If I recall correctly,the aluminium trailers with the super singles all bore fleet numbers with LM,eg 444LM,and were all 33 footers,The 40 foot spread axles,not made of aluminium but steel, were eventually converted to tri-axles.
As Bewick says,Mr james as we at maddiston addressed him,was indeed a gentleman.
Well as per usual “Saviem” has regaled us with a most informative and very knowledgeable expose’ of Highway trailers,I always believed that the likes of AHP and M+G were the “coiler” kings,well my pal Curly Cargill never ran any Highway coilers! and it was most interesting to learn that Highways largest customer was J & A Smith of Maddiston.Anyway,now to the serious part of my post 
as I class “Saviem” as having been a very “shrewd” Dealer who would be able to visit a transport depot to view some motors/trailers but at the same time take in the whole scene at the same time ( the ability of which I would describe as having “eyes like an outhouse rat”) So Lads I will concede that if “Saviem” says he saw an 8LXB Big J at Maddiston thats good enough for me,well as long he dosen’t decide that he saw all 39 of them otherwise he will be on the “wind up” then I would,reluctantly,(very) have to withdraw my acceptance of the fact !So come on lads it is the season of Goodwill and I can well do without all the “guffaws and ■■■■ taking”. A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all “believers” Cheers Bewick.
I suppose the other 39 would be out working Dennis? Some of us never doubted their existence though! 
Pete.
windrush:
I suppose the other 39 would be out working Dennis? Some of us never doubted their existence though!Pete.
Ahgggggggg uggggggg Oh! no ! I don’t believe it 
Dennis.
Believe it, man, believe it. You know it makes sense!
Retired Old ■■■■:
Believe it, man, believe it. You know it makes sense!
And I just bet that you also believe in Santa,“Elvis is still alive” and Hitler is driving a London Routemaster on the Moon eh! Cheers Dennis.
Wrong again, Bewick! As everyone south of Kendal knows, Santa is alive and well and living in a converted Foden cab in the North East when not on his annual deliveries. Elvis is currently driving an RL on Mars with a full load of little green passengers and Hitler drives a 240-powered Guy for SoM.
And if anyone’s still not convinced of my sanity, I can assure them that I can get a whole lot dafter than this. After all, I’ve had all those years of practice.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Wrong again, Bewick! As everyone south of Kendal knows, Santa is alive and well and living in a converted Foden cab in the North East when not on his annual deliveries. Elvis is currently driving an RL on Mars with a full load of little green passengers and Hitler drives a 240-powered Guy for SoM.
And if anyone’s still not convinced of my sanity, I can assure them that I can get a whole lot dafter than this. After all, I’ve had all those years of practice.
Hiya,
Well as I’ve said on previous occasions, being round the twist is very beneficial
for anyone wanting to contribute to some of the Trucknet threads. ask Dennis
thanks harry, long retired.
Guy Motors. No two alike, used to be the saying. : 
Bewick:
Great shots of a fine transport firm Dave,however,can I take issue with you on the standard of sheeting and roping on the second shot !
Now Dennis, I may not remember what I had for breakfast this morning, but I can remember that load like it was this morning !! It came down via a Maddison tramper on a Thursday, it was deemed he wouldn’t have enough time to get to Helston and get home for the week-end, so he was loaded back from So’ton with M/T bins for BXL and I got to take his trailer on to Cornwall Thursday afternoon, stopping in Helston that night, tipping in the morning and returning M/T Friday afternoon…so not guilty with roping and sheeting that load…how’s that for a memory…
I always took great pride in roping and sheeting, ( hope some of the lads that know me will back me up ) I was taught by some of the best around, every dolly eye in line, crosses front and back, spreaders if there was a hook missing, double dolly’s if necessary, nothing flapping, and flysheet-ed if required, always looked the dogs. Some of the lads I worked with either found it difficult or couldn’t be arsed, they looked like three masted schooners sailing up the M6…
Fergie47:
Bewick:
Great shots of a fine transport firm Dave,however,can I take issue with you on the standard of sheeting and roping on the second shot !Now Dennis, I may not remember what I had for breakfast this morning, but I can remember that load like it was this morning !! It came down via a Maddison tramper on a Thursday, it was deemed he wouldn’t have enough time to get to Helston and get home for the week-end, so he was loaded back from So’ton with M/T bins for BXL and I got to take his trailer on to Cornwall Thursday afternoon, stopping in Helston that night, tipping in the morning and returning M/T Friday afternoon…so not guilty with roping and sheeting that load…how’s that for a memory…
I always took great pride in roping and sheeting, ( hope some of the lads that know me will back me up ) I was taught by some of the best around, every dolly eye in line, crosses front and back, spreaders if there was a hook missing, double dolly’s if necessary, nothing flapping, and flysheet-ed if required, always looked the dogs. Some of the lads I worked with either found it difficult or couldn’t be arsed, they looked like three masted schooners sailing up the M6…
Hiya Dave,well in the “spirit of Christmas,Goodwill and all that bollox” I will have to accept your explanation as “gospel” Seriously though your last paragraph is a perfect description of how the job was done properly by those of us who took a pride in our craft even though we were “looked down upon” by many as unskilled labourers 
I believe the tide is now turning as there appears to be a shortage of drivers so I sincerely hope to-days “workforce” extracts their “pound of flesh” which is long overdue,and too late for our era !!Anyway mate can I take this oppertunity to wish both Liz and Yourself a Very Merry Christmas (hic hic!) and a Happy and busy New Year,Regards Dennis and Anne.
Big-J out on the open road… Robert
robert1952:
Big-J out on the open road… Robert10
Great shot of that Big J at the Earls Court show,I wonder what engine it had under the bonnet ? ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ or 8LXB I see it has Wolverhampton made Good/Year cross ply 1000x20’s on it Ugh ! So it will possibly have the Roller engine and has just been thrown to-gether on the cheap for the Show !! I would have the chrome bumper off it including the “spots” for one of our 8LXB units though Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
robert1952:
Big-J out on the open road… Robert10
Great shot of that Big J at the Earls Court show,I wonder what engine it had under the bonnet ? ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ or 8LXB
You might as well have the exhaust stack as well, while your’e at it, Dennis! Robert
hiya…Bewick Berwick Bewick what can i say!!! the bumper is bulled up ally.it was standard and no use but light
weight.
John
Notice the wing mirror position, similar to the Ergo’s and yet I can’t recall them being in that position once on the road, did they get too dirty there, or the screen did so they couldn’t see them easily or did our drivers/fitters decide they were in the wrong place and put them back to the usual view through the door window! Franky.
robert1952:
Bewick:
robert1952:
Big-J out on the open road… Robert10
Great shot of that Big J at the Earls Court show,I wonder what engine it had under the bonnet ? ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ or 8LXB
You might as well have the exhaust stack as well, while your’e at it, Dennis! Robert
Would definitely be a roller in that, usually the 280’s had a vertical stack on the nearside, ■■■■■■■ had the stack on the offside.
Frankydobo:
Notice the wing mirror position, similar to the Ergo’s and yet I can’t recall them being in that position once on the road, did they get too dirty there, or the screen did so they couldn’t see them easily or did our drivers/fitters decide they were in the wrong place and put them back to the usual view through the door window! Franky.
I moved my Sed Ak 400 nearside mirror forward like that Franky, we did the same with the Foden S80’s using Bedford KM mirror arms! They kept nice and clean then which was the general intention!
Pete.
Trev_H:
robert1952:
Bewick:
robert1952:
Big-J out on the open road… Robert10
Great shot of that Big J at the Earls Court show,I wonder what engine it had under the bonnet ? ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ or 8LXB
You might as well have the exhaust stack as well, while your’e at it, Dennis! Robert
Would definitely be a roller in that, usually the 280’s had a vertical stack on the nearside, ■■■■■■■ had the stack on the offside.
Hiya Trev,Happy New Year ! Now I wasn’t far wrong,a total bag o’ ■■■■■■■■■■■■ and Good Year cross ply 1000x20 tyres probaly only the Fuller box and the axle were worth salvaging eh! Cheers Dennis.
robert1952:
Big-J out on the open road… Robert10
Hiya,
Would’ve liked to have seen what was on the Scammell stand in Earls court at that 1971 show, I had
a Scammell “corrugated fronter” from that show as my new motor from that very show, it had more
chromium plated bits you needed dark glasses just to get in the cab and with a perfectly set up 680
engine inboard it went like the proverbial of a shovel.
thanks harry, long retired