rigsby:
A gardner 6lw engine and probably a 4 speed box with crawler and super low . That’s what hill head quarries at buxton had , same vintage . Dave
Oh new one on me I were expecting 12sp. That begs the question when n what model did the 12sp appear n was it derived from that box or a completely new one? Cheers Paul
DEANB:
A few Fodens.2
1
0
Now I wonder which engine was under the bonnet of that nice new Foden Steer ? Cheers Dennis.
coomsey:
rigsby:
A gardner 6lw engine and probably a 4 speed box with crawler and super low . That’s what hill head quarries at buxton had , same vintage . DaveOh new one on me I were expecting 12sp. That begs the question when n what model did the 12sp appear n was it derived from that box or a completely new one? Cheers Paul
I was an apprentice in the quarry garage and the earliest 12 speed was an s20 with the manual auxiliary . The air change came in with the s21 I think , and it was a completely new design with the epicyclic gears .I stand to be corrected but in my fading memory it was about right ,Dave
rigsby:
coomsey:
rigsby:
A gardner 6lw engine and probably a 4 speed box with crawler and super low . That’s what hill head quarries at buxton had , same vintage . DaveOh new one on me I were expecting 12sp. That begs the question when n what model did the 12sp appear n was it derived from that box or a completely new one? Cheers Paul
I was an apprentice in the quarry garage and the earliest 12 speed was an s20 with the manual auxiliary . The air change came in with the s21 I think , and it was a completely new design with the epicyclic gears .I stand to be corrected but in my fading memory it was about right ,Dave
Thanks Dave. So early 50s? I’m guessing it would have been a ground breaking box in it’s day. This then begs another question, without getting too techno on me, why did they make or end up with such a convoluted shift pattern? Eaton twin splitter got it right. Don’t know anybody who jumped into a Foden n self sorted it. Cheers Paul
Never got into the technicalities of it Paul , Foden went their own way . Did you know that Foden had their own foundry and made most of the components in house except for clocks and gauges which were made by Smiths . If you thought the 12 speed was a queer shift pattern the 12 speed dumper box made it look easy . Direct , Low and Super low ranges , they were a nightmare , especially when the oiks in the quarry just jumped in and ground away until they found a gear that made it go . Once you got the hang of the 12 speed though they were sweet as a nut , you always had a gear to suit the road , bearing in mind that 180 bhp pulling 30 tons wasn’t much. Dave
Thanks again Dave. Did the dump trucks never a Foden thank God. Knew about them making it all and didn’t make a bad job of it in the day. 12sp the business, chap in ERF 30t 180g DB6 me S39 30t I followed him from Bardon to Rutland water cos not sure of the way, He were under my feet all the way the box made all the difference. Cheers Paul
coomsey:
What a beauty Dean. I once watched one of these, Redlands Mountsorrel, ■■■■ over body n tractor, I helped the driver out of passenger side he was surprised it had gone over I wasn’t
Yes “coomsey” pretty sure that one was on Fodens stand at the motor show !
Enough of the tales. For me a idiot when it comes to mechanical stuff, when they put this box on the drawing board wouldn’t someone with the know how have mentioned that the shift pattern could be trouble some to the point where firms might be put off. That it would be better to make it idiot proof, twin splitter, or was it not technically feasible back then?
DEANB:
coomsey:
1
What a beauty Dean. I once watched one of these, Redlands Mountsorrel, ■■■■ over body n tractor, I helped the driver out of passenger side he was surprised it had gone over I wasn’tYes “coomsey” pretty sure that one was on Fodens stand at the motor show !
0
You’ve got em all Dean!! Seem to think they had 4/6 but one less after that ninny lay it over?? Nice looking motor I always thought but looked better upright 
coomsey:
DEANB:
coomsey:
What a beauty Dean. I once watched one of these, Redlands Mountsorrel, ■■■■ over body n tractor, I helped the driver out of passenger side he was surprised it had gone over I wasn’tYes “coomsey” pretty sure that one was on Fodens stand at the motor show !
You’ve got em all Dean!! Seem to think they had 4/6 but one less after that ninny lay it over?? Nice looking motor I always thought but looked better upright
They tend to go better upright coomsey ! 
Article from 1976. (Click on page twice to read)
I saw a Foden Alpha 8 wheeler tipper on the back of a trailer this morning heading eastbound on the M62 , the unit pulling it had Port of Boston on the side so I would guess it was going for export . It was ex Tarmac subbie on a X registration
Never got to have a spin in her
