Mrsteel:
Bubbleman.
Just been looking at the shot of the Atki Leader chassis, got it in a magazine in the attic somewhere.
I drove one for a time when I worked for John Raymond in the 70s ETX 990K.
At that time it was quite an impressive motor. Used on steel and general haulage and also a bit of low loader work coupled to a triaxle beavertail semi low loader built by M&G trailers Hayes Lane, Stourbridge
Regards, Mr Steel
It was later operated by Alan Marriott from Ferryhill, although subsequently cut
coomsey:
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Thanks Bubbs here’s an old un, they liked their Fodens. Good crowd to work for I’m told, my best man has drove for them for years n still with them past retirement age
I think I remember Selby Garages doing a bit of traction work out of Ramsgate in the early 90’s - maybe pulling Castle Services trailers??
Frankydobo:
Possible answer here, this diagram showing the Dodge six wheeler chassis and the two lengths available, so did someone put a second steer axle on the longer chassis to result in the 8 Wheeler in the pic. Franky.
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No itchy bum then GF !
So I’m guessing if you fancied an 8whlr go for the biggest engine/ chassis length ?
I’m led to believe that adding an axle was cheaper than buying an 8whlr, surely that’s wrong. Cheers Coomsey
No, it was cheaper to add an extra axle (or axles) to a cheaper basic model such as Bedford, Dodge, Leyland Comet, AEC Mercury, and similar than buying a premium built eight-wheeler from AEC, Leyland, Atkinson, ERF, Foden, Guy, Albion, Thornycroft or any other maker I’ve missed. The eight-wheeler was the most expensive chassis back in the day, it carried the most payload and the manufacturers priced them accordingly. The other consideration by hauliers for doing conversions was the weight limitations imposed by the carrier’s A-Licence. Before the “one size fits all” operators licence hire and reward A and B Licences were a minefield of tare weights, radii of operations, types of goods that could be carried and where they could be carried to etc etc.
Buzzer:
Hi all one to take you back a little, cheers Buzzer
And those bin men earned their money in those days, throwing those galvanised bins about all day was hard graft. Unlike today, wheel it to the back of the bin lorry, press a button, and stand back until the wheelie bin comes down
Frankydobo:
Possible answer here, this diagram showing the Dodge six wheeler chassis and the two lengths available, so did someone put a second steer axle on the longer chassis to result in the 8 Wheeler in the pic. Franky.
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No itchy bum then GF !
So I’m guessing if you fancied an 8whlr go for the biggest engine/ chassis length ?
I’m led to believe that adding an axle was cheaper than buying an 8whlr, surely that’s wrong. Cheers Coomsey
No, it was cheaper to add an extra axle (or axles) to a cheaper basic model such as Bedford, Dodge, Leyland Comet, AEC Mercury, and similar than buying a premium built eight-wheeler from AEC, Leyland, Atkinson, ERF, Foden, Guy, Albion, Thornycroft or any other maker I’ve missed. The eight-wheeler was the most expensive chassis back in the day, it carried the most payload and the manufacturers priced them accordingly. The other consideration by hauliers for doing conversions was the weight limitations imposed by the carrier’s A-Licence. Before the “one size fits all” operators licence hire and reward A and B Licences were a minefield of tare weights, radii of operations, types of goods that could be carried and where they could be carried to etc etc.
Thanks for the info.it begs the question why weren’t there more about n why didn’t the manufacturer make their own.or is it just the case that you get what you pay for?
bubbleman:
Hello again,thanks to all who commented on the pictures,as an enthusiast I’ve been to Selby Garages to photograph examples of the fleet and always been made welcome and as quoted, in a very nice village,another Foden at the end for Coomsey,Cheers Bubbs, [/quo
Hello bubbs …super shot of the Tony Morgan Scania …brill …Geraint
Hi again,heres another few clippings,the last one I was going to put on the LHD ERF “B” series thread but as the pic shows a LHD EC14 it didn’t qualify so its on here with the text Cheers Bubbs,
What kind of payload could the Dodge carry ? 16ton ? Cheers Dennis.
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I got 16t on a Foden MM so she might have squeezed a bit more. What size engine/ box? Who’d have converted her? Did Dodge add axles?
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I’m as curios as you Coomsey but I don’t think Dodge produced an 8 wheeler so it would have been one of the “conversion” specialists and I reckon that Primrose Engineering would be the favourite at that time. It looks like it could also be a Double drive backend although it is a bit fuzzy to make out but some of the Converters did use the Albion DD bogie as the single drive axle on a tipper was basically useless if they had to leave a hard surface and venture onto say a building site ! Oh! and I doubt whether the Dodge had Power steering either ! Cheers Dennis.
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You’re correct in your Primrose assumption Dennis. You commented earlier on the front axles spacing and that was definitely a Primrose characteristic on the steer conversions they carried out. HKR Transport of Little Lever who I knew well had two Dodge 310 six-wheelers, with York trailing third axles. Those two had AEC AVU 470 engines, DB 5-speed gearbox, and Eaton 2-speed axle. My uncle had a LAD Leyland Comet converted to a six-wheeler by Primrose. That conversion required the chassis to be flitched and an air-assisted hand break to be fitted. It gave an extra 4 tons of payload, well worth the cost of the conversion back in the day when virtually all loads were paid on a tonnage rate. Incidentally the restored Dodge 308 six-wheeler, Boys third axle, that I had a good look at at Gaydon last year did have power assisted steering, which did surprise me.
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I think the power steering thing might depend on whether it was an owner driver’s or a “guvnor’s motor”, in the same “luxury” extra cost option bracket as a heater or a radio. I used to drive a 1964 D308 4-wheeler that had had one previous owner driver, it had factory power steering. (It also came with an extension fuel filler neck that fitted through a hole in the flat to fill from jerrycans, to save buying fuel while it was out, and the corners of the headboard were cut off at an angle to better see the police behind when coming home empty.)
Bernard
Greetings,All.
The Beck and Politzer DAF is carrying a Royal Navy 4.5" Mark 6 gun turret,fitted to the Battle Class destroyers
and Daring Class in my days.(Quite a long time ago)It was,at that time,quite an innovation as it was closed in
and the crew didn’t suffer the rigours of Winter weather.Happy EU exit every one,900x20.
Bubbleman
Hi, interesting to see the pics of the Harfoot eight wheelers. On the morning the Aberfan disaster happened I was on my way to the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil with steel from Port Talbot steelworks but because of the situation the road was closed. This meant a diversion via the Aberdare Valley.
The reason I mention this is because most of if not all of the Harfoot fleet were deployed to clear away the mess. Long time ago !!
Regards, Mr Steel
Bubbleman
Hi, interesting to see the pics of the Harfoot eight wheelers. On the morning the Aberfan disaster happened I was on my way to the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil with steel from Port Talbot steelworks but because of the situation the road was closed. This meant a diversion via the Aberdare Valley.
The reason I mention this is because most of if not all of the Harfoot fleet were deployed to clear away the mess. Long time ago !!
Regards, Mr Steel
Mrsteel:
Bubbleman
Hi, interesting to see the pics of the Harfoot eight wheelers. On the morning the Aberfan disaster happened I was on my way to the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil with steel from Port Talbot steelworks but because of the situation the road was closed. This meant a diversion via the Aberdare Valley.
The reason I mention this is because most of if not all of the Harfoot fleet were deployed to clear away the mess. Long time ago !!
Regards, Mr Steel
Hi Mr Steel,
Just a useless bit of imformation…i know Steve Harfoot who is regional manager of Pickfords Removals for Wales and the South West…it was is family business he often told me stories and tales including the Aberfan disaster…Steve is from Barry.
Mrsteel:
Bubbleman
Hi, interesting to see the pics of the Harfoot eight wheelers. On the morning the Aberfan disaster happened I was on my way to the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil with steel from Port Talbot steelworks but because of the situation the road was closed. This meant a diversion via the Aberdare Valley.
The reason I mention this is because most of if not all of the Harfoot fleet were deployed to clear away the mess. Long time ago !!
Regards, Mr Steel
Hi Mr Steel,
Just a useless bit of imformation…i know Steve Harfoot who is regional manager of Pickfords Removals for Wales and the South West…it was is family business he often told me stories and tales including the Aberfan disaster…Steve is from Barry.
Regards Marks
Hi all. Harfoot’s did a lot of work for Ryan fuels of Cardiff when Ryans were re-washing the NCB shale tips and using the duff coal for blending and export out of Cardiff.
Mark, Ryan’s were like Vanguard back in the day the (undertakers) as when they showed up a colliery was due to close. Their tippers were a dark cream / Caterpillar shade of yellow. They hauled away the remains of M’aclaren Colliery in my own village in the late 60s.
Hi again,Good stuff regarding Harfoots lads…well done and thanks to Lawrence for the picture of the Mercedes of J.R.Adams,heres todays pics,Cheers Bubbs,
bubbleman:
Hiya again,thanks for the feedback lads,heres todays stuff,Cheers Bubbs,
Hi bubbs those BMC artics of Howard Tenens Swindon ,bring back memories up and down to Newport docks ,they also had a small depot with in the dock complex ,regards Keith
TRS3868XB ATKINSON by ALAN MARRIOTT, on Flickr
[/quo
so its on here with the text 
Cheers Bubbs, 
