PAUL GEE's PHOTO COLLECTION (Part 1)

[240_gardner]

DEANB:
Hovis brochure.

Fascinating stuff, Dean, thank you for posting! Is there any subject not covered in your archives??

My only brush with Hovis was whilst working briefly for Gits at Thatcham on the M&S job in 2010, tipping empty trays at Greenford and reloading at Mitcham.

Greenford, in particular, was a very unwelcoming place. I remember that the drivers’ reception area had a notice pinned up, with a list of all the agency drivers banned from site - it ran to 4 sides of A4 paper!! Something tells me that it’s not the drivers who were the problem…

Mitcham was a horrible cramped place, and the drivers had to back in, and then be lined up literally about 3" from the next trailer - once you were out of your motor, you couldn’t get back in unless you were at one end of the row. I did a short description of a Hovis day for another forum at the time:

"A week in the life of a supermarket trolley pusher….
Sunday… report to Thatcham at 1030, collect Volvo FM and tandem axle 13.6m trailer, loaded with empty trays for Hovis at Greenford
Arrive at Hovis, find shunter and get bay - 'elf & safety dictates that, not only must you disconnect the red line and apply a lock (the key of which then releases the shutter on the loading bay door!) to the coupling on the trailer, but also you must pull the pin and draw the unit forward.
Meanwhile, the shunter drops the suspension on my trailer so that they can get the plate onto the back, but which then angles the trailer nicely so that the trays, on steel bases, roll briskly out of the trailer. Elf isn’t happy with this, and so issues 3’ lengths of rubber wedge to put under the wheels so they don’t roll down hill and crush anyone… Into the warehouse, apply hair net and then into the trailer to take off straps, gleefully hurling trays down hill at warehousemen
When finished, couple up again, follow one way system around site, up over on-site flyover (7.5 tonners are parked on the roof!) and back round to ground level to road. Head off to reload at Hovis at Mitcham, via M40, M25, M23, A23, due to lorry ban. Stop at Hooley on A23 for 45 mins - nip across road into Starbucks for white chocolate mocha, with cream on top. Yum.
Into Mitcham to load - meet Faversham depot driver who is tipping empties at Mitcham but reloading at Hovis Dartford… Reverse into yard, and line up with adjacent Hovis trailer, 3" away… Load full load via tail lift, having first lifted trailer and dropped drive axle, so trays (surprisingly heavy) roll in nicely. Have to wait 30 minutes for 4 trays to complete last dolly.
Leave Mitcham with more facial hair than on arrival, and head for home but observe coach driver’s wild gesticulations on M25 at Heathrow… flat tyre on trailer Attempt call out, but “24/7” Gist is unmanned in both Transport and workshop. Highways Agency man cross. Offer him main switchboard number - security man tells him there is no-one there and then puts phone down. HA man much more cross. I tell him to call ATS…
Watch aeroplanes on short finals till ATS arrives, followed by HA cavalry. HA close lane 1 (on opposite carriageway at first!) and ATS chap changes tyre. ATS man follows me to Colnbrook to retorque wheel nuts. Back to Thatcham, park on door and go home at 2215."

Awaiting the tyre fitter on the M25:

[kmills]

DEANB:

MANTRONIC:

DEANB:
3

Hey ,Dean ,Brian Chilton,has got a Ailsa Edition 540 ! ,see him using the A470 Brecon road up to mid Wales regularly ,usually loggers . MT

Morning “MT”, thanks for the comments chap. Paul just sent me this pic which we assume is the motor
you are talking about ?

3

The above is very smart but i did like the original colour scheme better. Any idea how many trucks they are
running these days “MT” ?

2

1

steelboyf10:
Hi Dean, loved the 401 run, Cromarty Carpets were from Lancashire, had a depot next to TNT at Ramsbottom from memory

Thanks for the info and comments “steelboyf10”

Punchy Dan:
Wilcox bodies are or were IMO undoubtedly the best all round for strength and durability.

They were nice bodies like you say Dan and my grandad had a couple and i dont remember him having any issues with them
on grain etc.

smallcoal:
Hi dean two pics when I was on tipper work 1st pic just tipped coke in a foundry in Birmingham

Thanks for the pics John. I see your transport manager has been given the sack,happy days from what you have been
saying.

240 Gardner:
“DEANB” We have had some cracking tippers on here chaps.

Some artics.

A superb selection Dean, and I thought I recognised this reg (although not the livery):

I have photos of it later in life with John Gornall of Spennymoor. I have a feeling that its running gear lives on in his restored Defender, but perhaps one of the north eastern boys would know for sure.

Thanks for the comments Chris,where are the pics then chap…

240 Gardner:
“DEANB”

Another fine selection of motors, Dean (and Paul!). I don’t know anything about tippers, but these are cracking photos.

This is the only tipper I’ve ever driven! I’ve actually done quite a few miles in it

That was at Beamish in November 1995, doing a photo shoot for Edbro - my borrowed clogs were two sizes too small and it was below freezing all day, so I struggled no end to get the rascal to start. Oh, and I got pulled by the Ministry Man at Scotch Corner on the way up, which was a jolly jape in itself.

Cracking pic Chris,what sort of speed would that do out of intrest ?

windrush:
Cravens Tasktip were brilliant bodies, the ones we had at Tilcon lasted well with just the usual cracking of the alloy sub chassis at the rear which most bodies had on asphalt and hot material, we cured that by making flitch plates and bolting them on. My last new eightwheeler had a Wilcox body, the less said about that the better though.

Pete.

Thanks for the comments Pete,sounds like the Wilcox insulated body was not so good then. I can only comment on there
normal grain tipping bodies and they were fine.

Out of intrest what was the problem ?

kmills:
This was Bob Slaney - BJD stood for Bob, Jean & Debbie as far as I know.
He was from somewhere around Derby, and also pulled for Brit European / Carmans from Scholar Green, which is how I knew of him.

Cheers all,

Keith

Thanks for the name Keith. Did you drive for Brit European / Carmans out of intrest ?

Hi Dean,sorry for being very slow getting back to you - I’m very busy at the moment.
No, I didn’t drive for Carman’s / Brit European,my Dad was a subby on there, on & off a bit from 1975 for a few years. I used to spend a bit of time with him in their yard washing the odd trailer etc, even though we lived in Hereford at the time.
It may - or may not been BJD, who lost his position as a subby on Brit’s due to a sudden bout of amnesia.
He fueled up in their yard as the subbies did - but he completely forgot to note it in the fuel book. Oh dear.

Cheers all,

Keith

Posted a long distance diary about them on page 427.

0

[kmills]

Keeping myself busy on a farm at the moment, building 3 grain augers as the ‘day’ job, and carting grapes as the 'weekend ’ job…

Cheers, Keith

[chris_webb]

240 Gardner:

DEANB:
Hovis brochure.

Fascinating stuff, Dean, thank you for posting! Is there any subject not covered in your archives??

My only brush with Hovis was whilst working briefly for Gits at Thatcham on the M&S job in 2010, tipping empty trays at Greenford and reloading at Mitcham.

Greenford, in particular, was a very unwelcoming place. I remember that the drivers’ reception area had a notice pinned up, with a list of all the agency drivers banned from site - it ran to 4 sides of A4 paper!! Something tells me that it’s not the drivers who were the problem…

Mitcham was a horrible cramped place, and the drivers had to back in, and then be lined up literally about 3" from the next trailer - once you were out of your motor, you couldn’t get back in unless you were at one end of the row. I did a short description of a Hovis day for another forum at the time:

"A week in the life of a supermarket trolley pusher….
Sunday… report to Thatcham at 1030, collect Volvo FM and tandem axle 13.6m trailer, loaded with empty trays for Hovis at Greenford
Arrive at Hovis, find shunter and get bay - 'elf & safety dictates that, not only must you disconnect the red line and apply a lock (the key of which then releases the shutter on the loading bay door!) to the coupling on the trailer, but also you must pull the pin and draw the unit forward.
Meanwhile, the shunter drops the suspension on my trailer so that they can get the plate onto the back, but which then angles the trailer nicely so that the trays, on steel bases, roll briskly out of the trailer. Elf isn’t happy with this, and so issues 3’ lengths of rubber wedge to put under the wheels so they don’t roll down hill and crush anyone… Into the warehouse, apply hair net and then into the trailer to take off straps, gleefully hurling trays down hill at warehousemen
When finished, couple up again, follow one way system around site, up over on-site flyover (7.5 tonners are parked on the roof!) and back round to ground level to road. Head off to reload at Hovis at Mitcham, via M40, M25, M23, A23, due to lorry ban. Stop at Hooley on A23 for 45 mins - nip across road into Starbucks for white chocolate mocha, with cream on top. Yum.
Into Mitcham to load - meet Faversham depot driver who is tipping empties at Mitcham but reloading at Hovis Dartford… Reverse into yard, and line up with adjacent Hovis trailer, 3" away… Load full load via tail lift, having first lifted trailer and dropped drive axle, so trays (surprisingly heavy) roll in nicely. Have to wait 30 minutes for 4 trays to complete last dolly.
Leave Mitcham with more facial hair than on arrival, and head for home but observe coach driver’s wild gesticulations on M25 at Heathrow… flat tyre on trailer Attempt call out, but “24/7” Gist is unmanned in both Transport and workshop. Highways Agency man cross. Offer him main switchboard number - security man tells him there is no-one there and then puts phone down. HA man much more cross. I tell him to call ATS…
Watch aeroplanes on short finals till ATS arrives, followed by HA cavalry. HA close lane 1 (on opposite carriageway at first!) and ATS chap changes tyre. ATS man follows me to Colnbrook to retorque wheel nuts. Back to Thatcham, park on door and go home at 2215."

Awaiting the tyre fitter on the M25:
0

What a nice little article Chris.I’m surprised “Gits” didn’t have 24/7 back up.“Highway Agency man cross” - I’ll bet.

[240_gardner]

Chris Webb:

240 Gardner:

DEANB:
Hovis brochure.

Fascinating stuff, Dean, thank you for posting! Is there any subject not covered in your archives??

My only brush with Hovis was whilst working briefly for Gits at Thatcham on the M&S job in 2010, tipping empty trays at Greenford and reloading at Mitcham.

Greenford, in particular, was a very unwelcoming place. I remember that the drivers’ reception area had a notice pinned up, with a list of all the agency drivers banned from site - it ran to 4 sides of A4 paper!! Something tells me that it’s not the drivers who were the problem…

Mitcham was a horrible cramped place, and the drivers had to back in, and then be lined up literally about 3" from the next trailer - once you were out of your motor, you couldn’t get back in unless you were at one end of the row. I did a short description of a Hovis day for another forum at the time:

"A week in the life of a supermarket trolley pusher….
Sunday… report to Thatcham at 1030, collect Volvo FM and tandem axle 13.6m trailer, loaded with empty trays for Hovis at Greenford
Arrive at Hovis, find shunter and get bay - 'elf & safety dictates that, not only must you disconnect the red line and apply a lock (the key of which then releases the shutter on the loading bay door!) to the coupling on the trailer, but also you must pull the pin and draw the unit forward.
Meanwhile, the shunter drops the suspension on my trailer so that they can get the plate onto the back, but which then angles the trailer nicely so that the trays, on steel bases, roll briskly out of the trailer. Elf isn’t happy with this, and so issues 3’ lengths of rubber wedge to put under the wheels so they don’t roll down hill and crush anyone… Into the warehouse, apply hair net and then into the trailer to take off straps, gleefully hurling trays down hill at warehousemen
When finished, couple up again, follow one way system around site, up over on-site flyover (7.5 tonners are parked on the roof!) and back round to ground level to road. Head off to reload at Hovis at Mitcham, via M40, M25, M23, A23, due to lorry ban. Stop at Hooley on A23 for 45 mins - nip across road into Starbucks for white chocolate mocha, with cream on top. Yum.
Into Mitcham to load - meet Faversham depot driver who is tipping empties at Mitcham but reloading at Hovis Dartford… Reverse into yard, and line up with adjacent Hovis trailer, 3" away… Load full load via tail lift, having first lifted trailer and dropped drive axle, so trays (surprisingly heavy) roll in nicely. Have to wait 30 minutes for 4 trays to complete last dolly.
Leave Mitcham with more facial hair than on arrival, and head for home but observe coach driver’s wild gesticulations on M25 at Heathrow… flat tyre on trailer Attempt call out, but “24/7” Gist is unmanned in both Transport and workshop. Highways Agency man cross. Offer him main switchboard number - security man tells him there is no-one there and then puts phone down. HA man much more cross. I tell him to call ATS…
Watch aeroplanes on short finals till ATS arrives, followed by HA cavalry. HA close lane 1 (on opposite carriageway at first!) and ATS chap changes tyre. ATS man follows me to Colnbrook to retorque wheel nuts. Back to Thatcham, park on door and go home at 2215."

Awaiting the tyre fitter on the M25:
0

What a nice little article Chris.I’m surprised “Gits” didn’t have 24/7 back up.“Highway Agency man cross” - I’ll bet.

Thanks Chris! I did the rest of the week too, on the old forum. The site at Thatcham was most definitely 24/7, but no-one was answering the phone. It was only by chance that I’d overheard ATS mentioned - we never had any documents to refer to in case of breakdown, etc., no phones in the cab, even in 2010. I expect the full-timers had all sorts of info, but not the dirty agency drivers like me.

After that, I went to do weekends at Asda at Didcot, and they were streets ahead of Gits/M&S in every single way: the quality and condition of the fleet, the behaviour of the employed drivers towards the agency staff, the general pleasantness of the traffic staff, the access to the stores, the welcome at the stores, the room to swing any number of cats around the depot, and the very helpful shunters.

[deanb]

Ray Smyth:
Hi Dean, Yes, you are correct regarding the D1311 on the Ford lorries. They were 13 tons G.V.W.
The 2 D1311s that I posted earlier were 5200 kg unladen weight, so they could carry 7800kg.
For a 13 tonner they were quite heavy, they were on 10.00 x 20 ten stud wheels, and the bodywork
was by Southfields of Loughborough. In my opinion, Southfields curtainsided bodies were in the same
league as " Tautliners " from Boalloy from Congleton. The lorry curtains on the Ranks Southfields
lorries was much thicker than some others that I have seen since. I have attached a picture of another
ex Rank Hovis Ford D1311 curtainsider which I acquired in 1983, LYK 434P was a little bit lighter in
unladen weight than the previous two, it was on 11.225 wheels and tyres. I happened to have a tin
of " Midnight Blue " paint in the depot, it was ex " Robert Baillie ", hence the appearance of LYK 434P.

Cheers, Ray Smyth.

Thanks for confirming those details Ray. Nothing wrong with the “Robert Baillie blue paint.”

Will do a bit on the D series soon chap.

240 Gardner:
“DEANB” Hovis brochure.

Fascinating stuff, Dean, thank you for posting! Is there any subject not covered in your archives??

My only brush with Hovis was whilst working briefly for Gits at Thatcham on the M&S job in 2010, tipping empty trays at Greenford and reloading at Mitcham.

Leave Mitcham with more facial hair than on arrival, and head for home but observe coach driver’s wild gesticulations on M25 at Heathrow… flat tyre on trailer Attempt call out, but “24/7” Gist is unmanned in both Transport and workshop. Highways Agency man cross. Offer him main switchboard number - security man tells him there is no-one there and then puts phone down. HA man much more cross. I tell him to call ATS…

Watch aeroplanes on short finals till ATS arrives, followed by HA cavalry. HA close lane 1 (on opposite carriageway at first!) and ATS chap changes tyre. ATS man follows me to Colnbrook to retorque wheel nuts. Back to Thatcham, park on door and go home at 2215."[/i]

Awaiting the tyre fitter on the M25:

Morning Chris,

Thanks for the comments on working for Gits on the M&S job.
With regard to the archives Chris,if there is anything you are after let me know and “if” its already scanned
i will pop it on. Trouble is there are thousands of pages not scanned so although i probably have it i may
not be able to find it as the filing system is a bit iffy to say the least

Sounds like the best part of your day was watching the airplanes coming into land !

Will pop a bit on about ATS.

kmills:
“DEANB”

This was Bob Slaney - BJD stood for Bob, Jean & Debbie as far as I know.
He was from somewhere around Derby, and also pulled for Brit European / Carmans from Scholar Green, which is how I knew of him.

Cheers all,

Keith

Thanks for the name Keith. Did you drive for Brit European / Carmans out of intrest ?

Hi Dean,sorry for being very slow getting back to you - I’m very busy at the moment.
No, I didn’t drive for Carman’s / Brit European,my Dad was a subby on there, on & off a bit from 1975 for a few years. I used to spend a bit of time with him in their yard washing the odd trailer etc, even though we lived in Hereford at the time.
It may - or may not been BJD, who lost his position as a subby on Brit’s due to a sudden bout of amnesia.
He fueled up in their yard as the subbies did - but he completely forgot to note it in the fuel book. Oh dear.

Cheers all,

Keith

Thanks for the comments about Carmans / Brit European. Classic “forgot to note it in the fuel book”
Nice pic of the Freighliner. Those augers could be slow when loading grain,it was nice when you arrived at a farm to
load and they had a loading shovel.

Heres a bit on Carmans / Brit European.

Click on pages twice to read.

240 Gardner:
“Chris Webb”
What a nice little article Chris.I’m surprised “Gits” didn’t have 24/7 back up.“Highway Agency man cross” - I’ll bet.

Thanks Chris! I did the rest of the week too, on the old forum. The site at Thatcham was most definitely 24/7, but no-one was answering the phone. It was only by chance that I’d overheard ATS mentioned - we never had any documents to refer to in case of breakdown, etc., no phones in the cab, even in 2010. I expect the full-timers had all sorts of info, but not the dirty agency drivers like me.

After that, I went to do weekends at Asda at Didcot, and they were streets ahead of Gits/M&S in every single way: the quality and condition of the fleet, the behaviour of the employed drivers towards the agency staff, the general pleasantness of the traffic staff, the access to the stores, the welcome at the stores, the room to swing any number of cats around the depot, and the very helpful shunters.

Thanks for the comments Mr Webb & Chris. Sounds like Asda was ok to work for compared to Gist. Unbelievable that no one
was answering the phone when you think you were carrying perishables !

[deanb]

Some oldies at the fairground / steam rally.

They liked there ERF’s with the plastic cabs and alot with Gardner engines.

[deanb]

Not sure if we have had a Durable motor from London on before,looks like the driver is just changing gear.

Parcel Force Seddon Atkinson 301.

Old Leyland tanker at Hurn airport.

Anyone recognise the Volvo FL tipper ■■

“finbarot” Nice shot of one of Drinkwater Sabey’s Volvo’s.

BOC Constructor.

Anyone know where the P.R.Jones Iveco muck away tipper is from ■■

Safeway Volvo.

Anyone recognise the reg on the Volvo pulling the fridge heading into Poole ■■

Anyone recognise the mighty 142 ■■? Dont recognise the colour scheme.

[deanb]

robthedog:
Sparks Volvo wrecker recovering Online ? car transporter. Anyone know where the Sparks Volvo is from ■■

Hi Dean

Sparks are the Renault dealer in Houndsdown near Totton I think they’ve still got garages in Poole and Pompey, it was started by Mike spark about 30 years ago quite a big co now, esp as mike started with just a van and then a workshop in Nursling

Rob, Belben’s was the Renault/Saviem dealer that operated the garge in Poole which Sparks took over.
Belben’s were well known in the area and had a good reputation.

Heres there wrecker,which looks like it was imported as LHD and on Q plates.

[deanb]

“240Gardner” Chris you mentioned ATS.

I reckon we have all been parked at the side of the road waiting for a tyre fitter at some point.

Some good old companies in this brochure.

Click on pages twice to read.

[deanb]

[deanb]

[chris_webb]

Morning Dean.
Great article about ATS,Glass Glover/MFS used them and service second to none.

That Volvo F10 has a Oxford reg plate,I know General Foods Banbury ran them but not fridges I don’t think.Somehow at back of my mind I’ve seen BRS contract F10s with that reg.

[windrush]

ATS!!! I had a blowout on the Foden sixwheeler I drove, it happened on the A50 ‘concrete road’ between Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge when I was loaded with HRA. Offside rear outer, I phoned ATS at Uttoxeter and they arrived and fitted one of their ‘Sterling’ remoulds. The fitter did it without removing the wheel so it didn’t take long, I still got a bollocking from the tarmac gang for holding them up though. Next morning, loaded with a part load of tarmac for Chase Terrace and heading for Sudbury I could hear a ‘flap flap’ coming from the rear wheel! Had a gander, same tyre had split completely around the circumferance. Anyway I hadn’t much weight on so carried on, got rid of the load and called at ATS in Lichfield. Fitter took wheel off and exclaimed “You have kerbed this” and I asked him that as the split was on the inside of an outer wheel how did I manage to kerb it? Anyway he said that I wouldn’t get warranty on it so I asked to speak to the manager: “He’s nipped out for a minute”. He started to fit the replacement tyre (same brand) and when levering it over the rim the bead split! I pointed it out to him: “It will be fine” he said. Of course it wouldn’t inflate then! He got in a temper then, got it off and fitted another which was OK. The manager returned then so I showed him the old tyre; “Sidewall defect, quite common and we will replace it with no charge” so off I went. Next morning, loaded with seventeen tonnes of tarmac for RAF Waddington and I was on the A17 headed towards Sleaford when BANG the same tyre blew to pieces taking the mudguard and lights with it! ATS arrived from Newark and told me that the Sterling range were only meant for slow moving vehicles like dustcarts etc: “We don’t stock them as being close to the A1 the things would be knackered by Scotch Corner” so he fitted another brand and that was fine. Gaffer tried to get some money back from ATS for the lights etc but never got any joy. Coincidently a week later headed on the A52 for Nottingham the inside tyre blew out but luckily with no other damage. My other blowouts were on the front axle so not retreads but new tyres, one burst running over a piece of limestone near the weighbridge at Shining Bank quarry one saturday morning.

When I drove the Sed Ak 400 for Tilcon they fitted me four Cavalier remoulds down the offside rear, one blew off heading for Coventry on the first load and another blew out coming back from Meriden with a load of sand on the same journey!

Pete.

[flourpower]

Hi Dean,

The Rank hovis mill is Finedon mill Northamptonshire the transport is run by Abbey road tankers using Mercedes Actros think they only supply there own bakeries,Whitworths took over a few of there mills Manchester,Selby alot of there old mills have been closed and demolished sad to see these old mills go.cheers Flourpower.

[coomsey]

windrush:
ATS!!! I had a blowout on the Foden sixwheeler I drove, it happened on the A50 ‘concrete road’ between Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge when I was loaded with HRA. Offside rear outer, I phoned ATS at Uttoxeter and they arrived and fitted one of their ‘Sterling’ remoulds. The fitter did it without removing the wheel so it didn’t take long, I still got a bollocking from the tarmac gang for holding them up though. Next morning, loaded with a part load of tarmac for Chase Terrace and heading for Sudbury I could hear a ‘flap flap’ coming from the rear wheel! Had a gander, same tyre had split completely around the circumferance. Anyway I hadn’t much weight on so carried on, got rid of the load and called at ATS in Lichfield. Fitter took wheel off and exclaimed “You have kerbed this” and I asked him that as the split was on the inside of an outer wheel how did I manage to kerb it? Anyway he said that I wouldn’t get warranty on it so I asked to speak to the manager: “He’s nipped out for a minute”. He started to fit the replacement tyre (same brand) and when levering it over the rim the bead split! I pointed it out to him: “It will be fine” he said. Of course it wouldn’t inflate then! He got in a temper then, got it off and fitted another which was OK. The manager returned then so I showed him the old tyre; “Sidewall defect, quite common and we will replace it with no charge” so off I went. Next morning, loaded with seventeen tonnes of tarmac for RAF Waddington and I was on the A17 headed towards Sleaford when BANG the same tyre blew to pieces taking the mudguard and lights with it! ATS arrived from Newark and told me that the Sterling range were only meant for slow moving vehicles like dustcarts etc: “We don’t stock them as being close to the A1 the things would be knackered by Scotch Corner” so he fitted another brand and that was fine. Gaffer tried to get some money back from ATS for the lights etc but never got any joy. Coincidently a week later headed on the A52 for Nottingham the inside tyre blew out but luckily with no other damage. My other blowouts were on the front axle so not retreads but new tyres, one burst running over a piece of limestone near the weighbridge at Shining Bank quarry one saturday morning.

When I drove the Sed Ak 400 for Tilcon they fitted me four Cavalier remoulds down the offside rear, one blew off heading for Coventry on the first load and another blew out coming back from Meriden with a load of sand on the same journey!

Pete.

On the scrap we did our own,no fannying about waiting on the tyre man . But what a God awful job,why anyone would want it for a job is beyond my imagination, it’s up there with brussel picking or milkman
Cheers Coomsey

[arcdaz]

DEANB:
Not sure if we have had a Durable motor from London on before,looks like the driver is just changing gear.

1

Parcel Force Seddon Atkinson 301.

9

Old Leyland tanker at Hurn airport.

8

Anyone recognise the Volvo FL tipper ■■

7

“finbarot” Nice shot of one of Drinkwater Sabey’s Volvo’s.

6

BOC Constructor.

5

Anyone know where the P.R.Jones Iveco muck away tipper is from ■■

4

Safeway Volvo.

3

Anyone recognise the reg on the Volvo pulling the fridge heading into Poole ■■

2

Anyone recognise the mighty 142 ■■? Dont recognise the colour scheme.

0

Cracking set of Pictures here again Dean i love P. R. Jones Iveco muck away tipper very nice indeed Daz

[punchy_dan]

windrush:
ATS!!! I had a blowout on the Foden sixwheeler I drove, it happened on the A50 ‘concrete road’ between Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge when I was loaded with HRA. Offside rear outer, I phoned ATS at Uttoxeter and they arrived and fitted one of their ‘Sterling’ remoulds. The fitter did it without removing the wheel so it didn’t take long, I still got a bollocking from the tarmac gang for holding them up though. Next morning, loaded with a part load of tarmac for Chase Terrace and heading for Sudbury I could hear a ‘flap flap’ coming from the rear wheel! Had a gander, same tyre had split completely around the circumferance. Anyway I hadn’t much weight on so carried on, got rid of the load and called at ATS in Lichfield. Fitter took wheel off and exclaimed “You have kerbed this” and I asked him that as the split was on the inside of an outer wheel how did I manage to kerb it? Anyway he said that I wouldn’t get warranty on it so I asked to speak to the manager: “He’s nipped out for a minute”. He started to fit the replacement tyre (same brand) and when levering it over the rim the bead split! I pointed it out to him: “It will be fine” he said. Of course it wouldn’t inflate then! He got in a temper then, got it off and fitted another which was OK. The manager returned then so I showed him the old tyre; “Sidewall defect, quite common and we will replace it with no charge” so off I went. Next morning, loaded with seventeen tonnes of tarmac for RAF Waddington and I was on the A17 headed towards Sleaford when BANG the same tyre blew to pieces taking the mudguard and lights with it! ATS arrived from Newark and told me that the Sterling range were only meant for slow moving vehicles like dustcarts etc: “We don’t stock them as being close to the A1 the things would be knackered by Scotch Corner” so he fitted another brand and that was fine. Gaffer tried to get some money back from ATS for the lights etc but never got any joy. Coincidently a week later headed on the A52 for Nottingham the inside tyre blew out but luckily with no other damage. My other blowouts were on the front axle so not retreads but new tyres, one burst running over a piece of limestone near the weighbridge at Shining Bank quarry one saturday morning.

When I drove the Sed Ak 400 for Tilcon they fitted me four Cavalier remoulds down the offside rear, one blew off heading for Coventry on the first load and another blew out coming back from Meriden with a load of sand on the same journey!

Pete.

Cheap skate quarry tipper men father kept the big air gun in the B series cab with a LG pcl coupling on that big air tank behind the drive axle ,when the lime was going to France & back he lent the spare off his trailer to a waters driver who’d got a flat tyre in the works ,it came back smooth

[feltfixer]

durable volvo seems to be carrying tubs of bitumen for the roofing trade. there was a firm in burdett road, stepney, east london called durable asphalt back in the 60/70.

[bewick]

DEANB:
“240Gardner” Chris you mentioned ATS.

I reckon we have all been parked at the side of the road waiting for a tyre fitter at some point.

Some good old companies in this brochure.

Click on pages twice to read.

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ATS were a wholly owned subsidiary of Michelin Tyres and they usually promoted Michelin although they did stock other brands. I could never understand why ATS were allowed by Michelin to involve themselves in the production of those poxy Sterling Remoulds !
IIRC National Tyres were owned by Dunlop. Motorway Tyres were owned by Avon Tyres ( I think) and Central Tyres were owned by Pirelli IIRC.
I always took a keen interest in our tyres at Bewick Transport as “rubber” was a major running cost and if neglected it would cause operational nightmares not to mention increased running costs. So even though we always ran a very careful tyre policy we still had premature tyre failures up and down the country mainly as a result of picking up debris off the roads. As we never carried spare wheels it meant calling out a Tyre Service and our standing instructions were always to have a new Michelin case fitted but occasionally one of the Tyre Walla’s would try and put one over on us on the basis that the “spurious” tyre they fitted outside hours was the only one of that size that was available at the time. So as soon as the trailer or unit came back to base our tyre fitter removed the “offending” case and we returned it to our current supplier and refused to pay for it. On a number of instances our local dealer swapped us a new Mich and we paid any difference ! They could always get rid of the spurious case on a call out on the M6 because some firms weren’t bothered what tyres went onto their motors as long as they were “black and round and inflated” !! Cheers Bewick.