Hi carl…that photo I sent to you with the van in a scrapyard, having had another look at it, it could be Thornley Colliery, where young Norman Bulmer lived in the bungalow, it looks like a bungalow behind the wall and he was a bit of a scrap merchant.
Eddie
edworth:
Hi carl…that photo I sent to you with the van in a scrapyard, having had another look at it, it could be Thornley Colliery, where young Norman Bulmer lived in the bungalow, it looks like a bungalow behind the wall and he was a bit of a scrap merchant.
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
That’s a bit of the Jigsaw puzzle that seems to fit
Carl
Can anyone recognise who is driving the ERF in the photo?
He seems to be wearing a suit shirt and tie.
he also looks quite slim, but no doubt that will have changed over the years
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
Just thinking of Gordon saying that he didn’t get told off by dad for unloading a ceramic hob onto the road where it was run over etc., and Gordon saying Dad never lost his temper with him.
Well I heard his wrath many times, in fact often directed at me. When I was about seven and I went with him when he drove onto a street he expected me to count ahead along te street ad tell me what house he had to stop at, and if I didn’t he used to go mad with me,
He always told me it was expected of a van lad to do that and be out of the van have the tailboard down before the driver managed to get out of the cab.
Although, being a volunteer I suspect Peter was not victim of his anger, but I bet he heard it expressed on others many times when he was visiting Marmaduke Street.Yes, Carl I certainly do recall your dad’s anger which was expressed on many a person who rightly deserved it although I can’t remember any one particular incident. As you said, he did lose his temper with you on many an occasion and, although I’m not saying you may not have deserved it, it also showed that you did not get any sort of preferential treatment although at times I felt he was quite a bit harsh with you. I think that this may have been because his father was hard on him.
Peter
Hi Peter,
You are correct in your statement that my Grandfather was hard on my dad.
As I have said before, on this thread, my Grandfather was more caring towards me than he was anyone else, in particular, dad.
He always told the story of his very first day’s driving after passing his test. It would be 1938, and one of the pre-war Bedford 2 Tonners. (I think that was why he had a soft spot for the two we restored).
He started work at 6.30 on the morning and at some point either the previous night or most probably that morning (As granddad was always up early) they had an argument.
Dad went with the wagon in drop sided form to Andrew Hall’s. In those days they were wholesalers of Newcastle Brown Ale which was delivered to pubs in bottles. He did a local journey of multi-drops that too him till 11-00Am ad then did two loads groceries. (1 for Brough’s and 1 for Thompsons).
He then had to be back at Marmaduke Street to put the sides and back on to make it into a cattle truck. His mother, my grandmother had to help him as there was no one else there. It was then through to Darlington Cattle Mart where Grandfather ruled supreme. Keeping out of Dad’s way he sent some ‘cronies’ to tell him what he had to do. He was given a load of sheep and store pigs to deliver to various butchers.
I don’t know if Cattlewagon man still reads this thread, if so he might advise me but from what dad said it was necessary to keep stopping to check that the sheep kept their heads up, because if they didn’t they would suffocate and die, and grandfather had a reputation of never loosing any of the livestock carried.
Dad said he pulled out of the mart at 6-00PM with a full load, on his own and not even strong enough to lift the rear ramps, which he had to lift so far and scramble underneath and try to push up with his back. (Not spring assisted in 1938).
As he reached the White Horse put he pulled in to check the sheep were OK and as it was raining, he was already soaked to the skin. Getting back into the cab, he said he couldn’t help but have a cry. He got home about 10-00PM and no doubt got spoilt by my grandmother who was waiting for him. Granddad had gone to bed, for early start in the morning about 5-00Am (same expected of dad.
Next day he arrived at the mart he was given an easier load, and granddad, who had a friend with him was fussing asking if he would manage alright. Dad said ‘It wasn’t like that last night.
I can only very rarely remember them going anywhere together, as they always argued, and tended to keep their distance. However I can always remember him praising ‘Our Harry’ but never to his face.
Carl
Just thinking our original ‘A’ licence number was A2215, the 2215th A licence issued.
When Operators licencing came in we surrendered our ‘A’ Licence for an Operator’s licence, as all our vehicles at that time were rigid less than 12 ton GVW.
The next problem was for our Courtauld’s work, in 1971 we needed an artic, and at that time Operators licences only covered to 16 ton GVW, over that you also needed an ‘A’Licence.
We had to buy a business with an ‘A’ licence.
We bought a Dodge 6 wheeler flat with a ■■■■■■■■ Engine which was operated by a haulage contractor from Coundon, Bishop Auckland, called Dangerfield. This business was then run in my name Carl Williams, as it had to be kept as a separate entity under the law.
The Dodge was son replaced by the Leyland Mastiff Artic MPT784J, supplied together with Taskers 40ft trailer by Barret-Atkin of Byers Dunn-Turvey. This had W.H.Williams painted on the illuminated Hatcher sign attached to the top of the cab, but the doors wee sign written Carl Williams and the operator’s licence and A licence was in that name.
We also put three rigid vans on that operator’s licence and the only sign was the legal writing on the nearside front had Carl Williams.
It was a nuisance because separate accounts had to be kept, with the associated additional costs of doing so, but this continued until we moved into Green Lane Industrial Estate when the two businesses were formally merged.
Carl Williams:
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
Just thinking of Gordon saying that he didn’t get told off by dad for unloading a ceramic hob onto the road where it was run over etc., and Gordon saying Dad never lost his temper with him.
Well I heard his wrath many times, in fact often directed at me. When I was about seven and I went with him when he drove onto a street he expected me to count ahead along te street ad tell me what house he had to stop at, and if I didn’t he used to go mad with me,
He always told me it was expected of a van lad to do that and be out of the van have the tailboard down before the driver managed to get out of the cab.
Although, being a volunteer I suspect Peter was not victim of his anger, but I bet he heard it expressed on others many times when he was visiting Marmaduke Street.Yes, Carl I certainly do recall your dad’s anger which was expressed on many a person who rightly deserved it although I can’t remember any one particular incident. As you said, he did lose his temper with you on many an occasion and, although I’m not saying you may not have deserved it, it also showed that you did not get any sort of preferential treatment although at times I felt he was quite a bit harsh with you. I think that this may have been because his father was hard on him.
PeterHi Peter,
You are correct in your statement that my Grandfather was hard on my dad.
As I have said before, on this thread, my Grandfather was more caring towards me than he was anyone else, in particular, dad.
He always told the story of his very first day’s driving after passing his test. It would be 1938, and one of the pre-war Bedford 2 Tonners. (I think that was why he had a soft spot for the two we restored).
He started work at 6.30 on the morning and at some point either the previous night or most probably that morning (As granddad was always up early) they had an argument.
Dad went with the wagon in drop sided form to Andrew Hall’s. In those days they were wholesalers of Newcastle Brown Ale which was delivered to pubs in bottles. He did a local journey of multi-drops that too him till 11-00Am ad then did two loads groceries. (1 for Brough’s and 1 for Thompsons).
He then had to be back at Marmaduke Street to put the sides and back on to make it into a cattle truck. His mother, my grandmother had to help him as there was no one else there. It was then through to Darlington Cattle Mart where Grandfather ruled supreme. Keeping out of Dad’s way he sent some ‘cronies’ to tell him what he had to do. He was given a load of sheep and store pigs to deliver to various butchers.
I don’t know if Cattlewagon man still reads this thread, if so he might advise me but from what dad said it was necessary to keep stopping to check that the sheep kept their heads up, because if they didn’t they would suffocate and die, and grandfather had a reputation of never loosing any of the livestock carried.
Dad said he pulled out of the mart at 6-00PM with a full load, on his own and not even strong enough to lift the rear ramps, which he had to lift so far and scramble underneath and try to push up with his back. (Not spring assisted in 1938).
As he reached the White Horse put he pulled in to check the sheep were OK and as it was raining, he was already soaked to the skin. Getting back into the cab, he said he couldn’t help but have a cry. He got home about 10-00PM and no doubt got spoilt by my grandmother who was waiting for him. Granddad had gone to bed, for early start in the morning about 5-00Am (same expected of dad.
Next day he arrived at the mart he was given an easier load, and granddad, who had a friend with him was fussing asking if he would manage alright. Dad said ‘It wasn’t like that last night.
I can only very rarely remember them going anywhere together, as they always argued, and tended to keep their distance. However I can always remember him praising ‘Our Harry’ but never to his face.Carl
Hi Carl, you are right about your dad & grandad arguing and keeping their distance as much as possible. I used to go to visit your grandad & grandmother occasionally on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when I was very young (about 8 or 9 years old) he took great pride in showing me the vehicles parked in the garage and always let me sit in the drivers seats. He would never said anything to your dad but he always said to me how proud he was of Harry and of the way he was running the business but I hadn’t to say anything (I don’t think he wanted to show he had any feelings) but as usual he would blow his own trumpet and say it was because of his training (bullying more like) but you are right he would never tell your dad to his face. I also remember the Dodge 6 wheeler I was going to mention it but you beat me to it. It had a v6 ■■■■■■■■ engine I can recall that you didn’t have it to long and I don’t think it was to reliable with you. Didn’t Colin Watson drive it or am I wrong? Did you also have a D series ford tractor unit with your name on as well Carl?
Peter
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
Just thinking of Gordon saying that he didn’t get told off by dad for unloading a ceramic hob onto the road where it was run over etc., and Gordon saying Dad never lost his temper with him.
Well I heard his wrath many times, in fact often directed at me. When I was about seven and I went with him when he drove onto a street he expected me to count ahead along te street ad tell me what house he had to stop at, and if I didn’t he used to go mad with me,
He always told me it was expected of a van lad to do that and be out of the van have the tailboard down before the driver managed to get out of the cab.
Although, being a volunteer I suspect Peter was not victim of his anger, but I bet he heard it expressed on others many times when he was visiting Marmaduke Street.Yes, Carl I certainly do recall your dad’s anger which was expressed on many a person who rightly deserved it although I can’t remember any one particular incident. As you said, he did lose his temper with you on many an occasion and, although I’m not saying you may not have deserved it, it also showed that you did not get any sort of preferential treatment although at times I felt he was quite a bit harsh with you. I think that this may have been because his father was hard on him.
PeterHi Peter,
You are correct in your statement that my Grandfather was hard on my dad.
As I have said before, on this thread, my Grandfather was more caring towards me than he was anyone else, in particular, dad.
He always told the story of his very first day’s driving after passing his test. It would be 1938, and one of the pre-war Bedford 2 Tonners. (I think that was why he had a soft spot for the two we restored).
He started work at 6.30 on the morning and at some point either the previous night or most probably that morning (As granddad was always up early) they had an argument.
Dad went with the wagon in drop sided form to Andrew Hall’s. In those days they were wholesalers of Newcastle Brown Ale which was delivered to pubs in bottles. He did a local journey of multi-drops that too him till 11-00Am ad then did two loads groceries. (1 for Brough’s and 1 for Thompsons).
He then had to be back at Marmaduke Street to put the sides and back on to make it into a cattle truck. His mother, my grandmother had to help him as there was no one else there. It was then through to Darlington Cattle Mart where Grandfather ruled supreme. Keeping out of Dad’s way he sent some ‘cronies’ to tell him what he had to do. He was given a load of sheep and store pigs to deliver to various butchers.
I don’t know if Cattlewagon man still reads this thread, if so he might advise me but from what dad said it was necessary to keep stopping to check that the sheep kept their heads up, because if they didn’t they would suffocate and die, and grandfather had a reputation of never loosing any of the livestock carried.
Dad said he pulled out of the mart at 6-00PM with a full load, on his own and not even strong enough to lift the rear ramps, which he had to lift so far and scramble underneath and try to push up with his back. (Not spring assisted in 1938).
As he reached the White Horse put he pulled in to check the sheep were OK and as it was raining, he was already soaked to the skin. Getting back into the cab, he said he couldn’t help but have a cry. He got home about 10-00PM and no doubt got spoilt by my grandmother who was waiting for him. Granddad had gone to bed, for early start in the morning about 5-00Am (same expected of dad.
Next day he arrived at the mart he was given an easier load, and granddad, who had a friend with him was fussing asking if he would manage alright. Dad said ‘It wasn’t like that last night.
I can only very rarely remember them going anywhere together, as they always argued, and tended to keep their distance. However I can always remember him praising ‘Our Harry’ but never to his face.Carl
Hi Carl, you are right about your dad & grandad arguing and keeping their distance as much as possible. I used to go to visit your grandad & grandmother occasionally on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when I was very young (about 8 or 9 years old) he took great pride in showing me the vehicles parked in the garage and always let me sit in the drivers seats. He would never said anything to your dad but he always said to me how proud he was of Harry and of the way he was running the business but I hadn’t to say anything (I don’t think he wanted to show he had any feelings) but as usual he would blow his own trumpet and say it was because of his training (bullying more like) but you are right he would never tell your dad to his face. I also remember the Dodge 6 wheeler I was going to mention it but you beat me to it. It had a v6 ■■■■■■■■ engine I can recall that you didn’t have it to long and I don’t think it was to reliable with you. Didn’t Colin Watson drive it or am I wrong? Did you also have a D series ford tractor unit with your name on as well Carl?
Peter
Hi Peter,
Looking back it would probably have been RUP799K, as it was our second ‘modern day’ tractor unit and once again it would have required an ‘A’ licence.
Yes, indeed the Dodge had a v6 ■■■■■■■■ engine and it was the problems with this vehicle that turned us off every buying a further ■■■■■■■■ powered vehicle. Possibly, wrongly as the Dodge was strictly a Chrysler-■■■■■■■■ engine.
I cannot remember, who drove it and it may well have been Colin. No doubt if and when he reads this, he will put us write. At that time most of our drivers had Class 3 HGV licences and to drive it would have needed class 2, so we would have been limited for choice of drivers.
I wonder, Peter if you would give me again reg no of our Foden tractor unit. I remember you giving it and it had Darlington registration, but I cannot find it and I am trying to update the vehicle list.
Thanks Carl
Hi Peter,
forgot to ask in the last post, but I seem to remember a second Mastiff tractor unit, bought second hand, a lot younger, with an updated cab front. Am I dreaming? or can you remember it?
Carl
Carl Williams:
Hi Peter,forgot to ask in the last post, but I seem to remember a second Mastiff tractor unit, bought second hand, a lot younger, with an updated cab front. Am I dreaming? or can you remember it?
Carl
Hi Carl. No you are not dreaming you did have a second Mastiff tractor unit (reg no GVM 474N), both had Perkins 510 V8 engines. The Foden reg no was UHN 304L and it was powered by a Rolls Royce eagle diesel
Peter
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
Hi Peter,forgot to ask in the last post, but I seem to remember a second Mastiff tractor unit, bought second hand, a lot younger, with an updated cab front. Am I dreaming? or can you remember it?
Carl
Hi Carl. No you are not dreaming you did have a second Mastiff tractor unit (reg no GVM 474N), both had Perkins 510 V8 engines. The Foden reg no was UHN 304L and it was powered by a Rolls Royce eagle diesel
Peter
Hi Peter,
The memory is strange, isn’t it? I can remember what happened in 1961 as if it was yesterday and yet I can’t remember yesterday.
I had faint memory of dad and me talking before that second Mastiff. The first had been troublesome in the first two or three years, but then it had settled down and hadn’t been too bad and so we decided to consider that second hand one, which must have been low mileage.
I cannot remember anything about where or when we bought it, but it’s almost certain that I will have been sent to see it and buy it, but I cannot remember. I might even have gone by train, bought it and driven it back, but I can’t remember.
I do, however remember we had a D series with the same V8 Perkins engine. It was heavier that the other D series tractor units we had (26ton against 20 ton?). I remember we had moved to Green Lane and we were building the second workshop, which was separated by the washing area we used for steam cleaning and was eventually joined at the rear with the stores.
■■■■ porter had moved back down to Marmaduke Street, because of space shortage at Green Lane, with an apprentice to do tractor unit MOT prep and it was sent down as an infill to have the engine rebuilt and overhauled, which he did.
Carl
Here is a letter I am sending to Frank Morgan in Wales
I have found quite a few addresses and so its the first of quite a few,to try to get more to come along in October
Frank
Hope its you.
How are you? Hi So many years have passed.
I’ve got Vascular Dementia and have been putting as much about W.H.w on the internet before I forget. You are mentioned a lot, with some old photos.
It is in Trucknet and to write your comments you have to join it is free to lorry drivers etc so it doesn’t cost anything
You can also goggle W.H.Williams Spennymoor
Do you ever get up here now? They have stopped me driving.
Colin Watson is organising a get together for the few of us still alive and
We have been offered the use of the facilities of Ferryhill Workingmen’s Club for the afternoon of Saturday 27th October 2012 from 12.30pm onwards, If you are interested please contact preferable by Email: colinwatson412@btinternet.com or on mobile: 07796908347.
My mobile number is 079015766412 or you can contact through w.h.williamsspennymoor@yahoo.com if you use the internet
It would be great to hear from you again, and if you have any old photos to put on the trucknet site
Best wishes
Carl
Hi Carl and all your contributors,although I have never had any personnal dealings with your company apart from meeting your drivers on the road,when i was doing the job in the early 70,s.
I do enjoy your great thread re your company,I love it when you describe the paint and signwork of your vehicles(its the signwriter in me…sorry)…But you did have a distictive colourscheme that worked and was remembered…which was the whole point…the history that you and your other contributors is fasanating…
Keep it up…Its a shame that the era that we talk about is no longer…I have worked,in my time for,one man bands,family outfits,multi nationals ect,but my abiding memories have been with the family outfits,where the worker is part of the family.
Best regards.
Mick.
mickthebrush:
Hi Carl and all your contributors,although I have never had any personnal dealings with your company apart from meeting your drivers on the road,when i was doing the job in the early 70,s.
I do enjoy your great thread re your company,I love it when you describe the paint and signwork of your vehicles(its the signwriter in me…sorry)…But you did have a distictive colourscheme that worked and was remembered…which was the whole point…the history that you and your other contributors is fasanating…
Keep it up…Its a shame that the era that we talk about is no longer…I have worked,in my time for,one man bands,family outfits,multi nationals ect,but my abiding memories have been with the family outfits,where the worker is part of the family.
Best regards.
Mick.
Hi Mick
i agree with you. Wasn’t it nice when you went down the road and saw wagons and vans in all sorts of different colours, that represeted all the different operators. Now everything, in my eyes are so bland. As well when I was younger I used to watch for all the different makes of vehicles (all British as well). Now there are so few makes and in my eyes they all look the same, and most just white with bits of vinyl stuck on. So boring.
Carl
Carl Williams:
mickthebrush:
Hi Carl and all your contributors,although I have never had any personnal dealings with your company apart from meeting your drivers on the road,when i was doing the job in the early 70,s.
I do enjoy your great thread re your company,I love it when you describe the paint and signwork of your vehicles(its the signwriter in me…sorry)…But you did have a distictive colourscheme that worked and was remembered…which was the whole point…the history that you and your other contributors is fasanating…
Keep it up…Its a shame that the era that we talk about is no longer…I have worked,in my time for,one man bands,family outfits,multi nationals ect,but my abiding memories have been with the family outfits,where the worker is part of the family.
Best regards.
Mick.Hi Mick
i agree with you. Wasn’t it nice when you went down the road and saw wagons and vans in all sorts of different colours, that represeted all the different operators. Now everything, in my eyes are so bland. As well when I was younger I used to watch for all the different makes of vehicles (all British as well). Now there are so few makes and in my eyes they all look the same, and most just white with bits of vinyl stuck on. So boring.
Carl
Hi Mick
I used to stand transfixed watching Peter Butler sign write many of WHW vans with ease. As a young boy I didn’t appreciate the precision and skill that must have taken years to learn and even longer to master. After seeing Peter using his chalked string to form the base lines and then using chalk to quickly write W H Williams down the side of the van as a rough guide to spacing I was mesmerised by the accuracy of his hand and eye skill when he started to paint the letters.
Whilst there is a place in today’s modern age to use cut vinyl lettering or vehicle wraps for speed you can’t beat the attention to detail which makes the traditional art of sign writing both functional and pleasing to look at, impossible to reproduce by any other method. Forty odd years later I am still in awe of those skills. Sign writers are true artists.
Peter
pbsummers:
Carl Williams:
mickthebrush:
Hi Carl and all your contributors,although I have never had any personnal dealings with your company apart from meeting your drivers on the road,when i was doing the job in the early 70,s.
I do enjoy your great thread re your company,I love it when you describe the paint and signwork of your vehicles(its the signwriter in me…sorry)…But you did have a distictive colourscheme that worked and was remembered…which was the whole point…the history that you and your other contributors is fasanating…
Keep it up…Its a shame that the era that we talk about is no longer…I have worked,in my time for,one man bands,family outfits,multi nationals ect,but my abiding memories have been with the family outfits,where the worker is part of the family.
Best regards.
Mick.Hi Mick
i agree with you. Wasn’t it nice when you went down the road and saw wagons and vans in all sorts of different colours, that represeted all the different operators. Now everything, in my eyes are so bland. As well when I was younger I used to watch for all the different makes of vehicles (all British as well). Now there are so few makes and in my eyes they all look the same, and most just white with bits of vinyl stuck on. So boring.
Carl
Hi Mick
I used to stand transfixed watching Peter Butler sign write many of WHW vans with ease. As a young boy I didn’t appreciate the precision and skill that must have taken years to learn and even longer to master. After seeing Peter using his chalked string to form the base lines and then using chalk to quickly write W H Williams down the side of the van as a rough guide to spacing I was mesmerised by the accuracy of his hand and eye skill when he started to paint the letters.
Whilst there is a place in today’s modern age to use cut vinyl lettering or vehicle wraps for speed you can’t beat the attention to detail which makes the traditional art of sign writing both functional and pleasing to look at, impossible to reproduce by any other method. Forty odd years later I am still in awe of those skills. Sign writers are true artists.
Peter
Hi Peter and Mick
I have to agree that sign writers are artists, and Peter Butler would certainly have been standing on the podium, in my opinion. (But of course I am biased).
Not only was his work so perfect (He was a perfectionist), but also he was so quick. One thing I always noticed he did (Same as most other sign writers) after putting on his ‘chalk marks’ with his string, he would then quickly chalk out what he was going to write and then commence painting, starting at a different place altogether, so that the chalk letters were only there to remind him what he was writing.
I must have only bee four when ‘Professor Norton’ wrote the last vehicle NUP, for us before he died, but I still have faint recollections of him performing small magic tricks to amuse me as I watched. He was again a very good writer, but much slower than Peter, but at that time very old. He used to also write the buses for Gordon Martindale at Ferryhill. Martindales were written in old English and I can always remember dad pointing out that ‘That is Norton’s work’ when we saw one whilst driving about. After Norton’s death, Martindale had to change to ordinary writing as he could find no one who could manage the Old English style correctly.
Dad said that Norton had a book of all the different type of lettering and used to ask dad to find a complicated letter and without showing him he would write it in chalk perfectly on the garage floor. When dad told Peter Butler he tried desperately to get a copy of this book, because as I said he was a perfectionist and wanted to be top of his art.
In Marsden Coachbuilders Ltd at Warrington they employed two full time writers who worked as a team. One would do one side of a van whilst the other did the other side. Phil Butler says he can always identify his dad’s work by his spacing. I looked at many vans painted by Marsden and could never see any differences, to identify which sign writer had written each side. It would have been interesting if Phil could tell the different styles, on a Marsden painted van
Carl
hiya,
Carl, don’t know whether you’ve ever seen the video featured either
on here or on You-Tube but it depicts a Scania tractor unit alongside
a Mini both being vinyl wrapped in “dare I say it” Stobarts" colours it
was to show the speed at which the wrapping could be carried out
it was actually turned into a race and the Scania was completed well
before the Mini, I’m more in favour of proper signwriting and have
seen lots of fantastic artistry running about the roads, I especially
liked to see the gold leaf applicators doing their thing, not much of
that seen nowadays, one little firm I worked for in the late 50s had
what I considered a very nice livery British racing green bodywork
and signwritten in old English gold leaf I suppose the cost would be
out of the question in this day and age, still some of the show boys
go to the trouble of having a “proper” paint job done which I suppose
keeps some of the “artists” in working order, keep well Carl.
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
hiya,
Carl, don’t know whether you’ve ever seen the video featured either
on here or on You-Tube but it depicts a Scania tractor unit alongside
a Mini both being vinyl wrapped in “dare I say it” Stobarts" colours it
was to show the speed at which the wrapping could be carried out
it was actually turned into a race and the Scania was completed well
before the Mini, I’m more in favour of proper signwriting and have
seen lots of fantastic artistry running about the roads, I especially
liked to see the gold leaf applicators doing their thing, not much of
that seen nowadays, one little firm I worked for in the late 50s had
what I considered a very nice livery British racing green bodywork
and signwritten in old English gold leaf I suppose the cost would be
out of the question in this day and age, still some of the show boys
go to the trouble of having a “proper” paint job done which I suppose
keeps some of the “artists” in working order, keep well Carl.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hi Harry
I’m still here, life goes on and I wish you well.
I have just been looking at the photos on the Trans Pennine rally, and I’m sure everyone must admire how well painted and cared for the vehicles look.
So different from the dross that now fill the roads. It beats me what these ‘spotters’, particularly ES type look at, I feel so sorry for them and their sad lives.
When I was young there was so much variety on the road with so many small vehicle operators that looked forward to the arrival of a new (often new to them) vehicle, and they took so much pride in painting and making sure it was something to be proud of, instead, as we see today, as often as not just getting a plain white tractor unit and clagging a few transfers on it.
Once again Harry, so nice to hear from you
Carl
Interesting: i was looking at the 1936 Kelly’s directory for businesses in Spennymoor.
As you will see below Harry Williams Marmaduke Street Spennymoor. Dad would have been 14 to 15 at the time. I always remember every year Kelly’s rep calling to update their directory. Dad must have seen him in 1936 and given his name.
Alderman Wraith Secondary School - - Durham Road
Atkinson Atkinson Shopkeeper 20 Barnfield Road
Beel George Blacksmith Armoury Street
Bell Robert Beer retailer 66 Durham Road
Bishop Auckland Industrial Co-operative Flour and Provision Society Ltd. - - Cheapside
Bland J. C. Haulage contractors Durham Road
Blenkin Joseph H. Fried fish dealer 49 Durham Road
Boots The Chemists, 11 Cheapside - - 11 Cheapside
Bowtell John Hairdresser 3 Weardale Chambers, Cheapside
Brooks R. Shopkeeper 72 Durham Road
Broomfield John William Carter 5 Barnfield Road
Broughs Ltd. - Wholesale grocers Cheapside
Campbell Mabel (Mrs) Stewardess, Tudhoe & Spennymoor Workmen’s Club & Institute Ltd. 6 King Street
Campbell William Fried fish dealer Barnfield Road
Carroll Thomas George Fruiterer 53 Cheapside
C. & R Billiards Enterprise - Billiard halls Head office, 13 Cheapside.
Clark Elizabeth J. (Mrs) Commercial Hotel 17 Cheapside
Claughan Joseph Edgar Newsagent 7 Cheapside
Coatsworth Adelaide (Mrs.) Midwife 18 Bishops Close Street
Coia Biagio Confectioner 13 Cheapside & Coronation Buildings
Coombes William Henry Pork butcher 35 Cheapside
Coronation Billiards Hall (C & R Billiards Enterprises, proprietors), Cheapside - - Cheapside
Dent Ellen (Mrs.) Beer retailer 10 King Street
Dent J. E. Manager, Ministry of Labour Employment Exchange Templar Hall, Cheapside
Di Mascio John Confectioner 29 Cheapside
Eddy Elizabeth (Miss) Shopkeeper 35 King Street
Edwards Brothers - Automobile engineers Cheapside
Elliot Norman Webster Butcher 2 Weardale Chambers, Cheapside
Essoldo Spennymoor Ltd. - Proprietors, Tivoli Cinema Cheapside
Farrell W. G. Spennymoor Settlement for Adult Education, warden 36 & 38 King Street
Forbes John Butcher 21 King Street
Forster J. H. B. Managing Director, Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. Ltd., colliery owners & fire brick manufacturers Tudhoe Iron Works
Gardner’s - Fried fish dealers 2 King James Street
Golightly A. Tar macadam manufacturer Slag works, Bishops Close Street
Goodingg Walter & Sons Builders 27 Barnfield Road
Grainger Brothers - Cabinetmakers 155 Durham Road
Gray George & Anthony Botanical brewers Low Grange Road
Gray Robert Motor haulage contractor 3 Barnfield Road
Gray & Gray - Sauce and pickle manufacturers 140 Durham Road
Guest James Draper 33 Cheapside
Guest William Shopkeeper 85 Durham Road
Harker George Secretary, Templar Hall Cheapside
Harper M. (Mrs.) Shopkeeper 30 King Street
Harrison Thomas Clarke Dentist 16 King Street
Hart Joseph Grand Hotel Cheapside
Helmsley William Wholesale potato merchant Durham Road
Herring G. E. (Mrs.) Ladies’ hairdresser 91 Durham Road
Herring G. E. (Mrs.) Ladies’ hairdresser 11a High Street
Hodgson George Undertaker 26 Barnfield Road
Hodgson Robert House furnisher & china dealer 43 Cheapside
Home & Colonial Stores Ltd. - - 19 Cheapside
Hood Frederick Boot repairer 28 King Street
Howe Edward Motor omnibus proprietor 24 Marmaduke Street
Kay J. W. & Son Builders 211 Durham Road
Kelly George H. Insurance agent 166 Durham Road
Kelly Isobel (Mrs.) Shopkeeper 5 Hartley Terrace
Knight Albert Painter 80 Durham Road
Lawson E. W. & Co. Newsagents, 45 Durham Road
Legge H. & Co. Tailors 21 Cheapside
Little P. Manager, Arcadia Cinema Market Place
McCrone John Builder 25 Marmaduke Street
Manfield Robert Harry Wholesale haberdasher 45 King Street
Meadow Dairy Co. Ltd. - Provision dealers 23 Cheapside
Meikle Charles Fergus Clerk to the Burial Board Cemetry
Miller Phillip Horse slaughterer Durham Road
Mitchell R. C. (Mrs.) Shopkeeper 97 Durham Road
Moodie Robert Stevens Dentist 2 Barnfield Road
Moore David Taxi-cab proprietor 22 Durham Road
Moore Samuel M. A. Rev. St. Andrew’s Mission Hall & Institute, president and secretary -
Morson William Henry Butcher 9 King Street
Munro J. J., M. B., Ch. B. Aberdeen Physician & surgeon Poplar House, King Street
Neasham William Edward, A. L. A. A. Accountant, 144 Durham Road 144 Durham Road
North Eastern Breweries Ltd. - - 66 Durham Road
Oughton Jabez Carrier 2 Marmaduke Street
Pattullo William, L. R. C. P. & S Edinburgh, L. R. F. P. S. Glasgow Physician & surgeon Tudhoe Park House, Durham Road
Pattullo William, L. R. C. P. & S Edinburgh, L. R. F. P. S. Glasgow Physician & surgeon Surgery, King Street
Pearson Howard Gentlemen’s outfitter 1 Cheapside
Phillips Brothers - Boot repairers 7 King Street
Phillips Maurice Arthur Shopkeeper 146 Durham Road
Phillips Thomas Pawnbroker 15 Cheapside
Phillipson Brothers - Confectioners 8 Durham Road
Pickering J. & T. Ltd. - Wine & spirit merchants 24 King Street
Piper Ernest Insurance agent 31 Durham road
Raine H. & Sons Coachbuilders Low grange road
Richardson Matthew Secretary, Tudhoe & Spennymoor Workmen’s Club & Institute Ltd. 6 King Street
Rigby William Proprietor, Weardale Café Weardale Chambers, Cheapside
Sanderson Robert Confectioner 31 Cheapside
Shearer Robert Chimney sweeper Pearson’s Terrace
Simpson F. W. Slag merchant Merrington Lane Slag Works
Smith Benjamin P. County Hotel 2 Durham Road
Soulsby W. (Miss) Ladies’ hairdresser Coronation Buildings, Cheapside
Sowerby Jack Weardale Hotel Cheapside
Spooner Joseph Shopkeeper 2 King William Street
Stoker George William Hairdresser 30 King Street
Stonehouse Christopher Salvin Arms Public House King Street
Sumner William B. Sc. Head master Durham Road
Swinburn Robert & Son Monumental masons Low Grange Road
Taylor George William Tailor King James Street
Thompson’s Red Stamp Stores - Grocers 39 Cheapside
Thornbury J. D. (Mrs.) Window cleaner 142 Durham Road
Tinsley Sydney V., M. B., Ch. B. Liverpool, J. P. Physician & surgeon & medical officer & public vaccinator Whitworth District & medical officer to the Spennymoor Urban District Isolation Hospital The Grange, North Road & surgery Cheapside
Troupe William Farmer Durham Road
Tudhoe Colliery Co-operative & Industrial Society Ltd. - - 47 Cheapside
Taylor F. C. Secretary, Tudhoe & Sunderland Bridge Gas Co. -
United Services Welfare Club & Institute Ltd. - - Barnfield Road
Watchman Harry Shopkeeper, 29 King Street
Webb Arthur Manufacturing confectioner Back King James Street
Wendel Charles Joseph Pork butcher 15 king Street
White John Boot & shoe dealer 5 Cheapside
Whitehouse C. Bird dealer 2 King Street
Whitehouse Charles Corn dealer Durham Road
Williams N. Radio dealer 55 Cheapside
Williams William Harry Haulage contractor Mamaduke Street
Wortley Hannah (Mrs.) Wardrobe dealer 17 Low Grange Road
Yorkshire Penny bank Ltd. - (attends Friday 6 to 7 p.m.) Cheapside
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A week or so ago Peter reminded me that we had bought a second Leyland Mastiff tractor unit, and I remembered a discussion between dad and myself when we decided that after the original problems that we had suffered in the first year or so with MPT784J our first it had settled down and was not so bad when it got older.
The same happened with the three Bedford 26ton TM tractors with 500 cu in diesel engines, and eventually they didn’t do as badly as we had at first thought, and we bought one or two more.
The problem we did experience with the TMs was the cabs rotted quite a bit and certainly was a bigger problem than the TKs. I suppose we had been spoil by the Marsden integral glass fibre cabs, which had no such problems even at 13 to 14 years old, but the TK cabs tended not to be so bad, but when we compared the TMs with Leyland cabs on AEC , Lynx and super comet cabs they seemed very good in comparison, and of course the price of the panels for TMs were so much cheaper than Leyland group.
Talking about fibreglass cabs, we had several ERF ‘B series’ and a Foden S80 tractor units and an Atkinson with fibreglass cabs. Disregarding the Atkinson cab which was longer in the tooth in design date there was no comparison with the finish quality between the two types of cab. The ERF cab was so much more professional to the Foden.