Aidan
master brummie
I find these fascinating and are just within my memory. Although there is the Mechanical Horse Club https://www.mechanical-horse-club.co.uk/list_of_contents v3.htm and useful websites like https://www.3wheelers.com but....
I would particularly like to hear stories and see pictures in a Birmingham landscape, ideally with forum members or their family driving them.
Originally for moving horse-drawn wagons about in yards these soon had purpose-built semi-trailers. Three wheeled tractor units for articulated trailers had one advantage over the more conventional four in that they could offer a very small turning circle. They were particularly used on the Railways and local delivery companies (eg Breweries, Utilities etc – see pic1).
I know these have been mentioned on several threads (such as Scarab https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25227 and Aston Goods Station https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3992&p=344293#post344293 ) but thought it worthwhile bringing together on a thread of their own.
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I have been able to find only 3 manufacturers (were there any more?):
Karrier
In 1929, Karrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karrier started production of the "Colt" three-wheeler as a dustcart chassis for Huddersfield Corporation. In 1930, this was developed into the "Cob" tractor (both working horse names) to haul road trailers for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Only one is known to survive and is housed at National Railway Museum in York (pic2)
Scammell
In 1934, Scammell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scammell produced the 3-wheeled 'Mechanical Horse', designed by Oliver North to replace horses in rail, postal and other delivery applications. This featured automatic carriage coupling and the single front wheel could be steered through 360 degrees. It was sold in 3- and 6-ton versions. The 3-tonner was powered by a 1,125 cc side-valve petrol engine and the 6-tonner by a 2,043 cc engine. (pic3)
From 1937, a Citroën Traction Avant-powered version was made under licence in France, by Chenard-Walcker-FAR, known as the 'Pony Mécanique'. This continued in production, in various versions, until 1970. (pic4)
In the late 1940s, the 'Mechanical Horse' was superseded by the Scammell Scarab, with similar features but a much less angular cab and now with a 2,090 cc side-valve petrol engine in both models and a diesel version with a Perkins engine. This was the most popular and iconic. (pic 5)
In 1967, the 'Scarab' was replaced by the 'Townsman', which had a fibre-glass cab. (pic6)
Reliant
The last machine of this type to be produced in Britain was not used by the railways, it was based on the small Reliant TW9 'Ant' light truck, introduced in 1967 it lasted 20 years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_TW9 These were used with fixed rear bodies for a number of duties by local councils but one variant featured the articulated trailer of the mechanical horse. The vehicle had a one piece fibreglass cab and a range of bodies ranging from a tip up van to a snow plough. It was powered by a 700 cc alloy engine and whilst the overseas vehicles had a carrying capacity of 10 cwt, British models were sold with a 16 cwt weight capacity. The Ant continued to be made until 1986 and was also produced under licence by the Mebea Company in Greece and from 1978, BTB Engineering in the UK under the name of the Ant. (pic7)
I would particularly like to hear stories and see pictures in a Birmingham landscape, ideally with forum members or their family driving them.
Originally for moving horse-drawn wagons about in yards these soon had purpose-built semi-trailers. Three wheeled tractor units for articulated trailers had one advantage over the more conventional four in that they could offer a very small turning circle. They were particularly used on the Railways and local delivery companies (eg Breweries, Utilities etc – see pic1).
I know these have been mentioned on several threads (such as Scarab https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25227 and Aston Goods Station https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3992&p=344293#post344293 ) but thought it worthwhile bringing together on a thread of their own.
~~~~~~~~~~
I have been able to find only 3 manufacturers (were there any more?):
Karrier
In 1929, Karrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karrier started production of the "Colt" three-wheeler as a dustcart chassis for Huddersfield Corporation. In 1930, this was developed into the "Cob" tractor (both working horse names) to haul road trailers for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Only one is known to survive and is housed at National Railway Museum in York (pic2)
Scammell
In 1934, Scammell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scammell produced the 3-wheeled 'Mechanical Horse', designed by Oliver North to replace horses in rail, postal and other delivery applications. This featured automatic carriage coupling and the single front wheel could be steered through 360 degrees. It was sold in 3- and 6-ton versions. The 3-tonner was powered by a 1,125 cc side-valve petrol engine and the 6-tonner by a 2,043 cc engine. (pic3)
From 1937, a Citroën Traction Avant-powered version was made under licence in France, by Chenard-Walcker-FAR, known as the 'Pony Mécanique'. This continued in production, in various versions, until 1970. (pic4)
In the late 1940s, the 'Mechanical Horse' was superseded by the Scammell Scarab, with similar features but a much less angular cab and now with a 2,090 cc side-valve petrol engine in both models and a diesel version with a Perkins engine. This was the most popular and iconic. (pic 5)
In 1967, the 'Scarab' was replaced by the 'Townsman', which had a fibre-glass cab. (pic6)
Reliant
The last machine of this type to be produced in Britain was not used by the railways, it was based on the small Reliant TW9 'Ant' light truck, introduced in 1967 it lasted 20 years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_TW9 These were used with fixed rear bodies for a number of duties by local councils but one variant featured the articulated trailer of the mechanical horse. The vehicle had a one piece fibreglass cab and a range of bodies ranging from a tip up van to a snow plough. It was powered by a 700 cc alloy engine and whilst the overseas vehicles had a carrying capacity of 10 cwt, British models were sold with a 16 cwt weight capacity. The Ant continued to be made until 1986 and was also produced under licence by the Mebea Company in Greece and from 1978, BTB Engineering in the UK under the name of the Ant. (pic7)
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