horsencart
master brummie
I saw a rare vehicle today it was an Electric Milk Float the are getting as rare as rocking horse dropping https://my.bus.photos.fotopic.net/p69270361.html
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Electric Milk Floats
- Thread starter horsencart
- Start date
cookie273uk
master brummie
Horsencart, still deliver up our Road (Conway Road, Chelmsley Wood) I have had same milkman for 20 years until we fell out last year, I now go to the local supermarket, much cheaper but less convenient. Eric
Bill Parker
master brummie
Up until about two weeks ago our milk was delevered by an electric float, unfortunately I still have not got around to taking its photo. However over the last week or so we have a different roundsman and he is using a Ford transit!!
There is another roundsman in the area still using an electric float and the way things are going in the middle east I think it might be a good idea to hold on to them, as they may well be the only vehicles on the road soon. As we alol know if someone sneezes in the oil field area up goes the price of a barrel of crude!!!
There is another roundsman in the area still using an electric float and the way things are going in the middle east I think it might be a good idea to hold on to them, as they may well be the only vehicles on the road soon. As we alol know if someone sneezes in the oil field area up goes the price of a barrel of crude!!!
terryb18
Gone but not forgotten R.I.P.
I think some of the problem may be that these days fewer and fewer people are having milk delivered and therefore milkmen have to travel further and further afield to keep their sales up. I know that electric floats can do up to about 20/25 miles on their batteries (when new, possibly more) and you have to take into account travellin back and forth to the depot plus doing the rounds. These floats have a limited distance they can go, but as usual I could be wrong.
What was wrong with the horse and cart anyway
What was wrong with the horse and cart anywayBill Parker
master brummie
I never thought I would be enthusing about milk floats but I have seen quite a few about. Some of them have chassis that are amazingly old and have recieved new float bodies. I suspect they have recieved other upgrades as well because they seem to have gained quite a credible turn of speed, far faster than when I was a mere callow youth!!
We recently re started having milk delivered , althought its probably more costly its convenient having it delivered and its also keeping people in work. I also dislike supermarkets and we will decline from buying milk from them for as long as possible.
If there is a vehicle heaven I think you will find plenty of innocent usefull clean and green milk floats in there!
We recently re started having milk delivered , althought its probably more costly its convenient having it delivered and its also keeping people in work. I also dislike supermarkets and we will decline from buying milk from them for as long as possible.
If there is a vehicle heaven I think you will find plenty of innocent usefull clean and green milk floats in there!
Bill Parker
master brummie
Our milk is now back to being delivered by electric float. There are at least two, probably more in operation in this area. Im no ex[pert on these matters but a few years back I followed one going through Wolverhampton, on the ring road, and it was travelling at a very fair rate of knots. Presumably the chassis, many of which have had new bodies fitted, have had various electrical upgrades from time to time and battery technology has almost certainly improved over recent years, so should we right the eletric float of just yet??
Bill Parker
master brummie
Hi 6918,
I believe Mr Roger DeBoer had aquired a milk float and had to lower his garage floor in order to accomodate it, this I like.
I believe Mr Roger DeBoer had aquired a milk float and had to lower his garage floor in order to accomodate it, this I like.
Simon4130
master brummie
Sounds like something I would do Bill!! I remember growing up in Dublin that the city was full of electrics usually as milk floats, bread vans and laundry vans. Birmingham and other cities would have been the same. Then from the early 1980's they died a death. The main grievances with them were that the batteries were very large and extremely heavy and that their operating range was limited per charge of battery. I was always a fan of them so enjoyed exploring them at Wythall.
Bill Parker
master brummie
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48235702@N06/5555391325/
I took this photo this morning whilst on a strole to Amblecote. Not a bad shot as I was some distance away and was using a fair amount of "zoom"
There are a few electric floats still in regular use around here, I will try to capture them before they all dissapear.
I took this photo this morning whilst on a strole to Amblecote. Not a bad shot as I was some distance away and was using a fair amount of "zoom"
There are a few electric floats still in regular use around here, I will try to capture them before they all dissapear.
Midland counties dairyies had a load of them years ago i used to drive them around handsworth on my milk round
and incidently this topic and loads of pics of these and stories was done about two years ago on this forum when the houghtons ran the forum before jim taken over so may be jiom did not get them all still its good to hear they are being revived by our members keep them coming guys
have a nice day every body best wishes astonian
and incidently this topic and loads of pics of these and stories was done about two years ago on this forum when the houghtons ran the forum before jim taken over so may be jiom did not get them all still its good to hear they are being revived by our members keep them coming guys
have a nice day every body best wishes astonian
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
I'm not sure whether this would be called a 'Milk Float' it's electric and carrying a lot of milk crates, and a friendly BCS (Co Op) milkman meets my brother-in-law's sister in Cavandale Avenue Kingstanding/Great Barr. On the back of the photo is written 'isn't he a smasher'.
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BernardR
Guest
That is a cracking photgraph and adds to my knowledge as I had never seen those in Brum but often saw them when visiting my relatives in Ilford and Epping when a lad.
Bill Parker
master brummie
Lets not forget that the Birmingham Co-oP had a fleet of electric bread vans as well, there is one at the Wythall Bus Museum. Up until its closure Wordsley hospital (Dudley health Trust) had a number of moden electric atriculated "Tugs" that were coupled to various types of trailer for servicing the various parts of the hospital. Presumably when it closed they were either transferred to Russells Hall Hospital or more likely sold for a pittance and then scrapped.
Never right off electric vehicles like these, they are ideal for "sensitive" areas and tend to have a long service life, electric motors are inmant respects far superior to ICEs with only one moving part and for a given power output, far more compact.
Never right off electric vehicles like these, they are ideal for "sensitive" areas and tend to have a long service life, electric motors are inmant respects far superior to ICEs with only one moving part and for a given power output, far more compact.
I think that these things may be having a comeback now. Great use for off peak electricity IMO. No deliveries in Canada and am suprised that it is still carried on in the UK. Freeze on the step here at 40 below in winter and go off in high temps of summer. The vehicle in the photo seems a bit smaller than I remember.
Just looking at our daily milage in our small ICE car and it would seem that an electric vehicle would suit us for most of our journey's. Prices are a bit high yet though and not many available. Still, a great use for off peak windmill power...when there is a wind. Looking at the program 'Blown Away' though...location is the thing...and bedside manner of the proponents.
Just looking at our daily milage in our small ICE car and it would seem that an electric vehicle would suit us for most of our journey's. Prices are a bit high yet though and not many available. Still, a great use for off peak windmill power...when there is a wind. Looking at the program 'Blown Away' though...location is the thing...and bedside manner of the proponents.
Hi Old Mohawk,Photo that raises a few questions.I think the horse and cart had been phased out around early 1960s,certainly by 1964 when I started at the Co-Op dairy on Kingstanding Road.However I cannot recall any floats like the one in your photo and it would definately have come from Kingstanding. Got my licence to drive a float whilst there and used it to get a car licence here in Oz.Great photo,Les
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Simon4130
master brummie
Really interesting photo. Thought I knew a reasonable amount about milk floats but this is a new one on me. The driver has to walk in front rather than travel on it, the controls being on the top of the tiller exactly like those rubbish carts that are used in cities today.
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi Les,
The photo belongs to my brother-in-law and I will chat with him and get more details, he can remember it because it ran over his foot. It was taken in Cavandale Avenue off Dyas Road see Google maps. It would be an uphill journey back to the depot so the milkman would need it to have well charged batteries !
He used to earn 3 pence a bucket off a gardener for collecting what Co Op horses used to leave on the roads.
oldmohawk...:biggrin:
That story reminds me of when i was growing up in cromwell terrace lichfield rd aston
when every think was delivered by horse and cart the baker the milk man the raqg and bone
and comwell terrace was a long big terrace up a hill
but every time these trades man called in the fortis and fifties the women used to race each oher down the terrace to the kerb and try and get the horse muck bebore any body else
the three main contestants with there bucket and shovel was the goughs ; the marshall whom kept chickens as well in the garden next to our garden fence
and every saturday evening around seven oclock old man mashall would come out with his pen knife and select a bird from the pen he would catch it in front of us and ring its neck and with drawn is pen knife from hs pocket in his waist coat and slit the hens throat
and take him in for there sundays lunch he grew mint andvegies ; so he always tryed to beat the contender for the horse muck fo his garden ten there was the brants
always trying to beat old goughs with her bucket and shovels its was a laugh
old goughty always made big cakes fruity ones and always gave our family one
every morning as we was a big family of kids in the terrace
those were days before automation lads and i used to enjoy charging around handsworth delivering the milk for midlads dairies it was a great area and great people
from one end of handsworth to the other but sadly now its become a no go area after dark
with the younger generation but those floatscould really go some speed
i always finished at the barrel and the old red lion pub on saturday after noons
around five oclock it was a big round
good old days i say ; best wishes astonian
when every think was delivered by horse and cart the baker the milk man the raqg and bone
and comwell terrace was a long big terrace up a hill
but every time these trades man called in the fortis and fifties the women used to race each oher down the terrace to the kerb and try and get the horse muck bebore any body else
the three main contestants with there bucket and shovel was the goughs ; the marshall whom kept chickens as well in the garden next to our garden fence
and every saturday evening around seven oclock old man mashall would come out with his pen knife and select a bird from the pen he would catch it in front of us and ring its neck and with drawn is pen knife from hs pocket in his waist coat and slit the hens throat
and take him in for there sundays lunch he grew mint andvegies ; so he always tryed to beat the contender for the horse muck fo his garden ten there was the brants
always trying to beat old goughs with her bucket and shovels its was a laugh
old goughty always made big cakes fruity ones and always gave our family one
every morning as we was a big family of kids in the terrace
those were days before automation lads and i used to enjoy charging around handsworth delivering the milk for midlads dairies it was a great area and great people
from one end of handsworth to the other but sadly now its become a no go area after dark
with the younger generation but those floatscould really go some speed
i always finished at the barrel and the old red lion pub on saturday after noons
around five oclock it was a big round
good old days i say ; best wishes astonian
Radiorails
master brummie
At the tender age of sixteen, when I came to live in Devon, I had work for a few weeks as helper on a local milk round. Generally workers in service trades, at that time, were not allowed to take holidays during the summer tourist season. I was surprised to find the small dairy had four electric floats. One advantage was that in the early morning they were much quieter than other vehicles and were able to climb the steep hills here which horses found more difficult.
I well remember the Midland Counties Dairy cars and the hand guided ones shown in the recent posted photograph. One principal difference for milk delivery men between here and the Midlands would be the steep narrow roads of many Devon towns not to mention the number of steps one would have to climb. One place I vividly remember was overlooking the harbour: seventy eight steps to deliver one half-pint of milk. Another delivery up a long flight of steps was to the home of the young woman who, some eight years later after service with the Royal Air Force, would become my wife.
I well remember the Midland Counties Dairy cars and the hand guided ones shown in the recent posted photograph. One principal difference for milk delivery men between here and the Midlands would be the steep narrow roads of many Devon towns not to mention the number of steps one would have to climb. One place I vividly remember was overlooking the harbour: seventy eight steps to deliver one half-pint of milk. Another delivery up a long flight of steps was to the home of the young woman who, some eight years later after service with the Royal Air Force, would become my wife.
Lloyd
master brummie
I asked the Wythall Museum "Expert" on electric milk floats about this picture, and he replied thus:
"GOP 832 (fleet no. P8) is an August 1946 Graiseley 7/8cwt. One of about 12-15 of the type purchased by BCS.
Its chassis (no. 1058) failed on/around 30/9/50. A new chassis (no. 3468) was fitted under the same body.
It was withdrawn and scrapped December 1952.
Can we get a copy of the photo? Rare view - in fact only decent one of a BCS Graiseley I have seen.
Thanks."
"GOP 832 (fleet no. P8) is an August 1946 Graiseley 7/8cwt. One of about 12-15 of the type purchased by BCS.
Its chassis (no. 1058) failed on/around 30/9/50. A new chassis (no. 3468) was fitted under the same body.
It was withdrawn and scrapped December 1952.
Can we get a copy of the photo? Rare view - in fact only decent one of a BCS Graiseley I have seen.
Thanks."
horsencart
master brummie
That reminds me I must try again to get a decent print from the film wot I shot (sorry) of the Hawleys Electric Bread Van towing the ex Midland Red D7 chassis
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Thanks to the Wythall Museum for the very interesting details, I'm impressed. They can certainly have a copy of the photo which was only 3" x 2" and I had reduced the file size for upload. I have got a file of size 320kb. I have returned the photo to my brother-in-law but could rescan it next week in higher resolution.
My brother-in-law's mother took the photo to go in a magazine she regularly made for something called 'Hands Across The Sea'. We know little about this, other than according to Google there is a song of that name.
Her magazine was a single home-made copy containing local information and photos. She sent the magazine to a woman in Whitley Bay who passed them on to towns in other countries (possibly Canada) and in return received similar home-made magazines. An early 1940's version of an internet forum !
With regard to the milk round, the float was re-stocked half way. A Co Op truck dumped a load of full milk crates at the corner of Birdbrook Rd and Dyas Rd and the milkman unloaded his empty crates to take on the full ones - just think - 'full milk bottles, metal milk crates' unattended.
The float returned to the Depot via Birdbrook Rd, Harleston Rd and Goodway Rd which was a gentle climb.
oldmohawk
My brother-in-law's mother took the photo to go in a magazine she regularly made for something called 'Hands Across The Sea'. We know little about this, other than according to Google there is a song of that name.
Her magazine was a single home-made copy containing local information and photos. She sent the magazine to a woman in Whitley Bay who passed them on to towns in other countries (possibly Canada) and in return received similar home-made magazines. An early 1940's version of an internet forum !
With regard to the milk round, the float was re-stocked half way. A Co Op truck dumped a load of full milk crates at the corner of Birdbrook Rd and Dyas Rd and the milkman unloaded his empty crates to take on the full ones - just think - 'full milk bottles, metal milk crates' unattended.
The float returned to the Depot via Birdbrook Rd, Harleston Rd and Goodway Rd which was a gentle climb.
oldmohawk
Lloyd
master brummie
The Graisleys were notorious for breaking chassis frames, which were only steel tubes and doubless rusted from the condensation inside, not helped by the dairy's insistence of overloading them to body capacity rather than maker's working load specifications!
Lloyd
master brummie
Thanks oldMohawk, I've sent you an IM.
hi all
i used to work at birmingham coop transport in windsor street in the 70s a lot of the mechanics were old hands in the coop and had served their time on milk floats a lot of the chassis were quite an age but all they needed were batteries changed and a repaint to the latest colours some of the parts required were remanufactured as they were not available "off the shelf" due to their age they had depots at st james place,garrets green ,handsworth, the bakery at stechford,ten acres and stirchley coop (TASCO) plus others that i cannot remember.
it would be interesting as to what happened to all the floats when they started closing the depots there were quite a lot of them scattered around birmingham all scrapped no doubt!
phil
i used to work at birmingham coop transport in windsor street in the 70s a lot of the mechanics were old hands in the coop and had served their time on milk floats a lot of the chassis were quite an age but all they needed were batteries changed and a repaint to the latest colours some of the parts required were remanufactured as they were not available "off the shelf" due to their age they had depots at st james place,garrets green ,handsworth, the bakery at stechford,ten acres and stirchley coop (TASCO) plus others that i cannot remember.
it would be interesting as to what happened to all the floats when they started closing the depots there were quite a lot of them scattered around birmingham all scrapped no doubt!
phil
Lloyd
master brummie
Milk floats have a long and arduous life, often being rebuilt, modernised or rebodied two or three times during it, so the chassis are quite worn out when they finally go. Most of the former bread and laundry delivery electric vans were converted to milk floats when those services ended, adding economic 'new' vehicles to the fleet replacing earlier floats.
They were built and maintained to last, unlike today's vehicles on Transit-sized diesel chassis which are designed for a short low-maintenance life, which is cost-effective as they are mass-produced so considerably cheaper than battery electrics.
They were built and maintained to last, unlike today's vehicles on Transit-sized diesel chassis which are designed for a short low-maintenance life, which is cost-effective as they are mass-produced so considerably cheaper than battery electrics.
