Blood, Sweat and Broken China (the Removals thread)

[JAKEY]

thank you oiley .

[DEANB]

Robinsons Vancraft removal truck.

[JAKEY]

Thank you Dean , that looks lovely .

[marktaff]

Robinsons Vancraft removal truck.

The attachment vancraft1.jpg is no longer available

Hi Dean.....that's a lovely looking van .....Robinson's colours and lettering design have always realy stood out....not like Jakey's....must be something in the water with some of the Oxford movers





Here is a Griff Fender Bedford KM....these were one of the standard Pickfords removal vans back in the 70s-80s. .....but these Griff Fender KMs were taller than the standard KMs of the Pickfords fleet.....they were taller to service the mail order contract Pickfords had at that time to get the Three piece suites three high when loaded.
Regards Mark

[smallcoal]

Hi mark ,jakey and Carl some removal pics Paul Matthews is Bridgend based cheers John

[JAKEY]

Great photo's John , Paul Mathews fleet look nice .

[smallcoal]

Great photo's John , Paul Mathews fleet look nice .

Hi jakey Matthews is a family firm they take pride in the trucks I have delivered furniture for storing at their warehouse which is immaculate,here's a Birmingham firm cheers John

[JAKEY]

Now there proper Removal wagons with a big luton , hope you have not forgot what went on the luton first ?

[smallcoal]

Now there proper Removal wagons with a big luton , hope you have not forgot what went on the luton first ?

The Bedford marsden we had had a bed in the Luton ,as for loading always put small stuff on first then big stuff and build back making sure the kettle is last on first off as we used to say

[marktaff]

Hi John and Jakey,
Lovely pics there John.....a lot of people especialy in South Wales or Wales as a whole wouldn't know that the Co.op also carried out removals in other parts of the country...what I always remember about the Co.op especialy in the North and the Midlands they were big Marsden fans back in the day...always had Marsden bodied vans Bedfords mainly.

Matthews do have a nice well kept fleet John....and very nice people to deal with...I know the son runs it now ....I went to there warehouse last year to pic a job up for France.....I remember Paul the father very well ...very nice guy.....the new Merc they have is a nice looking truck.

Regards Mark

[smallcoal]

Hi mark remember these ,I used these courtesy of Ron weatherall with his permission a big thank you Ron for allowing me to use ,cheers John

[marktaff]

Hi mark remember these ,I used these courtesy of Ron weatherall with his permission a big thank you Ron for allowing me to use ,cheers John

John...yes I remember Davies well....they were the main haulier back in the day for that clothing company .....they had a factory in Fforestfach and Cardigan....
The Bedford you have posted here was an X Pickfords distribution truck with a demountable body.....the company name has just come to me they hauled for ...Dewhurst

[smallcoal]

Hi mark remember these ,I used these courtesy of Ron weatherall with his permission a big thank you Ron for allowing me to use ,cheers John

John...yes I remember Davies well....they were the main haulier back in the day for that clothing company .....they had a factory in Fforestfach and Cardigan....
The Bedford you have posted here was an X Pickfords distribution truck with a demountable body.....the company name has just come to me they hauled for ...Dewhurst

They no longer going anymore ,dew hurst are in capel hendre now

[DEANB]

Hi mark remember these ,I used these courtesy of Ron weatherall with his permission a big thank you Ron for allowing me to use ,cheers John

Nice wheel base on the AWD John,exciting times on some roundabouts etc !

Vancraft body.

[JAKEY]

Here you go John ,just incase you forgot how to fold the blankets correctly !

[JAKEY]

2

[smallcoal]

I can still fold blankets and stack them you young whippersnapper old removal men don't forget cheers John

[JAKEY]

Just keeping a old furniture bumper on his toes "John" ,what do you reckon Mark ? , I bet your Porter always bought the breakfast too ? , polished the cab from top to bottom and swept the back out ? and I bet he walked backwards up the stairs ?

[smallcoal]

Just keeping a old furniture bumper on his toes "John" ,what do you reckon Mark ? , I bet your Porter always bought the breakfast too ? , polished the cab from top to bottom and swept the back out ? and I bet he walked backwards up the stairs ?

Hi jakey and mark ,we started 8am on first removal finish about 1 go to chippy then next start at 2 we would wash down on sat morning and sweep out ,

[oiltreader]

thank you oiley .

Cheers JAKEY , a few more.
Oily

[JAKEY]

Thank you Oily .

[smallcoal]

Hi mark and jakey a couple of pics

[JAKEY]

thank you .

[DEANB]

Chatfield's removal body builders.

[Carl Williams]

Chatfield's removal body builders.

The attachment 1974 removals chatfield1.PNG is no longer available

The attachment 1974 removals chatfield1.PNG is no longer available

Hi Dean,

I think more Ford Dealers than Chatfield's were supplying these Ford-Boalloys a this one we ran was supplied new to us by Mann-Eggerton Norwich, unless at the time Chatfields & Mann-Eggerton were part of the same group.

It was a popular van with drivers as it was so fast with its Turbo-charged engine. I had heard (Although he never admitted officially) one of our drivers was caught on M6 north of Carlisle doing 95MPH. I was subsequently told at one of our reunions he was hoping he got accross the Scottish Border as he thought the English police would have no juristriction & he would get off.

In any event they were not too popular. I personally didn't like the ribbed alluminium body (Cheap & tacky) and the GVW was too light which for us reduced to use to Furniture Removals mainly, as most of our loads ie. white goods, textiles and new furniture would overload.

Never the less it proved not a bad vehicle.

[Carl Williams]

Chatfield's removal body builders.

1974 removals chatfield1.PNG

1974 removal chatfield.PNG

Hi Dean,

I think more Ford Dealers than Chatfield's were supplying these Ford-Boalloys a this one we ran was supplied new to us by Mann-Eggerton Norwich, unless at the time Chatfields & Mann-Eggerton were part of the same group.

It was a popular van with drivers as it was so fast with its Turbo-charged engine. I had heard (Although he never admitted officially) one of our drivers was caught on M6 north of Carlisle doing 95MPH. I was subsequently told at one of our reunions he was hoping he got accross the Scottish Border as he thought the English police would have no juristriction & he would get off.

In any event they were not too popular. I personally didn't like the ribbed alluminium body (Cheap & tacky) and the GVW was too light which for us reduced to use to Furniture Removals mainly, as most of our loads ie. white goods, textiles and new furniture would overload.

Never the less it proved not a bad vehicle.

One thing I should add. I can hear the questions now Why did we buy if it had ribbed Alluminium body & not Fibreglass or was not heavy enough?

Money Money money! We were offered 25% discount off list price.

[marktaff]

Just keeping a old furniture bumper on his toes "John" ,what do you reckon Mark ? , I bet your Porter always bought the breakfast too ? , polished the cab from top to bottom and swept the back out ? and I bet he walked backwards up the stairs ?

Jakey at my age now the porters always walk backwards downstairs and up regards sweeping back out and cleaning cab.....they got to be led like sheep to water it don't come natural to them....much there crisps and pasties there side of the cab and leave there mess on the floor....little gentle reminder like throwing the hand brush at them
Those blankets are spot on Jakey that's the way I like mine on the van......I'm a stickler for it anybody knows me will tell you

[windrush]

The Wokingham Pantechnicon ad is interesting as I lived in Reading and actually worked for a Bedford dealer in Wokingham yet have never heard of them before today! Maybe a short-lived company? A local company in Reading itself was Modern Vehicle Constructors who built all types of van, Modern Display in Reading had several of their integral pantechnicon products on overseas exhibiton transportation work usually on BMC chassis, I wonder if MVC are still trading?

Pete.

[marktaff]

Hi mark and jakey a couple of pics

Hi John,
Some nice pics there mate ...love the G Plan Mastiff.
I spoke to the guy driving that Fletchers D series back around 99..2000 on Taunton Dean services he was carrying plastic drums if my memory is right....I remeber him telling me the body was an old Vanplan body.....but she stood out on the road because of her age....also use to see the Trader they had also.

Regards Mark

[marktaff]

These were a favourite with a lot of the removal companys back in the day when Rest Assured had finished with them.....the were and ideal removal van nice walk in tailboards ideal removal van.

Looking at this one you have posted here John....you rarely seen one of this size...this looks around 2000ft van....the many Rest Assured had were 1800ft vans.

Regards Mark