How many hauliers started with these old Bedfords

[jastrebsi59]

Ex military

[andrew.s]

during the second world war many of the 3 tonners and 1500cwt army and raf bedfords were abandoned during the fall of france(the troops escaped at dunkirk). the BEF ( British Expeditionary Force) left a massive 64,000 vehicles behind!!!(plus all of their medium and heavy artillery) many of these vehicles continued to give sterling service to the nazi's after they were gratefully captured,as most of the german army was still heavily reliant on horses.only the best equiped german frontline units were mechanised in 1940.the germans were particularly fond of the bedfords.

[revman]

my first drive summers spent at spennymoor

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Heres the remains of a one 1957 , Regards Larry

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Another good old workhorse, Bedfords were the best in those days, Regards Larry

[Carlc]

I remember Crendon Concrete from Goole had loads of old ex army Bedfords. Some of them had hand operated semafore indicators and if you were going a bit quick (over 25) the metal arm would not come down you had to slow down a bit. They used ones with a jib for erecting and flat backs for pulling the cabin and carrying the gear.

[TIDDERSON]

Another one past it's prime. Blackburn Bros. ex coal lorry Godalming Surrey

[Wheel Nut]

I remember Crendon Concrete from Goole had loads of old ex army Bedfords. Some of them had hand operated semafore indicators and if you were going a bit quick (over 25) the metal arm would not come down you had to slow down a bit. They used ones with a jib for erecting and flat backs for pulling the cabin and carrying the gear.

Crendon and JL EVE ran those ex military Bedsteads

[jastrebsi59]

The first lorry my uncle drove was the MS type tipper for the NCB when they built the coke works at Fishburn County Durham his pal drove a tipper like the John Gornall one for a sand and gravel pit near Thorpe Thewels i remember as a very young boy him calling at my Grandmothers for a cup of tea ,i can not remember the name of the company that ran the Quarry ,i think the livery was grey and red (anybody?) it would be in the late 40s early 50s

[Stanfield]

http://www.transportphotos.com/road/photos

[Frankydobo]

Those war time pattern Bedfords were certainly bought in many numbers after the war along with the heavier makes which would be used for heavy haulage and recovery. The civilian market had suffered during the war years as you would expect as most production had been adjusted to turning out military requirements, ammunition, buttons and buckles etc, as well as vehicles. So after the war many firms that had operated before 1939 bought these vehicles as they were cheaper and it gave the many ex forces drivers a chance to start up hoping to make a living in transport as some did. The well known O Series had just came out before the war and it was modified to enable cheap manufacture of the bonnet and wings from flat panels for quick and easy replacement but mainly to cut down production cost and metal which rapidly became in short supply during and for a spell after the war. The 'Bull Nose' Bedford as the O series was more commonly known eventually became the more often seen type but the ex forces flat front Bedford still served for many years in its new civilian role. Bedford then and previous to the war made a damn good reliable and economical vehicle that could be used in many forms as the pics above show. Below is a Bedford sales poster from the time. Cheers Franky.

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Harry Goodwill in his young days haurling opencast coal, Regards Larry.

[Lawrence Dunbar]

I took this when I was in Malta somes years ago, Regards Larry.

[paul motyka]

A mixed fleet from E.BUTLER & SONS (MALTBY) I think the ones to the right are J type bedfords,hope that is right.

[haddy]

Here's one from West Norfolk BRS.

[haddy]

Those war time pattern Bedfords were certainly bought in many numbers after the war along with the heavier makes which would be used for heavy haulage and recovery. The civilian market had suffered during the war years as you would expect as most production had been adjusted to turning out military requirements, ammunition, buttons and buckles etc, as well as vehicles. So after the war many firms that had operated before 1939 bought these vehicles as they were cheaper and it gave the many ex forces drivers a chance to start up hoping to make a living in transport as some did. The well known O Series had just came out before the war and it was modified to enable cheap manufacture of the bonnet and wings from flat panels for quick and easy replacement but mainly to cut down production cost and metal which rapidly became in short supply during and for a spell after the war. The 'Bull Nose' Bedford as the O series was more commonly known eventually became the more often seen type but the ex forces flat front Bedford still served for many years in its new civilian role. Bedford then and previous to the war made a damn good reliable and economical vehicle that could be used in many forms as the pics above show. Below is a Bedford sales poster from the time. Cheers Franky.

LastScan.jpg

Hello Franky, did the British Army ever use the "O" series during the war? I've only ever seen "OW" series in WW2 films. Cheers Haddy.

[Ray Leggy]

Realy enjoyed looking at the BEDFORDS the first lorry i learned to drive in belonged to A ROWE BARNSLEY on an outcop at KIPPAX took the coal to Temple Newsam screens 1953 school hols loved it Johnny Rowe taught me to drive (BLESS HIM) they bought all their lorrys from mod

[jastrebsi59]

more Bedfords

[jastrebsi59]

Quite a few old Bedfords on Youtube

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Another old Bedford, & a good workhorse to say the least, It belonged to my cousin who ran it for a long time, Leyland engine with a two speed axle it pulled 14 ton in its its day, Regards Larry.

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Harry Goodwill June 1944, & he is still about, well into retirement mind you, But still remembers the good old Bedford days, he ran nothing else, Regards Larry

[Lawrence Dunbar]

With courtesey of the Blackett Family.

[OssieD]

My old man drove an OW Bedford with a rag top for Ferguson Television in the late fifties doing shop deliveries, he used to let me ride in the back, can you see that allowed today?, my first lorry was an O type Bedford tipper early sixties, petrol engine good old motor but didn’t like stopping.

Ossie

[albion1938]

Father's first new lorry after the war, early 1946.
Bernard

[Lawrence Dunbar]

Father's first new lorry after the war, early 1946.
Bernard

froybedford.JPG

Nice photo, an earley curtainsider Eh, Great stuff, Regards Larry.

[albion1938]

Father's first new lorry after the war, early 1946.
Bernard

The attachment froybedford.JPG is no longer available

Nice photo, an earley curtainsider Eh, Great stuff, Regards Larry.

It's a shame the picture's damaged, but you can see enough. The back part of the canvas tilt, you can see a moulding holding it down, was loose and could be rolled forward for overhead loading of heavy items such as boilers, using a block and tackle on a gantry. By the way, everybody thinks the flat bonnet/tinwork on the wartime Bedfords was for economy/ease of construction, but the main reason was that the civvy O types only had a little gauze air filter on top of the carb, the military needed a big oil bath filter for off road/desert use, there wasn't room under the civilian bonnet, hence the square military front to make room, and to standardise, the few civvy vehicles released had the same front end. The body on the Bedford in the picture was heavily modified in 1955 into a box van, and fitted to a new series 3 Austin, picture attached, have a close look at the headboard and you can see it's the same framing!

Bernard

[paul motyka]

Early one from E BUTLER & SONS (MALTBY) OET 136? Fred bagley & son.Pic copyright of Geoff,freds son.

[tyneside]

Not sure if this a Bedford. Perhaps Larry or someone can help.

[rigsby]

looks like an austin to me , but not sure of the vintage

[lemonmouth]

Definately an Austin.........Or a Birmingham Bedford as they were sometimes known