The fuselage is a Nimrod.
Mid-Northland Co-op Dairy in New Zealand operated this Mandator with the optional 9-speed Fuller 'box. New in 1972 it was still in service in the mid-1980s. (Photo from Rufus Carr)
Some cracking pics Graham.
Heres the article for the tipper one you posted from 1968.
Click on pages twice.
^^^^^^^^^^^
The vast majority of the photos used in the AEC Gazettes still exist in the archives at the BCVM at Leyland. You can lose yourself for days going through them, along with the Leyland ones, Albion, Scammell, Guy etc. AEC had two full time professional photographers… what a job that would have been if you were into lorries and buses. Leyland also had two or three photographers at any one time.
The article on Hampshire Council brought back memories, when I lived in Reading we always knew when we crossed the border into Hampshire as our teeth suddenly stopped crashing together! 
They had their own plants, pavers etc and did a lovely job. I wonder if that is still the case, somehow I think it is probably contracted out now though?
Pete.
A common means of guessing the approximate year of a Sankey cab AEC is to look for the AEC triangle or the BL flying Polo on the grille, I don’t know when this was nor more especially when the hub badges changed to Polos as well? Any ideas?
cav551:
A common means of guessing the approximate year of a Sankey cab AEC is to look for the AEC triangle or the BL flying Polo on the grille, I don’t know when this was nor more especially when the hub badges changed to Polos as well? Any ideas?
1970 / 71 when AEC were finally ‘Leylandised’. At the same time the AEC simple chassis numbering method of every individual model range having its own chassis designation and consecutive numbering sequence was changed to the Leyland method of sequential numbering irrespective of the model.
gingerfold:
3
2
1
0
The leading axle on the ABM trailer looks to be a steering axle,or does it Graham?
David
5thwheel:
gingerfold:
3
2
1
0The leading axle on the ABM trailer looks to be a steering axle,or does it Graham?
David
Hello David
The ABM trailer was quite complex. It was built by Murfitt on Schmitz running gear, the trailer bulkhead was powered to push out the load, and axles one and three self-steered. For its time, 1968, it was quite an advanced trailer.
Gingerfold
Hi, re: the photo of the Blue Line Mandator at Port Talbot steelworks I think it could be the V8 they operated
buts that’s definitely a Duramin coil carrier behind it . Iirc they were built by Watts of Lydney .They were built from aluminium
Regards Allan
Gingerfold
Hi, re: the photo of the Blue Line Mandator at Port Talbot steelworks I think it could be the V8 they operated
buts that’s definitely a Duramin coil carrier behind it . Iirc they were built by Watts of Lydney .They were built from aluminium
Regards Allan
Mrsteel:
Gingerfold
Hi, re: the photo of the Blue Line Mandator at Port Talbot steelworks I think it could be the V8 they operated
buts that’s definitely a Duramin coil carrier behind it . Iirc they were built by Watts of Lydney .They were built from aluminium
Regards Allan
Hello Mrsteel, it’s definitely a AV691 Mandator, an early one on a 1965 ‘C’ registration, which was nearly 3 years before the first V8s, and 12 months before the four protptypes. I think that the Mandator in the photo was bought second hand by Spiers of Melksham.
What did AEC run in their own fleet in the mid to late `70s did they still collect the cabs from GKN their selves , and did they ever run Marathons ?
ramone:
What did AEC run in their own fleet in the mid to late `70s did they still collect the cabs from GKN their selves , and did they ever run Marathons ?
The main AEC works transport vehicles in the 70’s were LWB Marshals with drop-side bodies. They also had several Mandator V8s which they had bought back from Hipwood & Grundy. They continued to collect cabs from GKN Sankey until Ergo cabbed production finished at Southall. The Marathon cabs were completed at Leyland and then trunked to Southall… with Marathons being the units used, although I have never seen a photograph of one. The works transport fleet was used as a mobile test-bed for various engine, gearbox, and rear axle trials.
Edit to add: - The ex-Hipwood & Grundy Mandator V8’s were two-pedal semi-automatic versions.
gingerfold:
5thwheel:
gingerfold:
3
2
1
0The leading axle on the ABM trailer looks to be a steering axle,or does it Graham?
David
Hello David
The ABM trailer was quite complex. It was built by Murfitt on Schmitz running gear, the trailer bulkhead was powered to push out the load, and axles one and three self-steered. For its time, 1968, it was quite an advanced trailer.
Thank you Graham,most informative.
David
gingerfold:
ramone:
What did AEC run in their own fleet in the mid to late `70s did they still collect the cabs from GKN their selves , and did they ever run Marathons ?The main AEC works transport vehicles in the 70’s were LWB Marshals with drop-side bodies. They also had several Mandator V8s which they had bought back from Hipwood & Grundy. They continued to collect cabs from GKN Sankey until Ergo cabbed production finished at Southall. The Marathon cabs were completed at Leyland and then trunked to Southall… with Marathons being the units used, although I have never seen a photograph of one. The works transport fleet was used as a mobile test-bed for various engine, gearbox, and rear axle trials.
Edit to add: - The ex-Hipwood & Grundy Mandator V8’s were two-pedal semi-automatic versions.
That’s interesting , i never knew they used V8s , did they fare any better at AEC .
gingerfold:
ramone:
ERF-NGC-European:
Ah! Talking of AECs (remember them?)! Here’s a nice plain working example of a late '60s Mercury. Robert
0
Thats a well used Mercury Robert , the binnacle looks like its been modified over the years and a fair bit of patchwork too. I love these old working photos
The binnacle is a much later type than the age of the Mercury. It is typical of the binnacles used in the Leyland Buffalo, Bison etc.
the binnacle in that mercury is slightly different to those of bison lynx buffalo etc,ive seen that type in mandators due for export.
moomooland:
0 A 1975 registered ‘Ergomatic’ cabbed AEC operated by G.K.N. (Guest Keen and Nettlefolds}.
thats the buffalo style binnacle in this later aec.
Frankydobo:
Australia or NZ I suppose this old timer comes from, bet it done some work in its time, the 5th Wheel looks as if its been removed and plonked back on the chassis! Franky.
0
split screen versions never caught on in uk did they!!
ergomatic man:
Frankydobo:
Australia or NZ I suppose this old timer comes from, bet it done some work in its time, the 5th Wheel looks as if its been removed and plonked back on the chassis! Franky.
0split screen versions never caught on in uk did they!!
We spent years waiting for manufacturers to get rid of them!
Great pic of that Willmotts Motor, can anyone tell me where that was taken, looks like a right ole slog, thanks in advance…
RJ