF based there engine’s on the AV 760 just turned it round & re jigged it a bit, below is a rare example of an early DAF on UK plates for Onward Transport, cheers Buzzer

[paul_john]

Punchy Dan:
Looks like there’s a Foden behind John wards 88 pushing him on a straight bar

Dan, what ever is following the blue 88 is in Andrew Coopers way as he wants to pass them all.
Reminds me of a story I heard back in the eighties. This old guy was in his Morris 1000 one Sunday afternoon taking a nice run out when it conks out. He’s under the bonnet scratching his head, can’t work out what’s wrong. This young kid in a RS 2000 stops to see if he could help. The old man asks if he could tow him back to the house. No problem they put a rope on and off they go. About five minutes into the journey the kid in the RS spots a Dolamite Sprint and decides to chase after him. Totally forgets about the car he’s towing. Couple of guys enjoying a pint in the local beer garden, cant believe what they are seeing. They shout to their mates telling them, there’s a RS 2000 out here chasing a Dolamite Sprint and a guy hanging out the window of a Morris 1000 flashing his lights and banging his horn trying to pass them.
Classic!

[buzzer]

One from the era we are on, Bass Charrington Scammel Crusader, not the usuall axle set up for the norm back then, no number plate and it looks new maybe when the weights went up to 38 ton in 1983 as a lot of tandem trailers and not many tri-axle tractors, cheers Buzzer.

[deanb]

Bewick:
That Atki of Humber McVeigh was IIRC a Silver Knight and was a sort of interim between the Mk1 and the longer WB Borderer being introduced. I’m sure Chris Gardener will put me right but I think the wheelbase was increased from 9 ft to 9ft 10" for the Borderer. Useless info I know ! Cheers Dennis.

“240 Gardner” is missing in action ,wheres he gone ■■ I expect you are right Dennis,but the font of knowledge
on the Atkinsons will no doubt confirm !!

[deanb]

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

Thanks for your comments Dennis ! I may be wrong but i seem to remember one of the large tanker
operators,shell,esso or someone operated them ■■

[deanb]

5thwheel:
JCD car transporter, anyone know what JCD stands for ■■?

0

Perhaps “Jack’s Car Deliveries” Dean,lol,lol!

David
[/quote]
Have they let you out the home again David ? Will have to have a word with the matron and have
the medication increased chap !!

Buzzer:

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

Dennis I was the proud owner of a AEC Mammoth Minor as it was called on a J reg but on round timber it was a nightmare, like a bloody see saw so the second steer axle I had removed and had a long wheel based Mandator but with AV760 she could fly and was more comfortable because of the longer wheelbase.

Any pics Buzzer ?

gingerfold:

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC. I recall Bradys had 6 on order in 1967 to take advantage of the new '68 Transport act to run at 32 ton gvw but the lone Mandator they ran gave so much trouble they cancelled the order and bought six 6x2 Atki rear steers G reg from memory. Cheers Dennis.

The early Ergo Mandators with the AV691 engines were the troublesome ones, overheating being the usual problem caused by a combination of thick cylinder liners, small radiator, and poor air flow around the engine because of constraints caused by the cab. The AV760 with thinner cylinder liners which dissipated the heat faster was a different proposition all together and a much more reliable engine. The twin-pass radiator as it was called, also improved cooling. By early 1967 the AV691 option had been quietly discontinued for lorries although it was still used in horizontal format for the AEC Reliance coach, which could carry a much bigger radiator. The last Mammoth Minors were made as late as 1971 for Air Products. There was no need for that axle configuration by then for 32 tons, but Air Products had designed some trailers specifically for going behind a Mammoth Minor, and rather than alter the pin position on an expensive pressure tank they asked AEC to build some Mammoth Minors for them, unbeknown to the top brass at Leyland, who weren’t at all happy. As for the twin-pass radiator, when I had my restored Mandator it put the fan into the rad one day when I was running unit only over a very rough road surface (the fan on a AV760 engine ran very close to the rad) and when I had the rad rebuilt it was done, wrongly, as a single pass system and afterwards even running light there was a noticeable increase on the temp. gauge when climbing a hill. Previously with the correct rad. the temp. gauge never moved.
0

Thanks for the comments “gingerfold” ,you have a lot of valuable knowledge that you contribute, thanks.

moomooland:
10A colour shot of of a H. Baker AEC Mandator loading up in Bradford.

Thanks for the photo Paul,nice !

Punchy Dan:
Looks like there’s a Foden behind John wards 88 pushing him on a straight bar

Other way round “Punchy Dan” the 88 is pulling the Foden as well ! They were always getting in the way
them Fodens !!!

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

Thanks Ramone for the comments !!

[deanb]

Bewick:

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

The idea was brilliant “ramone” and on the face of it was economical just using the fron’t end( and one drive axle) of an MM but in practice the engine and its ancillary equipment sunk it ! Plus British Leyland were arrogant [zb] so they got “theirs” and were wiped out by a combination of Atkis, ERF’s and the Scandinavians ! eventually the Scandinavians came out on top , unfortunately, but that is life and business ! Cheers Dennis.

Thanks for your input Dennis !

Buzzer:

Bewick:

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

The idea was brilliant “ramone” and on the face of it was economical just using the fron’t end( and one drive axle) of an MM but in practice the engine and its ancillary equipment sunk it ! Plus British Leyland were arrogant [zb] so they got “theirs” and were wiped out by a combination of Atkis, ERF’s and the Scandinavians ! eventually the Scandinavians came out on top , unfortunately, but that is life and business ! Cheers Dennis.

Always told that DAF based there engine’s on the AV 760 just turned it round & re jigged it a bit, below is a rare example of an early DAF on UK plates for Onward Transport, cheers Buzzer

I have read that somewhere as well Buzzer !

Paul John:

Punchy Dan:
Looks like there’s a Foden behind John wards 88 pushing him on a straight bar

Dan, what ever is following the blue 88 is in Andrew Coopers way as he wants to pass them all.
Reminds me of a story I heard back in the eighties. This old guy was in his Morris 1000 one Sunday afternoon taking a nice run out when it conks out. He’s under the bonnet scratching his head, can’t work out what’s wrong. This young kid in a RS 2000 stops to see if he could help. The old man asks if he could tow him back to the house. No problem they put a rope on and off they go. About five minutes into the journey the kid in the RS spots a Dolamite Sprint and decides to chase after him. Totally forgets about the car he’s towing. Couple of guys enjoying a pint in the local beer garden, cant believe what they are seeing. They shout to their mates telling them, there’s a RS 2000 out here chasing a Dolamite Sprint and a guy hanging out the window of a Morris 1000 flashing his lights and banging his horn trying to pass them.
Classic!

Cheers “Paul John”

Buzzer:
One from the era we are on, Bass Charrington Scammel Crusader, not the usuall axle set up for the norm back then, no number plate and it looks new maybe when the weights went up to 38 ton in 1983 as a lot of tandem trailers and not many tri-axle tractors, cheers Buzzer.

Like you say Buzzer, that is an unusual looking set up ,almost looks like a heavy haulage unit !

[moomooland]

DEANB:

Bewick:
Those Mammoth Minors turned out to be a disaster IIRC.

Thanks for your comments Dennis ! I may be wrong but i seem to remember one of the large tanker
operators,shell,esso or someone operated them ■■

There were quite a few of the disastrous Mammoth Minors about back in the day.

[gingerfold]

Bewick:

ramone:
The H.Bakers Mammoth Minor gave problems , apparently it threw flames from the exhaust according to one of their drivers who is sadly no longer with us. It went back to Tillotsons in Bradford but they couldn`t cure it. The 4 x 2 Mandator loading bales was eventually sold to B.Holmes waste paper in Bradford and my dad drove it . By this time it was 10 years old and past its best , it was a regular over the M62 running at full weight to Ramsbottom

The idea was brilliant “ramone” and on the face of it was economical just using the fron’t end( and one drive axle) of an MM but in practice the engine and its ancillary equipment sunk it ! Plus British Leyland were arrogant [zb] so they got “theirs” and were wiped out by a combination of Atkis, ERF’s and the Scandinavians ! eventually the Scandinavians came out on top , unfortunately, but that is life and business ! Cheers Dennis.

Just a slight correction and being pedantic, but the front axles of a Mammoth Minor were lightweight axles rated at 4.25 tons each, compared with the normal MM axles of 6 tons each. The Mandator also had a 6 ton front axle.