Atkinson used this cab at one point, an artic unit fitted with a sleeper. Ugly looking thing !..
Don’t think they were only ones either, I’m sure a few other makes used it, Saviem will know.
From my days in Glaxo laboratories in the late 60s I know that Krupp also (or maybe a separate company?) made centrifuges.
As one of my colleagues said ‘you can’t beat a good Krupp!’
John.
John West:
From my days in Glaxo laboratories in the late 60s I know that Krupp also (or maybe a separate company?) made centrifuges.As one of my colleagues said ‘you can’t beat a good Krupp!’
John.
They use to make sodden great artillery pieces as well, around 1939 to 1945… 
I put a number of pictures of the Atkinson / Krupp on a thread I started, called: LHD Krupp-cabbed Atkinson CLT. 
Robert
Evening all,
Robert, those beautiful Bernards are probably my all time favourite lorry. They had a “presence” either moving , or parked that was impossible to ignore.But sadly, they were of a time, and time passed them by. The licence built Gardner engine simply could not match the power race that beset French operators in the 60s…good heavens, they were looking at 200 hp for 35 tonne operation!!!
When I was first driving in France, those seemingly massive Bernards used to grind past my little 4 pot Foden on the hills,(and they went past so slowly that I could admire the handsome lines of the various cab designs by Cottard, Pelpel, and Arnault)…But when I graduated to a S21 Micky Mouse with a 150 Gardner, and 12 speed, it was me who was “king on the hills”, all that power, and so many gears…even if I did not have a couchette!
But Bernard passed into the ownership of Mack, and some rather strange looking beasts emerged from Arcuil, (imagine a Mack R type bonnet, with a “handsome” Pelpel sleeper cab behind…a curious mismatch of WW11 Anderson Air raid shelter, and 1960s Sprite caravan)!..with a 200 hp Mack engine…And no, Bernards traditional customers were not enthralled…and many went off to try one of Pierre Willemes new 255hp Turbocharged, Horizon cab forward control units.............then finding that engine a step too far in reliability terms went back and bought a Charbonneaux styled Television cab Bernard, (despite its 185, note the extra 5hp Gardner licence built power),...............or Frances ugliest lorry ever…and perhaps the worst incarnation of Messers Motor Panels universal cab…the V8 Mack…but boy did she have some go in her…but so ugly one would only park her a long way from the Routier where you would be eating lunch!
Bit like the Krupp cab Atkinson, (Stewart Eden-Smiths pet project). Really a Mk 1, with a distress sale tin top, and a Rolls Royce diesel…before they became reliable! When I was selling Atkinsons I recall being quite impressed…probably because of the bed behind the seats…But the only ones that I can recall, were the one operated by Peter Blake up in Cheshire, the Alan Taylor/Cartwright one in Wolverhampton…and a red one that I used to see regularly in Antwerpen…going like stink across that B pave…(which buckled the wheels of my bike when I was out training…and they were expensive wheels…with chrome spokes)!!..But the Euro cab Saviems rode those cobbles so well…and that cab was both comfortable, quiet, and not ugly…But the Bernard beat it hands down for looks!!!
Cheerio for now.
Thanks John…a master class in facts and figures.
bma.finland:
0
one for saviem
That’s very nice BMA, cheers Buzzer.
michel:
Berliet GRK 10 from 1962.
Evening all,
Well, I am amazed at the way my" old grey cells" function…I was finishing the good lady`s Greenhouse project today…running water, sink, electricity , (all the normal things needed for a 5 star erection)…
And right behind me, my love of 50 plus years…is moving in the fresh Tomato plants… flowers…and goodness knows what else!!!..and it `aint finished yet…“quoth I” !!!
But suddenly I was back to a winters night, (I think 64), dark, ice on the road, and I was straining to see, (Courtesy of that Prince of Darkness......Mr Lucass), faint yellow beams the twisting RN 6 around Appoingny when I came upon a lorry "skewed " across the road in front of me.
It was a Berliet GBM10, a 6x2 26 tonne rigid, (the main haulage spec in the 60s), powered by a Ricardo injected Berliet engine of 150 hp under that charismatic long smooth Berliet bonnet. The reason for the stoppage, a double blow out…bad enough, but with a “mate” behind with another spare 1200 wheel, not a major problem…unless the lorry “fell” off the jack!!!
And that is what has happened…
But with three of us, my Fodens (little), jack, and a lot of youthfull muscle power…all was right to go, in less than an hour…or so…
A quick handshake, the offer of a “Vin”, when we next meet, and they were gone into the misty frost ridden night…in front of me of course…because they were “Primeurs”…the men who fed France…
And Michels picture, and my wifes Tomato plants bought it all back.
Les Primeurs…
Often on the RN 6 or 7, in particular, I would see the rapidly approaching yellow headlights in my offside mirror of some “Primeur” in his highly powered 4x2, or 6x2, fitted with the distinctive “Primeur” body, (like an open top UK Luton, with a tarpaulin cover pulled tight across the ponderous load, that filled the Luton head, and the drop tailboard to the height of the body, (forty cases over the cab, an extra 80 on the tailboard), all full of prime vegatables ready for the markets of Paris, Lyon, and the Cities of the North.
These owner operator/ merchants came from all quarters of France, Vaucluse, Drome, Bouches De Rhone, Bretagne, Languedoc-Rousillon,Pyrenees -Orientals, from the ports of the south Sete, Marseille, (Quai 4 ), the fruit from Algeria, (Oranges, Clementines ,Mandarines. And the new "spuds " from Maroc), the salads as they came into season…
In winter, from the seasonal sun, (or the point of delivery from North Africa), these products had to reach the market with speed…and they did!!!
But how?
The vehicles of choice were Unic, Berliet, Saviem, big power 4x2s, (150/200 hp, @19 tonnes gvw), fitted with the standard "Primeur " body, a high sides open top Luton with a , (robust), drop down tailgate, and openable ventilation apertures on the sides to aid the free flow of cooling air over the fresh product carried inside.4x2 19 tonners was the preferred specification, but some operators ran 26 tonne 6x2s for their advantage in backloads from the North. Some operators chose to run with a trailer behind,@35 tonnes…but the main, (absolute flyers) were the 4x2s…and could they motor on…
One that I remember well was the operator Dominique Maini, of Chateaurenard, whose magnificent, (and in no other way could they be described), Berliet. Relax cab, GRK10 4x2, 180 hp, “M”, MAN combustion 19/35 tonne, outfits, then surpassed by the GR 12 , 12 litre 240 hp 4x2 19 tonne, (35 tonne with a trailer), that used to pass me with a clear 20mph advantage!!! On a sunny day I would see the mural of a traditional Provence clad dressed lady on the front of the Cappochine, (Luton Head), as they raced past me!! And all that I ever saw on the tailboard, (if it was not down and loaded ), was the legend…" Rapide de Provence""…and they were…
But it all ended with the French Governments establishment of Les MINs, (Marches D`Interet Nationals), in the late 60s. Les Halles in Paris were redundant, (though not immediately)! The rows of Primeurs, along Sebastopol, were reduced until no more! And an epoc gone.
And my help to the stranded Berliet chauffers?
Some weeks later I had enjoyed the tomato salad with my lamb at the little Routier just up the road from Appoigny, and when I came to settle…“Madame” said…this is with the compliments of M Veray, “for your help”…
Happy memories indeed.
Cheerio for now.
bma.finland:
0
one for saviem
Benkku,your drawings are a delight…thank you.
One of the very first Saviems, a JL20, (in reality a SOMUA JL19, 19tonne 4x2), powered by a SOMUA D615H 6cylinder of 150 hp. The first product to be built at the “new” SAVIEM works in the old French Navy shipyard on the River Orne, close to Caen, (and for those patriotic Brits, a couple of kliks from Pegasus Bridge…(when it was there)! And not built at Saint Ouen!
Really liked your drawing for Robert of a ERF European in his “colours”…
I shall have to resort to my nightly Bollinger to decide which I shall drive…the ERF, or the Saviem…
Cheerio for now.
Lovely subject this.
Here is a nice archive, a report on Mr Uldaric BOREL, owner-driver from Cavaillon, running back and forth to the Marché d’intérêt national in Rungis. Back then in 1970 and if I understand correctly, the MIN had just been introduced.
It is in French language but some of you on here may recognise the sweet sound of the SAVIEM SM240, you will see its handbrake being handled (was referred to a few days back), and lots of other little evocative details.
Enjoy.
Here’s another couple of photos of Ratrap which I hope will stir some old memories!
bma.finland:
0
TOTAL esteticcheers benkku
Benkku, that is beautiful, in fact one of the best looking Saviems ever!
32 tonnes on 3 axles.
In the US there is a Mack prototype fitted with a Cottard “Boule” cab, looks just like your drawing…ah the days of real good looking lorries.
I shall raise my Bollinger to you in the north, and your considerable talent…
Cheerio for now.
One of the first GRK10 in the Maini fleet.
Evening all,
Michel, what a find, I never ever thought that anyone would have a picture of any of Manis Berliets. That picture of the pretty young girl in regional dress still stays in my memory.
Boy those lorries could fly, (and fly straight by me, a good 20mph faster)!
I can only remember those “Primeurs”, as really good men…always , if you were in need, ready to help. That whole epoc, and their business would be worth recording, before it is lost in time…just as in the UK the work of the hauliers feeding our national markets has been lost. Grief, todays housewife has no concept of how the food she buys reaches her “supermarket”…yet in the time we are talking about…there were no supermarkets, and the quality food was delivered courtesy of Les Primeurs.
Thank you Michel for the memory,
I shall raise my glass, (of not medicaly approved Bollinger), towards the East of France, (but Bollinger is far more beneficial than any drug)!!!
Cheerio for now.
This Saviem JL20 was delivering eggs and poultry from west France to wholesale dealers .
Bernard 26DA150 with a publicity for TV , but loads was mainly fruits and vegetables.
Evening all,
Now there is another thread…“Running Bent in the 80s &90s”…but long hours, and high speed, surely the masters of this were Les Primeurs.
Michel, that is a super photograph of Jean Chaussets Berliet RA150, from around 62. All of Jean`s lorries ran in the colours of their “back load” client, Radio and Television Grammont, for whom they distributed their products in the South of France, from their base at Chaussat, Chateaurenard.
Most of the Chausset fleet was Unic based, Izoard, and Galibier, with the 180 hp 9.8 litre for the 19 tonne 4x2s. But they had reliability problems, and Jean bought that Bernard, its licence built Gardner 150 LX, having 165 horse power to move the 12 metre 26 tonne 6x2 along…but low on power, …but utterly reliable, (unlike the Unic`s!
That was a smart lorry, in his grey, and red livery, with I think a D`Ollivo Primeur body, from Chateaurenard. Those Pelpel, “Television” cabs really were quite a show stopper!
Cheerio for now.