Saviem's fan club (Part 1)

carryfast · 24 September 2015 21:48

John West:

Fergie47:
On the subject of Pinardiers, lets not forget another major wine producing country, Italy…the wine might not be so good (stand by for some flack) but those axles !!! and old wagons, here’s a few wine tankers, and then axles !! And for the young lads, and those that never got to Italy, they’re all R.H.D.

I read somewhere that the Italians preferred the RHDs so that they were able to better judge the edge on the mountain passes. Is that truth or rumour Fergie?

John.

The only problem being that it’s also the wrong side to jump out and let it go if they got it wrong.

robert1952 · 24 September 2015 21:54

Carryfast:

John West:

Fergie47:
On the subject of Pinardiers, lets not forget another major wine producing country, Italy…the wine might not be so good (stand by for some flack) but those axles !!! and old wagons, here’s a few wine tankers, and then axles !! And for the young lads, and those that never got to Italy, they’re all R.H.D.

I read somewhere that the Italians preferred the RHDs so that they were able to better judge the edge on the mountain passes. Is that truth or rumour Fergie?

John.

The only problem being that it’s also the wrong side to jump out and let it go if they got it wrong.

carryfast · 24 September 2015 22:01

robert1952:

Carryfast:

John West:

Fergie47:
On the subject of Pinardiers, lets not forget another major wine producing country, Italy…the wine might not be so good (stand by for some flack) but those axles !!! and old wagons, here’s a few wine tankers, and then axles !! And for the young lads, and those that never got to Italy, they’re all R.H.D.

I read somewhere that the Italians preferred the RHDs so that they were able to better judge the edge on the mountain passes. Is that truth or rumour Fergie?

John.

The only problem being that it’s also the wrong side to jump out and let it go if they got it wrong.

I heard that on good authority from my old Diamond T tank transporter driver dad who did a regular Villach-Trieste-Pola-Villach run at the end of WW2.

michel · 25 September 2015 08:45

A Bùssing from Germany bringing back to home country Cognac spirit.

buzzer · 25 September 2015 15:44

Changing track here slightly I have just finished pickling 30 kilo’s of the very best French shallots IMO much better than onions. doing this does not make my eye’s water at all, they are crisp to the bite and ideal to accompany cheese or cold meats especially at Christmas. Most I gift to friends who do me little job favours and will not accept payment so this is my way of giving something back, the Boss thinks I have a contract with Tesco but this is ill founded as they are so good they are more likely to be in M&S in the preserves section, Buzzer.

retired_old_fart · 25 September 2015 18:09

If looks are anything to go by I would suggest that they should be offered to Harrods at a premium!
My pickled shallots haven’t reached their customary high quality this year- not quite as crunchy as they should be.

retired_old_fart · 25 September 2015 18:10

PS but the Winstons have been exceptional again!

buzzer · 25 September 2015 19:07

ROF I was going to say Harrods but thought it was being a bit above my station, any ways there were only about a dozen soft one’s in that whole consignment so was well pleased with the quality. Maybe we are a minority preserving food for later consumption and when I dug all my Maris pipers up I said to the Mrs its not worth the effort, better to buy as you go with main crop and just grow more early spuds, Buzzer.

retired_old_fart · 25 September 2015 19:14

For the past three years I have been extolling the virtues of Winstons to all my fellow allotmenteers who have been well pleased with the results. They are First Earlies but if you leave them in the ground for another three weeks od so they swell to the size of King Edwards without losing any of that delicious “new potato” taste. Another bonus is that, unlike most earlies, they keep well in store. The problem is, now that more gardeners are catching on to them, Winston seed are likely to be harder to find until the suppliers get their act together.

buzzer · 25 September 2015 20:01

Retired Old ■■■■:
For the past three years I have been extolling the virtues of Winstons to all my fellow allotmenteers who have been well pleased with the results. They are First Earlies but if you leave them in the ground for another three weeks od so they swell to the size of King Edwards without losing any of that delicious “new potato” taste. Another bonus is that, unlike most earlies, they keep well in store. The problem is, now that more gardeners are catching on to them, Winston seed are likely to be harder to find until the suppliers get their act together.

ROF that’s interesting about the Winstons but I am a real fan of Annabelle as a first early but next year I might try some of your favoured variety and do a comparison ad see how they turn out Buzzer.

retired_old_fart · 25 September 2015 20:46

They may not suit your soil but I would certainly give them a try. Available from King’s Seeds & probably other places on t’interweb.

saviem · 25 September 2015 23:01

Evening all,

Well, Im well caught between interests, and careers…I will concede that Winstons are not a bad spud…not really “fluffy” inside, (particularly if left to mature…and the Annabelle, (great in a soft loam or sand), is a gem…and has a more, “piquant” taste…(makes an Egyptian taste like old boots)…but if you know what you are doing with the poor old Estyma…then “fluffiness”…creaminess…and sheer quality is guaranteed!!!

Buzzer, you are totally right, a good Shallot, (and those grown in Norfolk are the equal of any from La Belle), far exceeds in terms of flavour, and delight upon ones taste buds any, nay any sharp, abrasive Onion. Superb with a well boiled, and then Honey Roasted Ham…sliced thin…and a little Moutard to accompany said delight…and some thin sliced Black Wheat Bread…dry to the pallet…but a small Muscadet to refresh the pallet…but if you do not like alcohol, then a clear grape juice, or apple, slightly chilled…and a few pickled Damsons,so neglected in these modern times, both as a pickled fruit…or a Jam, of immense, and statuesque flavour…mix it with apple…for a smooth pallet, …or make a Chutney,…WOW…now that is a hit with Camanbert, roasted to melt perfection, poured over the finest cured Ham…or even a Boeuf, sliced thin…or a Porc, roast, then chilled, with Cloves, and (a surprise), a little wild mint…then a compote of Bullace, (so like the Damson, yet its burgeoning flavour, dry, with a faint piquant, so unlike the Damson he resembles…a delight with any Cheese…a Hard Cheshire, or Gloucester…but with a Goat…so exquisite as to be totally unbelievable…try wih Brie…(but only when well “in season”…

Have you tried apple chutney, mixed with Pear?, smooth, sweet, and if you enjoy “real” sausages, with real porc, and a little sage, Wow, that is a delight, particularly with a strong wine of Burgandy…or if you forsake the grape…a green tea, chilled, with a hint of nutmeg, …In fact, chilled Teas, from Dargeling, or Assam, can be such a flavoursome, (if not labour intensive) delight. Never experienced by so many, yet such an assult upon ones taste buds, and actually the equal of many fine wines as an accompaniment to flavoursome delights…

Fergie, that Somua JL19V, 190HP LRS, (Latil, Renault, Somua), 26 tonne three axle tank of Societie Couturie, from Seine et Oise, fitted with Cottards iconic “Boule”, (bubble cab), was a top quality Pinadier of the late 50s early 60s.

Michels picture of the German Bussing was a premium specification Pinadier outfit of the late 50s. SAPVIN, of Pernes les Fontaines was quite a considerable company, who "re-invented themselves as an "Alcohol Beverage Wholesaler" in the 80s. I remember seeing a tank trailer similar to the one behind the Bussing back in the early `80s in a dealers yard in Dortmund Germany. Beautifully proportioned, where style, function, and eye appeal really do co incide.

Johnny, to answer your question, the wine tankers ran either as road hauliers sub contracted to the main merchants, (Negotiants), or in the fleet of the merchants. Yes, they covered great distance, as well as short distance! The Wines of Algeria “peaked” around August. Entering La Belle, via Marseille, or mainly Sete. They were available earlier than those of Burgandy, or Bordeaux…until the “marketing ploy” of Beaujolis Nouveau…

The wine consumption took place well away from the regions of production…bottled close to the areas of consumption, so Les Pinadiers really covered some miles, that is why their outfits were premium specification, and the pressure was on to carry more product within the 35 tonne maximum weight limit.

As my mind wanders, away from the pure Pinadiers, I remember my great friends at Borel Freres, at Valence, alongside the RN7 straight down to Marseille.Started out at Vinay, pre WW2 with Rochet Schneider and Renaults, post WW2 , Pierre Borel married the daughter of the local Saviem Dealer…then Pierres sister , Simone…married the head of the local Berliet Concessionaire…you can imagine how the fleet developed…except when I was dealing with them they bought 5 TL12 T45s…I had great fun showing them how to get a clean gear change with a Spicer box!!!

But Borels “Pinadiers”, were mainly engaged in the Algerian wine traffic,and also that of “le raison”, for the aperitive. Then of course came the expansion into chemical tanks, Bakelite, (Union Carbide), Air Liquide, (24 , 1 tonne Calcium tanks, inside a Savoyard, for the Acetylene production). Not forgetting their red liveried Kronenbourg tilts and tanks. Borels normal livery was deep green, to reflect their origins in Vernay, in the Forest of Vercours.

Borel Freres was a very large fleet, running both tanks, liquid, and bulk powder, plus normal freight, plus tippers, and a large fleet of heavy lift cranes, (including UK built Groves, and Lyon built 8x4 Berliets)! Although the fleet had run Saviem, in my time dealing with this delightful company the products of Berliet ran supreme. Eventually Borel became part of the Groupe SAMAT…but back in the `70s they did some change over work with Midlands BRS…and I recall seeing a blue Big J day cab parked in their , (rather large yard)…was it something to do with the Michelin traffic?

Fergie, one last note before I have to go to bed…when I was sent to Italy, (Milan), my predecessor met me for lunch in Lyon…and after a few glasses he whispered to me…“those Italian Bs…watch them…if the lorry is rated at 40 tonnes…they assume that is the payload”…I did not believe him…I wished that I had…because he was absolutely right!!!..and 40 tonnes , on a “millipede” 8 plus 8 was a starting payload…8bhp per tonne…you must be joking…

That reminds me, Borel Freres distributed “Joker” fruit juices…

Perhaps Id better go to bed…

Cheerio for now.