classic car forum header
Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
Register     Posting Photographs     Privacy     F/book OCC Facebook     OCC on Patreon

Electric milk floats
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat
Author Message
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:54 am    Post subject: Electric milk floats Reply with quote

Are there still any of these in regular use?

In the 1970s I well remember rival companies Heald Dairies and the Co-Op, whirring up and down our cul-de-sac, bottles of full-cream and semi-skimmed rattling away in their crates.

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Or Ernie's ghostly gold-tops
A-rattling in their crate?
Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4749
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 12:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
I suppose there still may be some in the bigger conurbations.

There are some which have been given other roles.

These people might know

http://www.milkfloats.org.uk/
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kevin2306



Joined: 01 Jul 2013
Posts: 1359
Location: nr Llangollen, north wales

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is one in regular use in Ainsdale (southport)

Kev
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I spotted one in Long Eaton a year or two back, they were common once upon a time when the Co-Op had a large fleet in the town but they stopped years ago, this looked like an enterprising one man band operation. There is still a demand for milk deliveries, despite what the big firms think.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was a new Start-up operation being conducted in the Westest of Wales [Lleyn Peninsular, somewhere?], shown on a TV documentary not long ago...possibly Countryfile, or summat similar? They were using a leccy milk float for deliveries of locally produced [fresh-from-farm] milk & associated products.

Possibly something about it on the net?

I live not too far from Hull.....and up until fairly recent times [this century!!] I used to come across milk floats there....Although I'm not certain about things today?

Of course, I view a good-nick milk float as an ideal pensioner's LGV....big enough to fetch & carry an engine or gearbox [or two?], and slow enough to really get to annoy the younger road users. [which is what pensioners weer invented for?}
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MVPeters



Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 822
Location: Northern MA, USA

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
Hi
I suppose there still may be some in the bigger conurbations.
There are some which have been given other roles.
These people might know

http://www.milkfloats.org.uk/


Active groups here too........

https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/milko/conversations/messages

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1305328722877689/
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A great example of how to win friends......

Quote:

Of course, I view a good-nick milk float as an ideal pensioner's LGV....big enough to fetch & carry an engine or gearbox [or two?], and slow enough to really get to annoy the younger road users. [which is what pensioners weer invented for?}

End Quote
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm long past worrying about 'winning friends'......

After all, it is every older parents' task in life, to thoroughly embarrass their kids at every opportunity...

Call it revenge, if you like......?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lowdrag



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1585
Location: Le Mans

PostPosted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, my Co-op days of 1977! Getting up at 4.30 am, rattling off to the dairy in my Moggie, loading up 36 crates of milk and then setting off into the wide blue yonder, roller blind doors letting the wind whistle in. Heading out of Leicester on the Narborough road and downhill hitting a heady indicated 26 mph before peeling off to Aylestone to keep everyone happy for their morning cuppa. Speed dropped to a yawn-inspiring 14 mph and then even lower as I went uphill. In winter it wasn't fun I assure you, fingers going completely numb as one wrestled with frozen milk with the caps being pushed off the bottles. So, daily duty being done, it was back to the dairy to clock out and home for brekky. But the memory of the intense pain as feeling returned to frozen hands is a memory not forgotten. It was fun in the summer though. The rota was always seven on three off, so Mon/Tues, then Wed/Thurs, and finally a weekend when someone else had to do the collecting. Of course, the dairy is long gone and milk is delivered by Tesco with the groceries these days. Sic transit gloria.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alastairq



Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 1950
Location: East Yorkshire

PostPosted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

lowdrag wrote:
Ah, my Co-op days of 1977! Sic transit gloria.


I have driven many a sick Transit...never one called 'gloria', however..... Smile


Last edited by alastairq on Thu Sep 21, 2017 11:20 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helped rescue this many years ago, from a museum seeking extra space in their stores ...



RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lowdrag



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1585
Location: Le Mans

PostPosted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 7:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That looks like the de-luxe version Rick. It has two wipers ;-
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4749
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
I saw one with empty crates on-board, parked up and plugged in outside a domestic garage on the B6228 nr Chorley today.

When I figure out how to download photos from my new phone I will post one up.
Got it now.



This is the same place but a different float.
https://goo.gl/maps/Ff2RU6PL5P72
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10


Last edited by Penman on Fri Jun 21, 2019 6:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22429
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just bouncing this back up to the top (thanks Penman)

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
OCC Merch link
Forum T&C


php BB powered © php BB Grp.