Hy, you could have the Gardner 8LX 240 bhp in the Guy Big J and Smiths had at least one which can be seen in the background on the Smiths part of Brian Edgars great Scottish Fotki site Photo No 129…Tony.
Bewick/Tony,
Thanks Tony for your confirmation,Game,Set and Match,have a slice of humble pie Bewick,goes nice with Glenmorangie!!!1
5thwheel:
Hi Bewick,I did not realise it at the time,but SoM were obviously part of the United Group when I was driving for them in the 70’s,funny, don’t remember anyone talking about United Group during my time with them,although come to think of it,Jameson’s used to park their tilt trailers @ the Manchester Depot,and I think they had United Group on the tilt,might be wrong,but seems familiar?
Jameson’s trailers could also be pulled by a train as they had steel wheels inbetween the double roadwheels that were spaced to fit the continental gauge railway lines.
Great days,or so they say!!!
Take it easy,
Rgds,
David
Hi those Jamesons trailers were known as ‘Kangaroo Trailers’ as the front landing legs had hinges half way down so they could be folded up and the steel rim in between the wheels was so the trailer could sit lower on the rail carriage with the tyres down in cut outs on the bed. the tilt trailers’ top corners were cut inwards so they could get through the rail tunnels. The under run bars on the back of the trailers were hinged too.
Regards Pat
Fergie47:
It’s over 40 years ago since I drove for Smith’s, and the old memory bank fades in and out with recollections, as to what, where, and when, and things sometimes do get muddled up. But I would never call anyone stupid for any comments made! well, except Mappo of course, but then he is !!!
Now now Fergie, what have i done to keep getting this abuse from you.■■? 
Anybody would think that we were married or something ( oh dear that,s let the cat out of the bag 
)
Perhaps people will think that we,ve known each other for…mmmmm must be getting on for 45 years and that we,re really mates. 
AS IF.
Anyway it,s good to see that S.O.M. has generated so much interest after all these years.
As i said earlier on the Soton thread i,ve got an old photo of my Smiths Big J parked alongside my old Zephyr car.
I,ll have another look for it when i get home at the week-end and put it on if i find it.
Regards to you all…Tony
5thwheel:
Bewick/Tony,Thanks Tony for your confirmation,Game,Set and Match,have a slice of humble pie Bewick,goes nice with Glenmorangie!!!1
OK OK fair do’s but can I put the pie in the micro wave for a couple of minutes ?Next question-- SOM had one 8LXB Guy but how many more ■■ Ah Ah now that should set the lads off again!! Regarding Jamesons they had an office at Purfleet on the Noake cafe if I remember right and we somtimes used to get the odd load of reels off them in 70/71 the manager was a decent sort but I can’t recall his name .We also used to get the odd load off Ellisons (Southhampton) from their office in Deptford (I think it was Deptford ).the manager there was always decent to deal with .Keep your elbows in Bewick.
Suttons Tony:
Hy, you could have the Gardner 8LX 240 bhp in the Guy Big J and Smiths had at least one which can be seen in the background on the Smiths part of Brian Edgars great Scottish Fotki site Photo No 129…Tony.
Hi Tony Iv’e had a look at photo 129 on Brian Edgars site and the the Big J in the background has not got an 8LXB in it as it would have stuck out a lot further and not had a cover on it !! We operated half a doz. Big Js inthe 70s/ 80s all with 180LXBs and they had identical covers on as did the ■■■■■■■ 205/220 and heres me having got guts ache now after eating a large portion of humble and in any case Suttons never ran any poverty fleet motors such as Big Js !! I want to see a shot of the back of one of SOMs Big J cabs !!!. Regards Bewick.
Hiya…I don’t know what the engine is in that Jameson Seddon.I don’nt remember seeing many sleeper cab Seddons. The only one i ever seen apart from the Jameson one was owned by Mayday transport nr Leek it had a 8lxb under the bonnet.It did lime out of Buxton to Llanwern and coke back to Buxton.
Eric Day who also owned a E reg long door Guy invincable (150 Gardner) modified the sump on a 8lxb to fit into the Guy. But he sold the truck before the task got on the way.That was35 years ago.
John.
From the South Wales Traffic Area May 1972
gerbil sb152:
Hi boys i was a subie for smith’s for a while a bloke called norman kibby was manager at totton did lot of tomatoes out off portsmouth changed over in naylor transport yard in garstang, one day the glasgow trunk was running late they asked if i could go on up to the moss cafe at carlisle that was ok but the scotts block got upset said i must have ben running bent to load and get that far in a day.good times thou roping and sheeting never hurt anyone.
Norman Kibby.Now theres a name to remember.He was an apprentice mechanic at ■■■■ Hamptons when I worked there in the early sixties.He was a sneaky little baa lamb.Had he changed when you knew him Gerbil? Regards Charlie. 
charlie one:
gerbil sb152:
Hi boys i was a subie for smith’s for a while a bloke called norman kibby was manager at totton did lot of tomatoes out off portsmouth changed over in naylor transport yard in garstang, one day the glasgow trunk was running late they asked if i could go on up to the moss cafe at carlisle that was ok but the scotts block got upset said i must have ben running bent to load and get that far in a day.good times thou roping and sheeting never hurt anyone.Norman Kibby.Now theres a name to remember.He was an apprentice mechanic at ■■■■ Hamptons when I worked there in the early sixties.He was a sneaky little baa lamb.Had he changed when you knew him Gerbil? Regards Charlie.
Happy new year Charlie.Do you mean ■■■■ Hampton the earthmovers? I remember them well up around Sheffield area in the 60s and 70s.
Do you recall a haulier/warehouser in S’oton called Reece Blatchford,maybe a cash and carry firm?
Mr Bewick, after Suttons my last driving job was on the BRS Cressy Rd, Hampstead, where when the C&U were changed from 24t Gross to 32t Gross our mainly Bristol fleet of artics were changed to about a 50/50 split between AEC Mandators and Guy Big J’s with the 220 ■■■■■■■ this is 67/68 and the Guys most certainly did not have covers on the backs of cabs for the engines as indeed the Guy Big J’s pictured further up this page do not have any covers. The cover shown on the Big J on Brian Edgars site is certainly long enough to cover the rear of the 8LX ,it is probably a fraction longer than the cover used on the ERF “A” series when fitted with the 8LX and at guess I would suggest the front to back of cab measurements would probably fractionaly longer on the Guy, the wheelbase was…Tony.
Chris Webb:
charlie one:
gerbil sb152:
Hi boys i was a subie for smith’s for a while a bloke called norman kibby was manager at totton did lot of tomatoes out off portsmouth changed over in naylor transport yard in garstang, one day the glasgow trunk was running late they asked if i could go on up to the moss cafe at carlisle that was ok but the scotts block got upset said i must have ben running bent to load and get that far in a day.good times thou roping and sheeting never hurt anyone.Norman Kibby.Now theres a name to remember.He was an apprentice mechanic at ■■■■ Hamptons when I worked there in the early sixties.He was a sneaky little baa lamb.Had he changed when you knew him Gerbil? Regards Charlie.
Happy new year Charlie.Do you mean ■■■■ Hampton the earthmovers? I remember them well up around Sheffield area in the 60s and 70s.
Do you recall a haulier/warehouser in S’oton called Reece Blatchford,maybe a cash and carry firm?
Same to you Chris.Hope things are well with you and yours? I think Reece Blatchford were a removal company.Re ■■■■ Hampton,I Pulled some plant in and out of the M1 at Sheffield.Good days long gone eh? Regards Charlie
Suttons Tony:
Mr Bewick, after Suttons my last driving job was on the BRS Cressy Rd, Hampstead, where when the C&U were changed from 24t Gross to 32t Gross our mainly Bristol fleet of artics were changed to about a 50/50 split between AEC Mandators and Guy Big J’s with the 220 ■■■■■■■ this is 67/68 and the Guys most certainly did not have covers on the backs of cabs for the engines as indeed the Guy Big J’s pictured further up this page do not have any covers. The cover shown on the Big J on Brian Edgars site is certainly long enough to cover the rear of the 8LX ,it is probably a fraction longer than the cover used on the ERF “A” series when fitted with the 8LX and at guess I would suggest the front to back of cab measurements would probably fractionaly longer on the Guy, the wheelbase was…Tony.
Honestly Tony that Big J in the background of the SOM shot did not have an 8LXB in it !! I acknowlege that all the Guys did not have covers over the rear of the engine but I doubt very much that Guy fitted a cover long enough to cover an 8LXB!! ERF or Atkinson certainly didn’t cover up their 8LXBs . Regaeds Bewick.
Bewick:
Suttons Tony:
Mr Bewick, after Suttons my last driving job was on the BRS Cressy Rd, Hampstead, where when the C&U were changed from 24t Gross to 32t Gross our mainly Bristol fleet of artics were changed to about a 50/50 split between AEC Mandators and Guy Big J’s with the 220 ■■■■■■■ this is 67/68 and the Guys most certainly did not have covers on the backs of cabs for the engines as indeed the Guy Big J’s pictured further up this page do not have any covers. The cover shown on the Big J on Brian Edgars site is certainly long enough to cover the rear of the 8LX ,it is probably a fraction longer than the cover used on the ERF “A” series when fitted with the 8LX and at guess I would suggest the front to back of cab measurements would probably fractionaly longer on the Guy, the wheelbase was…Tony.Honestly Tony that Big J in the background of the SOM shot did not have an 8LXB in it !! I acknowlege that all the Guys did not have covers over the rear of the engine but I doubt very much that Guy fitted a cover long enough to cover an 8LXB!! ERF or Atkinson certainly didn’t cover up their 8LXBs . Regaeds Bewick.
P.S. Tony if I was capable of posting pictures (which I am not ) I could show you a shot of a new Big J in the Depot with a cover on the back identical to the SOM tractor and it was fitted with a 180LXB and there wasn’t much of agap for another two pots believe me !!! Bewick.
Bewick:
Bewick:
Suttons Tony:
Mr Bewick, after Suttons my last driving job was on the BRS Cressy Rd, Hampstead, where when the C&U were changed from 24t Gross to 32t Gross our mainly Bristol fleet of artics were changed to about a 50/50 split between AEC Mandators and Guy Big J’s with the 220 ■■■■■■■ this is 67/68 and the Guys most certainly did not have covers on the backs of cabs for the engines as indeed the Guy Big J’s pictured further up this page do not have any covers. The cover shown on the Big J on Brian Edgars site is certainly long enough to cover the rear of the 8LX ,it is probably a fraction longer than the cover used on the ERF “A” series when fitted with the 8LX and at guess I would suggest the front to back of cab measurements would probably fractionaly longer on the Guy, the wheelbase was…Tony.Honestly Tony that Big J in the background of the SOM shot did not have an 8LXB in it !! I acknowlege that all the Guys did not have covers over the rear of the engine but I doubt very much that Guy fitted a cover long enough to cover an 8LXB!! ERF or Atkinson certainly didn’t cover up their 8LXBs . Regaeds Bewick.
P.S. Tony if I was capable of posting pictures (which I am not ) I could show you a shot of a new Big J in the Depot with a cover on the back identical to the SOM tractor and it was fitted with a 180LXB and there wasn’t much of agap for another two pots believe me !!! Bewick.
Hi Dennis,
If you have a look at the top of the main index page for this forum,about six down ainacs has put a thread on,how to post pics,if I can do it,I,m sure you can.
Cheers Dave.
Dave the Renegade:
Bewick:
Bewick:
Suttons Tony:
Mr Bewick, after Suttons my last driving job was on the BRS Cressy Rd, Hampstead, where when the C&U were changed from 24t Gross to 32t Gross our mainly Bristol fleet of artics were changed to about a 50/50 split between AEC Mandators and Guy Big J’s with the 220 ■■■■■■■ this is 67/68 and the Guys most certainly did not have covers on the backs of cabs for the engines as indeed the Guy Big J’s pictured further up this page do not have any covers. The cover shown on the Big J on Brian Edgars site is certainly long enough to cover the rear of the 8LX ,it is probably a fraction longer than the cover used on the ERF “A” series when fitted with the 8LX and at guess I would suggest the front to back of cab measurements would probably fractionaly longer on the Guy, the wheelbase was…Tony.Honestly Tony that Big J in the background of the SOM shot did not have an 8LXB in it !! I acknowlege that all the Guys did not have covers over the rear of the engine but I doubt very much that Guy fitted a cover long enough to cover an 8LXB!! ERF or Atkinson certainly didn’t cover up their 8LXBs . Regaeds Bewick.
P.S. Tony if I was capable of posting pictures (which I am not ) I could show you a shot of a new Big J in the Depot with a cover on the back identical to the SOM tractor and it was fitted with a 180LXB and there wasn’t much of agap for another two pots believe me !!! Bewick.
Hi Dennis,
If you have a look at the top of the main index page for this forum,about six down ainics has put a thread on,how to post pics,if I can do it,I,m sure you can.
Cheers Dave.
Thanks Dave although we have been fitted up with a scanner this christmas I am not so keen to venture into our sub zero loft at this time !!! when things get a bit warmer maybe I could copy a selection and Post them to you to edit and submitt but if I could get the Bewick archivist to join the site he could dazzle you Welsh lads with not only the old Bewick fleet but a load of other pics from other local operators !!! Anyway back onto Shap Fell for another cold night !!! Regards Bewick.
Hi Dennis,
Don’t blame you,keep out of the loft until the warmer weather,stay by the fire,its pretty cold here,would imagine its colder up your way. I have got an old mate emailing me pics to post,already stuck a few on,he was always a keen photographer,I only engaged my brain a couple of days ago and thought about getting in touch with him.
Cheers Dave.
Hy Bewick, if you look on the “Sales Brochures” entry, page 1 on the ERF “A” series brochure you will see the cover on the 8 LXB engined motor which ERF calls the fire screen and on the 6 LXB engined ERF you will see that the engine do’es not protrude at the rear of the cab. If you go to Bill Clowes excellent site and go to the Guy page you will see at the bottom a Gardner 240 (8 LXB) engined Guy Big J…Tony.
Suttons Tony:
Hy Bewick, if you look on the “Sales Brochures” entry, page 1 on the ERF “A” series brochure you will see the cover on the 8 LXB engined motor which ERF calls the fire screen and on the 6 LXB engined ERF you will see that the engine do’es not protrude at the rear of the cab. If you go to Bill Clowes excellent site and go to the Guy page you will see at the bottom a Gardner 240 (8 LXB) engined Guy Big J…Tony.
Hello Tony how are you to-day ? I’ve had a look at the two sites you mentioned – thanks !! I can see the ERF A series was fire screened we had identical tractors in the fleet that didn’t need Fire regs so came without screens ! However the Big Js (180LXBs) came with rear engine covers same ( identical) as the ones on the SOM photos !! I wish we could get a rear shot of the Moss & Lovatt tractor YRE600S and we could see how far the engine stuck out at the back !! this particular tractor would certainly appear to have been a bit special with a reg. no. 600S and I think it will have been one of the final chassis built by Guy with it being on an “S” plate !! Pity we couldn’t get the tractors history . We ran a number of differen’t chassis with Gardner 8LXBs , ERF A&B series ,Atkinson Borderers & Sed Atkys and none of them came with engine covers and the 8LXB was stuck well out the back further than the Big J s cover !! Unless of course Tone you are winding me up and you really know that 600S has just been Badge Engineered and is actually fitted with an AEC 505 engine !!! ( only joking mate ) I am sure we’ll get to the bottom of it or I am going to loose the will to live !! Cheers Bewick.
Bewick:
Suttons Tony:
Hy Bewick, if you look on the “Sales Brochures” entry, page 1 on the ERF “A” series brochure you will see the cover on the 8 LXB engined motor which ERF calls the fire screen and on the 6 LXB engined ERF you will see that the engine do’es not protrude at the rear of the cab. If you go to Bill Clowes excellent site and go to the Guy page you will see at the bottom a Gardner 240 (8 LXB) engined Guy Big J…Tony.Hello Tony how are you to-day ? I’ve had a look at the two sites you mentioned – thanks !! I can see the ERF A series was fire screened we had identical tractors in the fleet that didn’t need Fire regs so came without screens ! However the Big Js (180LXBs) came with rear engine covers same ( identical) as the ones on the SOM photos !! I wish we could get a rear shot of the Moss & Lovatt tractor YRE600S and we could see how far the engine stuck out at the back !! this particular tractor would certainly appear to have been a bit special with a reg. no. 600S and I think it will have been one of the final chassis built by Guy with it being on an “S” plate !! Pity we couldn’t get the tractors history . We ran a number of differen’t chassis with Gardner 8LXBs , ERF A&B series ,Atkinson Borderers & Sed Atkys and none of them came with engine covers and the 8LXB was stuck well out the back further than the Big J s cover !! Unless of course Tone you are winding me up and you really know that 600S has just been Badge Engineered and is actually fitted with an AEC 505 engine !!! ( only joking mate ) I am sure we’ll get to the bottom of it or I am going to loose the will to live !! Cheers Bewick.
Hiya …The Moss and Lovatt guy is a 180 it just been rebuilt in memory of David Edwards(Director of Moss and Lovatt) who passed away suddenly a few months ago.The chap doing the restoration is Steve Barlow who has the A series ERF in Moss and Lovatt livery and is their mechanic.
Steve is halfway through doing a 180 Borderer of his own.