Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK

Alex contacted me via email, asking if I could id this old lorry. It looks like ex-military (Great War) to me, but sadly any maker's mark on the rad is out of shot, and I can't make anything out on the hubs either. There is a body builders plaque on the rear body, but I can't read that either. Can anyone suggest a manufacturer for this interesting machine??

Alex' note:

---------------

"Dear Sir

I am researching a 'by-gone book', 'Old Bo'ness' for Stenlake Publishing Ltd - some 180 - 190 illustrations from the late c19 into the c20.

Attached is a photograph of a Bo'ness Council scavenger's lorry - which neither I nor the council records can identify.

Can you help?

Alex F. Young"

---------------

Thanks, Rick.
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7119 Location: Edinburgh

It seems to have quite a few features in common with this first war FWD lorry.

See also http://www.oramagazine.com/pastissues/0503-issue/050312d-old-iron.html

Peter

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK

Well done Peter, I think you may have nailed that one!! wheels apart, it looks like a very close match indeed

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1216

http://www.4wdonline.com/FWD/FWD.html

Rick Smile

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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK

I contacted someone I know who is big on old lorries, he confirmed PS' identification:

"The truck is a U.S FWD 4 wheel drive, the yanks brought them over to France in WW1 and the British soon saw the advantage of all wheel drive and orders were placed for the British forces. After the war many were brought back to the UK and following a complete refurb programme were released to the civilian market"

Rick
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Old-Nail · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 853

I recognise the form of dress those chaps are wearing, everyone seemed to look like that up here when I was a kid! Laughing

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22449 Location: UK

A thanks from the original enquirer:

"Rick,

This is close to being a first - I am all but speechless - amazed, not only at the quality of the information returned, but at the speed of its return.

Please pass my thanks to all the contributors - I am indebted

Alex"

RJ.
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teddyboy · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 24 Location: SL3 postcode

I believe FWD had a depot on Slough Trading Estate to refurb these. Will try to find more info

teddyboy · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 24 Location: SL3 postcode

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x56/alanwi/?action=view&current=FWD1of2.jpg

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x56/alanwi/?action=view&current=FWD2of2.jpg

Hopefully this is an article on the FWD trucks

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Teddyboy's pics:-

Hi

Hope you don't mind me putting them in the thread, just new windows opening up, make my old desktop have a fit sometimes. Confused

Cheers

Dave

buzzy bee · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3382 Location: South Cheshire

Hi

I must say the pics are very interesting, what book are they in?

Cheers

Dave

teddyboy · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 24 Location: SL3 postcode

The book is The Slough Estates Railway by John Isherwood

ISBN 0 906867 83 5

I believe this is now out of print, sometimes seen on Ebay.The book covers the rail era on the Trading Estate and the vehicle side automatically comes in to it, as there were plenty of them on the site when it was purchased from the government at that time

Thanks for opening the pictures up,I dont know how to do that yet!!.
It took long enough to get them linked in to the reply

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 661 Location: Sydney

I remember seeing some chassis like that at a car museum at the Gold Coast Queensland many years ago. All the running gear was there and I think the engine but nothing else. I was surprised that it was old but had 4 wheel drive.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 661 Location: Sydney

Was it Gill Traps Car Museum ???

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 661 Location: Sydney

Go to www.abebooks.com for second hand books. There was one listed The Slough Estates Railway.... I have just bought it for 9.50 pounds. I also have a lot of interest in railways. Many years ago I stood on York railway station and collected 100 numbers of steam locos. including Mallard, in one day.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 661 Location: Sydney

Just got an e-mail to say the book had been sold.....