Oh dear Pt
pete smith:
Adam Jones Blackheath, Did you flog them this Saviem before Chris got them hooked on Scania’s?
Oh dear Pete, now the history comes back…
First that day cab must have come from “Square Deal Neil”, (Jones), who took over from me at Rylands Dudley…I went about `72 ish!
Roy, John, (RIP my dear friend), and Clive, Ashley Street Blackheath, Adam Jones and Sons, Mrs Jones, (mom), lived in the last house on the right hand side. The office was in the next one down, the last one was Roy`s office…and later became the office of Eagle Truck Sales, run by Square Deal Neil.
Opposite was the parts department in a single story shed, (more Atkinson bits than they had at Preston), run by a nice lad who had a taste of JAP and Speedway…frightened myself to bits when I tried his bike down at the Heathens ground!!!
The workshops were up on the bank, (now well gone), next to the railway tunnel, “pepper pot”, where John maintained the fleet. That blue Gardner atmosphere must have given him his Cancer. There was nothing that he could not do…engineer…or create. What went on there was truly fantastic.
The family had a Mitsubishi agency back in `71, when Mitsubishi was handled through those intransigent people at Colt Cars in Cirencester. John created the first “life style” pick ups, …two piece rims…big rubber…exotic paint…everyone, who was everyone in the Blackcountry ran one…they were way ahead of their time!
Then John started to manufacture replica cars and kit cars, , you should have seen his mid `30 Mercedes! But Roy ran a Pagoda Mercedes as his own!
For me I really rated the family, and did lots of business…Mk 1 , Mk 2 Atkinsons, then Borderers, but always 180, or 240 Gardner powered, even with that awfull, screaming David Brown 8 Speed range change gearbox,. Trailers, (always Coilers), but the trailer fleet was well used, the shunters at Halesowen`s Coombe Works saw to that… But the tractors wee always superbly turned out!
I bought the drop framed car transporter that John created, Hillman Imp wheels, tri axle 28 ft long, rubber suspension…ran it for years…well overloaded…beautiful design…never broke…
Wonderful livery, Royal Blue, Cream, with Gold Leaf Lettering…If I ever, (with a fit of madness) decided to have an Atkinson Borderer, then I would paint it in Adam Jones`s livery…nothing more spectacular…
When I gave up on the UK and sought opportunities overseas it was Roy Jones who gave me a testimonial…and unbeknown to me was the turning point when I was interviewed in France for a job with Saviem…my new Boss, had seen a number of Adam Jones outfits when he had visited Birmingham in the early `70s…and he reasoned that if such an operator would give a great testimonial to this young lad…then he had potential…
Adam Jones…Roy, John Clive…what an outfit, proper hauliers, and so many happy hours spent with them…
And then “Square Deal Neil”, (Jones), Richardson Twins Nephew, great man, superb lorry salesman, it was he, who turned Roy onto Scania, then developed Eagle Truck Sales…(and they could have become Hino1s spearhead into the UK if Roy had followed through)…I just have the highest possible regard for all of them…And will never forget Neils advice and help when our Daughter was so gravely injured in a road accident in 98…he had been there before, and his kindness I will never forget.
Even, (for the sake of memory…and only sadness came back), had a cup of dreadfull coffee in the Sainsburys that now occupies the Ashley Street site…but it could never equal a cup of Mrs Jones Snrs Tea, and a bit of Cake before I went on to do business with her sons…my last deal was in `74, an 8 speed F88 240…and as ever it looked magnificent in their livery…
Happy memories indeed Pete…
Cheerio for now.
We used to go to a blacking factory there.
, Who was the transport company in between the houses in Bushbury Lane, on the right hand side going towards Goodyears? I think they had ergo cabbed AEC’s or Leyland’s
