S
Stitcher
Guest
Hello John I also worked on a Thames trader in the sixties. I drove a tipper for W.J.Law Demolition in Acocks Green.
Bernie, Lucas dropped the own transport on the idea that it would be cheaper to put it out to contract hauliers one of these was Wincanton?, whether it was cheaper i don`t know, of course the idea closed the Formans Rd garage and cost the jobs of the Drivers, Mechanics etc, Lucas Memories website is still looking for photos of ex-Lucas Drivers and their lorries they seem to have disappeared along with their jobs.
Used to repair ERF's in the early sixties (Edwin Richard Foden) Remember what a right sod the David Brown crash boxes were to drive, had to count to twelve between gearchange and double de-clutching. Also remember when Guy went bust (about 1963?) we had two in for repair but were unable to obtain spare parts, left parked up for months.I came to Sydney, Australia in 1965.The photos posted by Alf brought back many memories ,mostly long forgotten, of when I worked as a Driver's Mate at H.B.Evertons, out of Droitwich.
We used to hand load sugar in Kidderminster for delivery to Co-op stores all over Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Sometimes we drew the short straw and loaded salt out of Stoke Works. I remember the salt was in larger bags and hot as hell! I also remember loading sacks of raw chocolate called "crumb", for delivery to Cadburys.
The wagons I remember included ERFs ( Eric Richard Foden?) Albions(of various vintage including Retrievers), Leyland eight wheelers and a very old Guy with crash gearbox.
What great characters I worked alongside! Unfortunately time has totally misted this period of my life other than remembering a good friend called Regent.
Alf many thanks for prompting me to remember back to this most happy time of my life!
Remember what a right sod the David Brown crash boxes were to drive, had to count to twelve between gearchange and double de-clutching.
Hi Sticher, the first lorry that I drove was a Thames trader for R F Willis, in the old Birmingham fruit market in the late sixteys, the reg was 807 HOX.
Midland Red's 'home made' buses after the war used David Brown gearboxes (for the "stick-box" ones) but to their own design, based on the German ZF 'Aphon' box they had used pre-war. Once you got used to how slow the changes were, it was a lovely easy box to use.
Would Autocar and Transporters count as a Birmingham firm but if not the tractive unit was Austin!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/artistjeffries/art/4928237-2-austin-carrimore-transporter
Roy somewhere on the forum there,s a thread (about 12 months old) on Notwen Oils (main office in Holt St )later to become Newton Oils.DekHi Alf,
I wonder if you have any other memories of Notwen Oils. I am researching the company for an article I am writing, and would be very grateful if you had any other memories. Did you know about the big fire they had in the 60's ? or anything about mr Newton himself ?
any help really appreciated.
thanks Roy
Roy somewhere on the forum there,s a thread (about 12 months old) on Notwen Oils (main office in Holt St )later to become Newton Oils.Dek
Hi Alf,
I wonder if you have any other memories of Notwen Oils. I am researching the company for an article I am writing, and would be very grateful if you had any other memories. Did you know about the big fire they had in the 60's ? or anything about mr Newton himself ?
any help really appreciated.
thanks Roy