Here’s another one for John or Michal…Bernard with an unusual cab ? looks a bit Seddon-ish !!
michel:
One TDA of those preserved, haulage firm Pierjac Maingret not far from the “Puy du Fou” west of France.
Michel, this is not so very far from me, l have friends at la Rochelle, maybe I can contact the owner and get to see it…merci beaucoup…
Well Saviem as it was my birthday today I took my team of horses out for a jaunt and on our travels we came across this import, that being the gent riding this electric jobby. Seems you are not up to speed with modern mono cycling in the wilds of Shropshire as this is the new weapon and no effort required just balance and it hops on a fair old rate of knots too, just think you could nip down the pub and it is quiet as well but not sure how you would get on after a few pints, cheers Buzzer.
Buzzer:
Well Saviem as it was my birthday today I took my team of horses out for a jaunt and on our travels we came across this import, that being the gent riding this electric jobby. Seems you are not up to speed with modern mono cycling in the wilds of Shropshire as this is the new weapon and no effort required just balance and it hops on a fair old rate of knots too, just think you could nip down the pub and it is quiet as well but not sure how you would get on after a few pints, cheers Buzzer.
Happy birthday John, am I guessing, you’d sooner forget 'em than celebrate ,'em… 
Fergie47:
Buzzer:
Well Saviem as it was my birthday today I took my team of horses out for a jaunt and on our travels we came across this import, that being the gent riding this electric jobby. Seems you are not up to speed with modern mono cycling in the wilds of Shropshire as this is the new weapon and no effort required just balance and it hops on a fair old rate of knots too, just think you could nip down the pub and it is quiet as well but not sure how you would get on after a few pints, cheers Buzzer.Happy birthday John, am I guessing, you’d sooner forget 'em than celebrate ,'em…
Your not wrong there Dave, the good thing is I get money in the bank every week and don’t have to punch a truck up the road to get it. Hope your local bar has got a one armed bandit in it otherwise you wont be able to keep Mappo entertained ! cheers JD.
Buzzer:
Fergie47:
Buzzer:
Well Saviem as it was my birthday today I took my team of horses out for a jaunt and on our travels we came across this import, that being the gent riding this electric jobby. Seems you are not up to speed with modern mono cycling in the wilds of Shropshire as this is the new weapon and no effort required just balance and it hops on a fair old rate of knots too, just think you could nip down the pub and it is quiet as well but not sure how you would get on after a few pints, cheers Buzzer.Happy birthday John, am I guessing, you’d sooner forget 'em than celebrate ,'em…
Your not wrong there Dave, the good thing is I get money in the bank every week and don’t have to punch a truck up the road to get it. Hope your local bar has got a one armed bandit in it otherwise you wont be able to keep Mappo entertained ! cheers JD.
John, tell Horry, and all those youngsters, to keep working hard so they can keep us in the custom we’ve become use to. !!
As for Mappo John, dunno where he got the idea he’s gonna be " entertained" I’ve got loads of jobs lined up for him, he’ll be on the Fergie, as the paddock needs cutting again, there’s a kilometre of hedges to be cut, half a dozen trees to be felled, cut, and split for logs, the outside of the house needs painting, then there’s the garden…" entertained" I don’t think so…best not tell him, he might cancel…
Happy Birthday Buzzer John and I hope you have many more, it is also my sons 27th wedding anniversary today so I should not forget your birthday 
cheers Johnnie 
P S when I was 70 I got a card which said " When you reach 70 you do not give a ■■■■ " and my good lady said that applied to me from 7 
P P S I am not implying you are 70 as I think you have a little bit to go yet
This picture that Fergie posted illustrates the tall version of the Motor Panels mark 4 cab. As far as I know only three models had this cab: the French Mack, the Scammell Crusader and the ERF NGC European. Robert
Couple of pic’s for Maggie D, first one of the Trysull Road Dairy entrance by Merry Hill Pub and the second pic one of Midland Counties on Penn Road, both just before demolition, houses now occupy Trysull road site and a Mcdonalds on the Penn Road site,Cheers Pete
Morning all,
Pete, you are documenting the rapid fall of Wolverhampton…and really unlocking the memories!
Fergie, superb pictures of Derudders Mack/Bernard fleet. …but a very imposing MAN drawbar has just turned up in the farmyard with my bricks…so Id better go and get them unloaded…will try to put a bit of flesh on the bones later today
Windrush, that is a lovely collection, real good fun,
Those pictures of Midland Counties Dairy, I can still smell the milk smell…and recall Dennis Miers Guy Warrior tankers parked on the concrete side if Lea Road.
The bricks have arrived…Im gone.
Cheerio for now.
Saviem:
Morning all,Pete, you are documenting the rapid fall of Wolverhampton…and really unlocking the memories!
Fergie, superb pictures of Derudders Mack/Bernard fleet. …but a very imposing MAN drawbar has just turned up in the farmyard with my bricks…so Id better go and get them unloaded…will try to put a bit of flesh on the bones later today
Windrush, that is a lovely collection, real good fun,
Those pictures of Midland Counties Dairy, I can still smell the milk smell…and recall Dennis Miers Guy Warrior tankers parked on the concrete side if Lea Road.
The bricks have arrived…Im gone.
Cheerio for now.
Hi Saviem,Here is a pic i found of Dennis Miers,Cheers Pete
Saviem:
Morning all,Pete, you are documenting the rapid fall of Wolverhampton…and really unlocking the memories!
Fergie, superb pictures of Derudders Mack/Bernard fleet. …but a very imposing MAN drawbar has just turned up in the farmyard with my bricks…so Id better go and get them unloaded…will try to put a bit of flesh on the bones later today
Windrush, that is a lovely collection, real good fun,
Those pictures of Midland Counties Dairy, I can still smell the milk smell…and recall Dennis Miers Guy Warrior tankers parked on the concrete side if Lea Road.
The bricks have arrived…Im gone.
Cheerio for now.
Saw your answer ref the MACK’s on the MACK thread, very impressed with your knowledge and memory…hope the bricks were craned off and not handballed !!
Evening all,
Ah a day of Horse Fly bites, frustration…“I cannot get a 44 tonne truck and trailer in there”…“Let me do it”…“.no way, you would never handle anything this big”…if only he knew…So he craned them off, and I Matbro`ed them round the corner, bit slow one pallet at a time…then came the rain…
So here I am, dried out, but hardly anything done…but what a feast of pictures, and memories! But Buzzer, I really do not fancy that device at all. Im surprised that it did not frighten your Horses!.. The fun of a Unicycle is starting off, then being able to slow down and keep your balance, that foreign jobbie, well it looks like a scooter with no front end, just sit there and balance!
Pete, that shot of Wolverhampton takes me back. Yes you can see the entrance to the Levedale Farm Dairy, but it also shows the demolition taking place for the Wulfrun centre, but is before Manders demolished their old ink works, as you can see the chimney away on the right, along with the old Grammer school in Johns Street. The Central Arcade is there, but it had lost its Edwardian splendour by 1970, when it “oddly” caught fire…a lot of "mysterious fires when Wolverhampton was being redeveloped!
The Dairy on Trysull road was the old Imperial Dairy, taken over by Midland Counties, and used to serve Warstones, and Merry Hill…Was that where Maggie Ds lady milk man worked out off…(d`ont think that she would be like the photograph)! The two semi houses on the left of the entrance were owned by the Dairy and were for the Manager, and Supervisor to live in!
The picture of Midland Counties main Dairy, on Penn Rd, and Lea Road is a sad one. I think that it was demolished in the 80s. It used to be magical to see the conveyors carrying an endless stream of bottles, empty, and full, through those big windows. The lorries used to discharge on that apron to the right. Mainly either Dennis Miers, Vulcans, Guys, or WAC Coopers Guys, (or our Dennis, and Karriers).
As you look to the left, at the top of the hill you can see what was left of the Star Aluminium Co. Demolished in 1981, (when owned by Alusuisse), had been the largest Aluminium Foil producing factory in Europe. Was built on the site of the old AJS car and Motorcycle Factory, just round the corner from Villiers.
Star produced ove 2500 miles of foil in WW2 which was then shredded, and dropped to protect aircraft. Alusuisse bought Star in `69. They used to run quite a fleet of Scammell Scarabs, running between the factory in Wolverhampton, and Brignorth…bet that was a real hard days work! The one that is owned by Jordan, is an ex Star one looking at the registration.
Dennis Miers ran a very clean operation, and fought off nationalisation by the BTC successfully in `49. Always a clean operation, and used some very precise systems to keep on top of the job. The main collection was within 25 mile radius of Wolverhampton, but bulk tanks ran to both Welshpool, and London. He became a big Guy user, but also ran about 20 odd Bedford TK artics. Lovely livery that grey, with blue wings.
Great memories, thank you!
TRYSULL! That brings back memories of carting fill sand to the M5 widening from Tilcon’s sand hole there. A load of tarmac from Ballidon to Walsall or similar, three loads of sand down to the M5 overbridges near Worcester and then asphalt sand from Meriden back to Ballidon to round the day off. I wonder if the place is still operating, there was a Tarmac pit next door so I doubt it?
Pete.
windrush:
TRYSULL! That brings back memories of carting fill sand to the M5 widening from Tilcon’s sand hole there. A load of tarmac from Ballidon to Walsall or similar, three loads of sand down to the M5 overbridges near Worcester and then asphalt sand from Meriden back to Ballidon to round the day off. I wonder if the place is still operating, there was a Tarmac pit next door so I doubt it?Pete.
I think that sand pit is still operating Pete, it looked like it was still in use when I went past it last week.
Fergie47:
Bernard TV’s and a couple of and MACK’s
I do not wish to be a bore, but the superb images Fergie has put up on the 23.07 15, really deserve a few words of background.The third and fourth pictures have personal memories for me, (as do the last two of Derudders of Teteghems Mack EFT35s with the Ferdinand Geneve cab, and their sole F715T with the Motor Panels cab., but I will not bore you by repeating what I wrote about these on the Mack thread this morning.
Druin Freres, of Nantes. Founded in 1912 by Charles Druin, with a De Dion Bouton,by 70 they had operations in Germany and Holland, and when I began dealing with them in the mid 70s were running close to 1000 units. Drouin had been faithful Bernard users, then through the turbulent times with Mack ran both marques, from B61s right through to Interstators. But it was at Druin`s that I first drove a Bernard Television cab tractor…retired to a yard shunter, but still all together, and what a lovely drive!
Georges Druin often teased me in public about my love of Bernard, but he also had a strong affection, and sadness at how Mack had plunged the company into ruin.Druin also ran a large number of Bedfords…and buses…perhaps a story for another day.Druin Group, were put into administration, and broken up in the late `90s, with a fleet in excess of 3000 total.
AEM Frigo, and that 8x4 Bernard…but first lets set the scene…can we go back to 1963? Remember what we were running over here, ok let me explain.
Auto Express Moderne, (AEM), were founded in 1932 by Rene Bastier in La Souterraine, Creuse, with a simple logic, to collect beef carcases from local abbotoires, consolidate and deliver to the main market of Paris. Post war their drivers became known as the “men of the N20”, so reliable and frequent were their journeys. But Bastier was an innovator, perhaps the most famous of his creations was the 1950s “Paquebot”, an integral Carrosserie du Centre, from Chateauroux fridge body, on a Somua 6x4 150 hp 10 speed chassis, with the rear tandem having single wheels, and a pneumatically operated sanding system, that would , on the drivers operation, lay sand in front of the driven wheels. Bastier had invested in the 26 tonne chassis, reasoning that the double drive configuration would have advantages in stability, over the JL15 Somua 4x2s in use. For the run to Paris with hanging Limousin was not easy in the depth of winter.
Then came the Bernards, including spectacular TA2P 180.35s in 6x4 configuration, having the Charbonneaux designed, “Ronde” cab,( that Fergie asked about on this page). Produced by Pelpel, as the later “Television” cab, in sleeper form it was a real looker. By `63, these were joined by Television cab versions, some with Dunlop Pneuride suspension, as well as 4x2s, transmissions were by Bernard, ZF, and Fuller… The meat rail trailers were equally innovative, some had Dunlop disc brakes, with an average capacity of 50 cu metres. Builders were Cazenove, and Cherau.
There was great synergy between Rene Bastier, and Eduard Bernards son Charles, which led to very close collaboration. None more so than in Fergies picture of the only, 8x4 Bernard 26 DA 8P 180 ever built. The driving idea was to convince the French Ministry of Mines, the legislative force in France, to raise the rigid weight limit to 32 tonnes, by making legal the 8x4 configuration, (so popular in Great Britain). At that time 6 wheel rigids were limited to 26 tonnes.
The Bernard 8x4, was powered by the Bernard MF 636 185 hp, ( licence built 180 Gardner design) , with a 10 speed transmission, double drive Bernard axles with hub reduction were Air suspended, as were the steering axles, on 12 Dunlop Pneuride air bags, power steering, and a Telma Retarder. The meat rail body was 11 metres long, designed for a theoretic 20 tonne payload, the homologation was refused.
She was later cut down to a 6x4, but was simply too heavy to have a useful payload. It was 1993 before France allowed 4 axle chassis to be legal!
AEM stuck with Bernard, then Bernard /Mack, then Mack, (including EFT35s with the Geneve Cab, and F785, and F786s). But other marques were tried, Saviem, Unic , and that is how I came to know AEM which by the mid `70s was owned by the Picoty Group, as was Tpts Bernis, who held a Saviem Dealership. Guy Picoty, and the Bastier family were related, and the synergy was good, but under his control the AEM operation diversified into dry freight as well as refrigeration.
It really was one heck of an operation, and I have only touched on a few details…but that 8x4 Bernard…what if that had come to the UK! Now Harry, that would have been something to drive!!!
Cheerio for now.
robert1952:
This picture that Fergie posted illustrates the tall version of the Motor Panels mark 4 cab. As far as I know only three models had this cab: the French Mack, the Scammell Crusader and the ERF NGC European. Robert
Robert, I owned a Crusader 220 Rolls, but never knew they fitted the same cab to a Mack. I was over in France in the late sixties early seventies but never saw a Mack like that, but as John Saviem said, they actually made very few, so its not surprising. If any survived, they’d be a cracking classic.
Saviem:
Fergie47:
Bernard TV’s and a couple of and MACK’sI do not wish to be a bore, but the superb images Fergie has put up on the 23.07 15, really deserve a few words of background.The third and fourth pictures have personal memories for me, (as do the last two of Derudder
s of Teteghems Mack EFT35s with the Ferdinand Geneve cab, and their sole F715T with the Motor Panels cab., but I will not bore you by repeating what I wrote about these on the Mack thread this morning.Druin Freres, of Nantes. Founded in 1912 by Charles Druin, with a De Dion Bouton,by
70 they had operations in Germany and Holland, and when I began dealing with them in the mid70s were running close to 1000 units. Drouin had been faithful Bernard users, then through the turbulent times with Mack ran both marques, from B61s right through to Interstators. But it was at Druin`s that I first drove a Bernard Television cab tractor…retired to a yard shunter, but still all together, and what a lovely drive!Georges Druin often teased me in public about my love of Bernard, but he also had a strong affection, and sadness at how Mack had plunged the company into ruin.Druin also ran a large number of Bedfords…and buses…perhaps a story for another day.Druin Group, were put into administration, and broken up in the late `90s, with a fleet in excess of 3000 total.
AEM Frigo, and that 8x4 Bernard…but first lets set the scene…can we go back to 1963? Remember what we were running over here, ok let me explain.
Auto Express Moderne, (AEM), were founded in 1932 by Rene Bastier in La Souterraine, Creuse, with a simple logic, to collect beef carcases from local abbotoires, consolidate and deliver to the main market of Paris. Post war their drivers became known as the “men of the N20”, so reliable and frequent were their journeys. But Bastier was an innovator, perhaps the most famous of his creations was the 1950s “Paquebot”, an integral Carrosserie du Centre, from Chateauroux fridge body, on a Somua 6x4 150 hp 10 speed chassis, with the rear tandem having single wheels, and a pneumatically operated sanding system, that would , on the drivers operation, lay sand in front of the driven wheels. Bastier had invested in the 26 tonne chassis, reasoning that the double drive configuration would have advantages in stability, over the JL15 Somua 4x2s in use. For the run to Paris with hanging Limousin was not easy in the depth of winter.
Then came the Bernards, including spectacular TA2P 180.35s in 6x4 configuration, having the Charbonneaux designed, “Ronde” cab,( that Fergie asked about on this page). Produced by Pelpel, as the later “Television” cab, in sleeper form it was a real looker. By `63, these were joined by Television cab versions, some with Dunlop Pneuride suspension, as well as 4x2s, transmissions were by Bernard, ZF, and Fuller… The meat rail trailers were equally innovative, some had Dunlop disc brakes, with an average capacity of 50 cu metres. Builders were Cazenove, and Cherau.
There was great synergy between Rene Bastier, and Eduard Bernards son Charles, which led to very close collaboration. None more so than in Fergies picture of the only, 8x4 Bernard 26 DA 8P 180 ever built. The driving idea was to convince the French Ministry of Mines, the legislative force in France, to raise the rigid weight limit to 32 tonnes, by making legal the 8x4 configuration, (so popular in Great Britain). At that time 6 wheel rigids were limited to 26 tonnes.
The Bernard 8x4, was powered by the Bernard MF 636 185 hp, ( licence built 180 Gardner design) , with a 10 speed transmission, double drive Bernard axles with hub reduction were Air suspended, as were the steering axles, on 12 Dunlop Pneuride air bags, power steering, and a Telma Retarder. The meat rail body was 11 metres long, designed for a theoretic 20 tonne payload, the homologation was refused.
She was later cut down to a 6x4, but was simply too heavy to have a useful payload. It was 1993 before France allowed 4 axle chassis to be legal!
AEM stuck with Bernard, then Bernard /Mack, then Mack, (including EFT35s with the Geneve Cab, and F785, and F786s). But other marques were tried, Saviem, Unic , and that is how I came to know AEM which by the mid `70s was owned by the Picoty Group, as was Tpts Bernis, who held a Saviem Dealership. Guy Picoty, and the Bastier family were related, and the synergy was good, but under his control the AEM operation diversified into dry freight as well as refrigeration.
It really was one heck of an operation, and I have only touched on a few details…but that 8x4 Bernard…what if that had come to the UK! Now Harry, that would have been something to drive!!!
Cheerio for now.
Think I can say on behalf of the people that read this thread, thank you John, for your time and effort in posting your experience’s and knowledge. It’s appreciated.
Hear, hear!
Retired Old ■■■■:
Hear, hear!
Hiya,
Yep’ mate, great stuff it’s much appreciated.
thanks harry, long retired.