Frankydobo:
Ramone wrote;
I never understood why they didn`t raise the cab so the bonnet would have been lower like the high datum ones they fitted to the V8s,they never modified them they were basically the same cab in 1977 as they were when they first came out, Leyland on the other hand modified theirs quite a bit wonder what the reasoning behind it was.
The bonnet in the Ergo cabs wasn’t really an issue at the time most of the bigger motors from other makers had big lumps in the middle to allow for the mainly Gardner or AEC, Leyland etc, straight six engines, even the introduction of the ■■■■■■■ didn’t alter this in makes such as ERF, GUY and Atkinson. The main problem with the Ergomatic bonnet was the slope, if it was flatter on top it might have been more useful, however the Ergo cab had other advantages such as the large screen and side windows and a fairly comfortable driving position and controls for the time, also the height was considered better for access and demounting safely and easily. I’m sure if AEC had carried on they would have produced a much better cab on later models rather than the rejigged thing that turned into the Marathon. Franky.
I remember how vulnerable I felt when first driving a tilt cab Mandator straight out of a MK5 Mandator,all that glass in front.Soon got used to it though and I liked them - well it was a case of having to really,nothing more modern to drive at Evans.
Frankydobo:
Ramone wrote;
I never understood why they didn`t raise the cab so the bonnet would have been lower like the high datum ones they fitted to the V8s,they never modified them they were basically the same cab in 1977 as they were when they first came out, Leyland on the other hand modified theirs quite a bit wonder what the reasoning behind it was.
The bonnet in the Ergo cabs wasn’t really an issue at the time most of the bigger motors from other makers had big lumps in the middle to allow for the mainly Gardner or AEC, Leyland etc, straight six engines, even the introduction of the ■■■■■■■ didn’t alter this in makes such as ERF, GUY and Atkinson. The main problem with the Ergomatic bonnet was the slope, if it was flatter on top it might have been more useful, however the Ergo cab had other advantages such as the large screen and side windows and a fairly comfortable driving position and controls for the time, also the height was considered better for access and demounting safely and easily. I’m sure if AEC had carried on they would have produced a much better cab on later models rather than the rejigged thing that turned into the Marathon. Franky.
I remember how vulnerable I felt when first driving a tilt cab Mandator straight out of a MK5 Mandator,all that glass in front.Soon got used to it though and I liked them - well it was a case of having to really,nothing more modern to drive at Evans.
I remember driving an ergo unit solo at night and that big windscreen reflected all the headlights behind you back in your face, ended up putting a big sheet of cardboard up the back windows.
I had a AEC Mercury flat from about 1977 till 1980 LTC955K it came from a potato dealer in Ormskirk I bought it from a dealer in Rhyl who had previously been in St Asaph. It was a great step up from a TK Bedford and the bonnet was just right for two boards across to the window ledges for a good nights sleep (much better than the TK’s shelf on which I always woke up with a sore neck being 6’ tall)
I made it into a sleeper cab by use of part of another old cab, I gas welded the whole of join across the roof and made a plywood floor for the sleeper! First time I drove it after the conversion the cab felt so big!!! The diff went on a trip to Scotland and Gateside Commercials, Dumfries assisted me by suppying a diff from an old abandoned vandalised AEC coach they had in their yard, that old girl flew with that coach diff would just about touch 100 mph!! I had to set off in crawler where as before I always used 2nd, gave me 1 extra mpg, and I fitted the speedo sensor from the coach so the speedo was correct. Overdrive could not be used much under 60 mph! The fella I sold it to was caught speeding on his first day on the M4 around Cardiff .
Was your Mercury formerly owned by Eric Price? He had three of them - all the same, white cabs with dark blue & red signwriting.
Hi Marky
I honesly cannot remember who the previous owner was but it had a flat body that sloped into the centre longways, I presume this was so the pallets or sacks of potatoes leant into the the middle of the vehicle, I later replaced the body for a flat wih twistlocks, also I think the cab may have fallen forwards at some time in its life as the front of the roof had been damaged and a nameboard fitted to cover the damage.
The AEC was ultra reliable except for the usual rear gearbox bearing problems and I went all over the UK and Ireland even had a couple of trips to France in her.
Claben sold out to Christian Salvesen in the mid '70s. Here is a pic taken at Newhaven by my brother in law Roland Simey (his Transcontinental on the left) showing a Claben 1418 with a Salvesen trailer and a Salvesen 1924 with a Claben trailer.
Hello Bill, the name Claben is apparently an acronym of the two founders of the company, Clarke and Bennet, and I believe one of them was a doctor. Full of useless information aren’t I.
I think that Mk. 5 was a little before my time as when I started running to Aberdeen they had 1418 and 1924 Mercs. and I think some Guys. Like " Charlies " they didn’t hang about did they. They may be gone but, as you say, not forgotten on Trucknet UK thankfully.
That photo could well be Yarmouth as it looks like Watney’s Maltings across the river and the drifter is Lowestoft registered.
Regards, Haddy.
Are this lot still going ? I seem to think they are but would like to know for sure
They sure are LB76, word was things were looking dodgy a couple of years back but this seemed to be a rumour and JR Adams ERF’s can still be seen and still pulling flats, nice to see an old company still going and with a distinctive livery, I’m sure others on here can fill you in with a more precise update.
Yeah AEC’s were fitted with that bumper John, either chromed or painted, the solid chrome ones came later, one other little detail, the early cabs had no groove in the panel that ran from the door handle in all later models and no name badges, the bottom grille was also full with the AEC letters on, these were fitted above the grille later on. The mirror arm position has been mentioned many times before moving from the door to the screen post. Indicators also changed shape but otherwise the AEC Ergo cab stayed the same throughout its life. Cheers Franky.
3300John:
Hiya…she was new to partridge of cassington whitney and ordered as a tipper but was made into a wrecker
(i’ve been told today a chap has photo’s of her) untill 2000 when she bought by a chap nr Hook. he had her
for a few years and i got it through the AEC society somehow. the chap who owned her now lives in france.
I 've got the build sheet for her here at home.the order was made through Stirland brothers 22.5.64
and she was registered 5 .12 64.i think there’s a chap who works at a skip company in witney
who is the son of the first owner but i,ve not found him yet…I’ve just looked up FP reg and its Rutland.
John
Hi John, your lorry would’ve worked out of Partidges’ Vicarage Gravel Pit at Stanton Harcourt. Partidges sold it to Hoveringhams and it must’ve closed by the late '70s early '80s as I don’t remember it working.
Some info for you mmskiphire.com/about-us
Hiya muckaway…very intresting…i think the chap who possibly owns M&M skips or waste transfer
station is some relation to the partridge family. the origanal owners of my truck.
when new the AEC was made into a wrecker and never worked as a tipper it seems she
had a two tone blue cab…theres a chap who puts photo’s on the flickr site named ekawrecker
has some photos of my AEC when it was newer i just need to contact him, he lives nr heathrow
i beleive.
cheers John
and sell outs brigade ?
