Are there areas of the country where a specific make of lorry was popular ,for me I think that Buxton was a foden strong hold and still is although the Volvo has taken over a bit,Erf were popular around Manchester ,were stoke on Trent and Cornwall seddon Atki area s ,where do you think of for a particular make strong hold ?
I think it had more to do with the quality of the dealership that covered the area and their back-up rather than the area itself.
Devon and Cornwall were very well served by Frank Tucker Commercials who did a splendid job for ERF as well as running a 100% ERF fleet themselves.
David
Good point David however terrain and payload are important factors too .
I was told some years ago that Scania sold more lorries into ■■■■■■■ than any other part of the country.
And weightlifter bodies in lincs .
If i remember correctly Scania was very popular in Essex in the 70s and 80s.
Atkinson and Seddon and later on Seddon Atkinson were always popular around Lancashire I know that’s because they were a local Manufacturer
I know in my home county of Nottinghamshire ERFs were always popular
^^^^ certainly with Meeks , Fernwoods ,Bowman ,Bowering,and the Gypsum hauliers to name a few .
Dan Punchard:
And weightlifter bodies in lincs .
Absolutely Dan !!!
Thirty years ago on the Welsh Borders, Foden and Leyland had the highest percentage of vehicles sales. Now its Volvo and Scania that have the lions share of the market this way.
Cheers Dave.
Dan…ERF was prominent in the Stoke area Beeches was the main uk agent at one time. also bosses peed in the same pot
the Beech family was well followed…then Edwards took over beeches in the 60,s but it was always known as it is
now as Beeches…Edwards used to run tippers out of Croxden gravel and pipes. i have a rare car built by the sons of Edwards.
Edwards used to make fibre glass componets for ERF and Foden the sons decided to make car bodies to fit onto ford 8and10
chassis to make a sports car they made 2000 eb 50s and eb60s and 55 debonairs 3 on there own chassis i have one of them
theres only 4 left
John Edwards has one, me a Stoke chap and a German guy has one.i know you like glass fibre it doesn’t rot.
1960 EB Debonair 1498 ford classic engine and box ford E93 back axle…note the ally bumper bars ERF trim
John
Looks like its in the restoration stage John?
Dan Punchard:
Looks like its in the restoration stage John?
restoration Dan…it was crashed at silverstone in 1960 it was taken to a chap who lived across from me
the car sat there until 10 years ago when the chap was put in a home i finally got it after asking for years
its done 1703 miles from new. i asked for it years ago but he wouldn’t sell so it fell apart i,ve got almost
everything for it but i need a spark to wire the dash for me. this car went to Olympia sports car show in
1960 and has only moved a little since. here you are Dan
sorry no more cars… it is nearly an ERF the Edwards brothers were directors at ERF
John
AEC in mid Kent - probably because of the dealer W H Gatward. Or should it really be aec?
Going off topic slightly but didn’t Edwards have an engineering shop on the A53 between Holden Viaduct and Cobridge Lights John? We had a couple of ex Edwards drivers based at Kevin quarry on Tilcon, they told me that you really had to graft at Edwards running out of Croxden!
Back on topic, Foden were certainly popular in the Peak District area for eight wheeler tippers/powder tankers, the factory was only a ■■■■ stride away after all, though some large firms like WH Philips and Waters didn’t use them at all. Leyland Group were second choice I suppose with Kays at Derby and Doveholes handy for sales etc.
Pete.
Gloucestershire was well served for ERF by the newly late Richard Read. This was another case of good dealership leading the way, I think. Robert
I think in my area there was a even spread. The ARC guys had various Leylands, Smiths were until recently pretty much all Foden, now they run a mixed fleet policy. Ford Cargos were very common as mixers and in various 7.5t guises (can’t recall Cargo tractor units). Tuckwells ran Mercedes, County Dairies had ERFs. Talking of tankers, Burys Transport ran Volvos. Not to mention that BRS ran Leylands out of Cowley, and Sheehans were avid MAN users until the Hino 700 came out.
On an anit note and I make no apology of adding it here or on as many other threads as I can …in the mid 70’s to 80’s it was very rare to see a Scania operated in the Scottish Border as the Scania dealer at the time Reliable Motors Broxburn, had there head stuck so far up there ■■■ very few people would entertain them… Tam Bell had a couple on fridges and went to Newcastle or Carlisle for service…
If you are a sales person then it’s your job to sell things, having an arrogant or aloof attitude is not, and never will be acceptable. Of you are then you’ve not only failed your self but you failed the company as well…
Jeff…
During the 70’s, 80’s & early 90’s probably the most popular lorry with owner drivers and fleets in north lincs (south Humberside) was Volvo sold by John Hebb’s of Wooton.
hiya Pete …Edwards lads aimed for 7 loads a night from Croxden to Charcon. they had 4 half cab fodens on that job.
quite funny as Edwards was ERF agents but run a dozen fodens and 2 Seddons for the pipes. the lads on the Croxden
job was all quite young all pre test lads.it was a good paying job at the time. i also think the job was buy the load
not by weight, i wouldn’t think many would go back to get rid of a few shovels full if you know what i mean.