Your posts are a delight to read.
You turn prose to poetry!
John
Were “Prudent Freres” the original Nancy Boys?
Retired Old ■■■■:
Were “Prudent Freres” the original Nancy Boys?
Hey ROF,
Think that the driver of the six wheeler above may also be from Nancy!
John
Trev_H:
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.
Hi Pete, Trev is right the sand hole is still operating but it has been all knocked in to one with Tarmacs next door, Tilcons entrance was down a narrow lane on the right just before a narrow bridge in Trysull village and Tarmacs entrance was on the Seisdon road opposite the landfill where the council used to tip the ashes out of Crown Street incinerator,Cheers Pete
John West:
Retired Old ■■■■:
Were “Prudent Freres” the original Nancy Boys?0
Hey ROF,Think that the driver of the six wheeler above may also be from Nancy!
John
You could be correct, John. I’m undecided about the gender of the person but I have to admit that it’s a very feminine pose! 
pete smith:
Trev_H:
I think that sand pit is still operating Pete, it looked like it was still in use when I went past it last week.Hi Pete, Trev is right the sand hole is still operating but it has been all knocked in to one with Tarmacs next door, Tilcons entrance was down a narrow lane on the right just before a narrow bridge in Trysull village and Tarmacs entrance was on the Seisdon road opposite the landfill where the council used to tip the ashes out of Crown Street incinerator,Cheers Pete
That sounds the same place Pete and Trev. I know that from Wolverhampton we used to go down Coalway Road and keep going out into the country but I thought the pit was on the left, unless we turned left off of that road and then went into the pit on the right? Early 90’s and I have been to bed since then! Trysull Holloway was the postal address, THAT I do remember! I also remember a firm from the Cannock area running on the same job, they had ERF eight legger bulker’s and we never saw them stopped anywhere so I guess that they had their 45 minute breaks at night haha. One even ran all week with no rear mudguard or lights on the offside as he had lost them in a blowout. Sorry to hijack Saviems thread, but it was in ‘his’ area of the Midlands. 
Pete.
Evening all,
What can I say? Thank you all for your kind comments! I have to blame the way that my memory works…(when I was at school, my last report said that I had a distinct ability to apply my self to anything…“that I was not interested in)”. And that still rules today, and is why you put something on here, (or other threads…and my mind goes off on a detour…and then I put my thoughts down to share. That is the beauty of this site , we can all share…(and I certainly learn from you all)!!!
Pete put on those old photographs of Wolverhamptons premier Dairy, just down the road from Star Aluminiums old works, the former AJS motor cycle works,............ then today......battling through the rain to move some old Oak beams that I want to reposition on a building that they were never intended to sit within......(but I promise it will look good when I have finished the job)!......and I remembered what happened to AJS in Wolverhampton back in the 20s.
The Stevens Brothers who founded AJS in Wolverhampton, George, Jack, Harry, and Joe, created a veritable empire, building Motorcycles, Sidecars, three wheelers, cars,… in 1927, lorries, and coaches, at the very large Walsall Street Works,. (A fact little known, or appreciated by the journalists who write for today`s vintage motorcycle press). The Graisley, (where Star Aluminium works were), operation being confined to motorcycle production only.
By 1931 production of motorcycles stood at 600 machines per week, as well as cars, lorry and bus chassis from Walsall Street. 1931, due to cash flow difficulties the bank foreclosed, the payroll stood at 3000 persons between Graisley, and Walsall Street.
The name and goodwill, (what an interesting expression)…was sold to the Collier Family,of Plumstead, and the car to Crossley…The brothers returned to Retreat Street, and built a three wheeled commercial vehicle, The Stevens Light Commercial, in 1932. But up until the early 2000`s this works was run by a descendent of the original AJS founders, Jim, ran a light engineering business from these original Retreat Street Works.
Then Johnnie, put up some interesting pictures of the French SOMUA, and that integral van for Biscuits LAsacienne. In fact one of the last "true" SOMUAs to be built, before they became part of the new SAVIEM, (Societe anonyme de vehicules industriels et equipments mechaniques), created from the merger of the lorry building interests of SOMUA, Renault, and Latil, (plus the buses of Floriat) in 1955. The following models all bearing the badge, “Saviem…LRS”, (Latil, Renault Somua)…and we thought Leyland invented badge engineering!
SOMUA, were to form the “core” of the heavy vehicle side of Saviem. But they had suffered mergers before. Under the Pons Plan, (so named from its instigator, Pierre Marie Pons) for the regrouping of the French Commercial Vehicle Industry, Somua, had occupied the middle ground between Panhard, and and Willeme.( Panhard up to 3.5 tonnes, Somua, 5/7 tonnes, and Willeme 10/15 tonnes payload). But adoption of the US Mack designed 6HLDiesel, with injection by Lanova, from Panhard moved the Somua range into the Willeme market.
The JL15, and later 17 ranges were strong, economic and reliable. Fitted with handsome cabs by Bourg en Bresse based Cottard they sold well. On the road they proved far more lively than the Gardner licensed Bernards, (and Latils), whose works, and offices at Quai Leon Blum, Suresnes that Saviem , …(and myself…, in very humble capacity), were later to occupy
The basic JL design was to carry forward the Saviem name, with engines by Somua, Henschell, and finally MAN, before the introduction of the true Saviem with the 836 Euro Cab. 1000,000 kms was not unknown as a life for these vehicles. Their actual look varied as the cab builder Cottard tried ever more stylistic varieties of treatment.
The “nancy boy” is standing/driving, one of France`s toughest ever lorries the 8 cylinder Willeme. Designed for a 26 tonne operation, and often used as a 45 tonne machine…noisy…(well how noisy is a Deutz water cooled straight eight)? They were well loved, and really tough machines, with remarkably light steering…or it could be the weight on the back!!!
And yes Kev, that does make me think…that is my problem…always day dreaming…and always remembering…
Thank you all
Cheerio for now.
After all that take a bollinger to bed well done and good night . Cliff.
windrush:
pete smith:
Trev_H:
I think that sand pit is still operating Pete, it looked like it was still in use when I went past it last week.Hi Pete, Trev is right the sand hole is still operating but it has been all knocked in to one with Tarmacs next door, Tilcons entrance was down a narrow lane on the right just before a narrow bridge in Trysull village and Tarmacs entrance was on the Seisdon road opposite the landfill where the council used to tip the ashes out of Crown Street incinerator,Cheers Pete
That sounds the same place Pete and Trev. I know that from Wolverhampton we used to go down Coalway Road and keep going out into the country but I thought the pit was on the left, unless we turned left off of that road and then went into the pit on the right? Early 90’s and I have been to bed since then! Trysull Holloway was the postal address, THAT I do remember! I also remember a firm from the Cannock area running on the same job, they had ERF eight legger bulker’s and we never saw them stopped anywhere so I guess that they had their 45 minute breaks at night haha. One even ran all week with no rear mudguard or lights on the offside as he had lost them in a blowout.
Pete.
Hi Pete, You are correct it was Trysull Holloway,over canal bridge past Hollybush Pub and turn left down a narrow lane and it came up on your right hand side, the 8 legger ERF’s were they D.J Whitehouse from Cheslyn Hay? Cheers Pete
More great stuff, thanks Saviem.
Mention of Cheslyn Hay takes me back to phoning round for a backload from Hilton Park, before they changed the telephone exchanges for numbers…
John
pete smith:
Hi Pete, You are correct it was Trysull Holloway,over canal bridge past Hollybush Pub and turn left down a narrow lane and it came up on your right hand side, the 8 legger ERF’s were they D.J Whitehouse from Cheslyn Hay? Cheers Pete
That’s the company Pete, Whitehouse. They didn’t hang about either, we ran down from the Ashbourne area with a load for the West Midlands area or Bison concrete at Lichfield then did one from Trysull down to Worcester and back again, load the second one and have a break on the A449 somewhere before doing one more and then call at Cornets End, Meriden for a load back home. A pretty full day and we didn’t waste time, but those Whitehouse lads just seemed to keep going all day long! I might be doing them a great disservice but that was the impression we had of them. There was another firm with some dark blue ERF’s from Bobbington also running to the M5 but they were very steady lads.
Pete.
windrush:
pete smith:
Hi Pete, You are correct it was Trysull Holloway,over canal bridge past Hollybush Pub and turn left down a narrow lane and it came up on your right hand side, the 8 legger ERF’s were they D.J Whitehouse from Cheslyn Hay? Cheers PeteThat’s the company Pete, Whitehouse. They didn’t hang about either, we ran down from the Ashbourne area with a load for the West Midlands area or Bison concrete at Lichfield then did one from Trysull down to Worcester and back again, load the second one and have a break on the A449 somewhere before doing one more and then call at Cornets End, Meriden for a load back home. A pretty full day and we didn’t waste time, but those Whitehouse lads just seemed to keep going all day long! I might be doing them a great disservice but that was the impression we had of them. There was another firm with some dark blue ERF’s from Bobbington also running to the M5 but they were very steady lads.
Pete.
Hi Pete, Yes Whitehouses never hang about, they have finished as far as i know and the blue tippers from Bobbington were T.Bishop’s,Cheer’s Pete
Hi Saviem,
First pic is Star Aluminium’s Office’s on Penn Road, next Pic’s are of AJS works in Retreat Street " then and now",Cheers Pete
Good to see that the old building hasn’t been messed around with too much. And you can still make out the “AJS” logo on the end of it.
PS Still looking for a cheap 1960s 350 Lightweight in order to relive my mis-spent youth!
Evening all,
Pete those are evocative pictures, somewhere you may find a couple of lithographs of the Sidecar, motor car, lorry, and coach works in Walsall Street, and the main motorcycle production unit at Graisley Hill, right where Star Aluminium built their offices, as per your picture. Employing 3000 showed the size of the business prior to liquidation in 1931. Sad realy that most people only remember AJS as part of Associated Motorcycles, the Collier`s business. It really was much larger when it was in Wolverhampton.
The Wolverhampton dealer for AJS was Cyril Williams, who had won the 350cc Junior TT in 1920, (the Senior was won on a Sunbeam from Wolverhampton). Williams Dealership was in Chapel Ash, not far from that present day Harley Davidson set up. AJS held 177 World Records by the end of the decade , some achievement!
And thinking about the pictures that sammyopposite put up the other day, the orange Bernard is worth mentioning. It was the very last Bernard built, assembled from parts acquired from the distress sale of Bernard/Mack, in 1967, by the Dunkirk Bernard Dealer. It is unique in being a day cab, and was operated by Transports Tabara, of Troyes, and had a 214hp Mack Engine.
They also handled what can only ever be described as the most ugly lorry ever built…the conventional Mack/Bernard, with bodywork by Letournier et Marchand, of Neuilly Sur Seine. Whose Autobinau subsidiary produced the handsome bonneted cab for the Unic Izoard, and Galibier. But how such an ugly creation was ever conceived, let alone built…(some were subcontracted to pourtout)…believe me you would need a strong drink before you parted with your money for one of these!!!
Yet I had a client in Antwerpen, who had done just that, and loved the lorry, so much so that he had a photograph on his office wall…
Now that I have remembered that , I shall need a strong draught of Bollinger to enable me to sleep…
Cheerio for now.
The pictures of the French lorries and the British buildings speak of days in which the appearance of a thing had some value. Although I agree with ROF’s statement that the AJS building has not been damaged too much, the changes are significant. The “texture” of the building has been trashed. The new colours would be perfect as highlights, for example on a sign, but for the whole ground floor? No. At least the render can be removed, if future generations have the eye of those of the past.
Is the aluminium office block still with us? Nowt wrong with modernism.