.
roolechat:
Spardo:
ERF-NGC-European:
There was also rumoured to have been an ERF NGC European in Van Ommeren livery on NYK containers. It may have been the sister to MMG 772P, an ERF NGC operated by AJ Bradick of Leyton and taken over by GL Baker.Are G.L.Bakers still going? I once worked for them, indirectly, delivering gas bottles after C.E. Dormer, which I believe owned them, took over Shaws of Stapleford.
C. E Dormer -green Atkinson 8 wheelers ?- never owned G.L.Baker. Baker’s who did much work for Marks & Spencer were acquired by BOC in 1969 & became BOC Transhield & later BOC Distribution Services. That in turn became GIST in 2000 & the German Linde group acquired GIST in 2006. Marks & Spencer have now bought GIST from Linde
Thanks Roolechat, I suppose it was the BOC connection that had me fooled, as we had become part of Charlie Dormer’s hauling gas bottles and Bakers were apparently in the mix there too, I must have put 2 and 2 together. Dormer’s were based in Leytonstone and they also took over Cooper’s of Wednesbury about the same time. A very strange bloke, Reg Cooper, and I unfortunately had the experience of working under him too for a time. From being a cosy little company delivering Stanton pipes and then tramping at will we suddenly became at the beck and call of distant, and rather dictatorial, gaffers. 
Victory Transport from 1966.
Spardo:
roolechat:
Spardo:
ERF-NGC-European:
There was also rumoured to have been an ERF NGC European in Van Ommeren livery on NYK containers. It may have been the sister to MMG 772P, an ERF NGC operated by AJ Bradick of Leyton and taken over by GL Baker.Are G.L.Bakers still going? I once worked for them, indirectly, delivering gas bottles after C.E. Dormer, which I believe owned them, took over Shaws of Stapleford.
C. E Dormer -green Atkinson 8 wheelers ?- never owned G.L.Baker. Baker’s who did much work for Marks & Spencer were acquired by BOC in 1969 & became BOC Transhield & later BOC Distribution Services. That in turn became GIST in 2000 & the German Linde group acquired GIST in 2006. Marks & Spencer have now bought GIST from Linde
Thanks Roolechat, I suppose it was the BOC connection that had me fooled, as we had become part of Charlie Dormer’s hauling gas bottles and Bakers were apparently in the mix there too, I must have put 2 and 2 together. Dormer’s were based in Leytonstone and they also took over Cooper’s of Wednesbury about the same time. A very strange bloke, Reg Cooper, and I unfortunately had the experience of working under him too for a time. From being a cosy little company delivering Stanton pipes and then tramping at will we suddenly became at the beck and call of distant, and rather dictatorial, gaffers.
The BOC connection didn’t have you fooled,there was a connection. In 1958, Dormer sold part of his fleet (20 A licences & 18 B licenses) to Merchandise Transport,Tottenham who were the in house transport operation of Harris Lebus furniture. Dormer continued to run the general fleet & tankers. The tankers worked for Shell (which led on to the Shell Bottogas cylinder contract). In 1964 he merged the C E Dormer operation into the Bain & Hodge Group & became the Chief executive. Bain & Hodge already owned a number of hauliers and Charles Dormer continued the process. Acquisitions included alonside C E Dormer,The Keenon Group, Export & General,Georges Transport ,Jones Transport Liverpool & Midlands,Gomms Transport,Dunstable Transport & I guess Cooper’s of Wednesbury as well as Shaws of Stapleford By the end of 1965, The Bain & Hodge group comprised 29 companies operating over 1000 vehicles as well as warehousing,vehicle distributors etc. Businesses were also sold. Motor Vehicle Collections were acquired in Feb 1965 & sold to Progressive Deliveries, Coventry 5 months later.
In 1965,the rampant Transport Development Group approached Bain & Hodge with an offer but BOC stepped in with a better offer & purchased the B & H group So,for a while,BOC owned Dormers & G.L. Baker. Sadly,in 1971,Ralph Hilton’s HTS acquired the majority of the B&H group (BOC kept the Baker Transhield/M&S operations) paying for it using HTS shares.Not long after, the Hilton empire unravelled.
polytrotter:
.
Well that’s a bit of smart detective work. thanks for all that, if only to prove that I am not completely doolally tap in my old age.
But seriously it is very interesting, and also a reminder that Ralph Hilton still owes me some money I reckon. No chance of seeing that, Pollocks of Musselborough did too but years later I got a cheque from their liquidator. Couldn’t cash it because it was in the name of our company, which we had long since wound up. 
DEANB:
Victory Transport from 1966.
DOR 736D a TG4R Mandator fitted with the AV760 engine was the first ergomatic to enter service with Victory Transport.It was part of an order for 6 Mandators & Mercurys placed with Princes the Southampton AEC dealer. Prince’s had already supplied Victory Transport with some Mk 5 Park Royal cabbed Mandators & when the Ergomatic was announced,Victory Transport switched to the new model DOR 736D was probably the first ergo Mandator Princes supplied to a customer
It is seen coupled to an ICS 40 ft Flexivan whilst alongside the Dry Dock
Buzzer
roolechat:
“DEANB” Victory Transport from 1966.DOR 736D a TG4R Mandator fitted with the AV760 engine was the first ergomatic to enter service with Victory Transport.It was part of an order for 6 Mandators & Mercurys placed with Princes the Southampton AEC dealer. Prince’s had already supplied Victory Transport with some Mk 5 Park Royal cabbed Mandators & when the Ergomatic was announced,Victory Transport switched to the new model DOR 736D was probably the first ergo Mandator Princes supplied to a customer
It is seen coupled to an ICS 40 ft Flexivan whilst alongside the Dry Dock
Thanks for the info,can only remember Princes as a Volvo dealer as a kid. But here’s a couple of clippings when it was a AEC dealer.
DEANB:
roolechat:
“DEANB” Victory Transport from 1966.DOR 736D a TG4R Mandator fitted with the AV760 engine was the first ergomatic to enter service with Victory Transport.It was part of an order for 6 Mandators & Mercurys placed with Princes the Southampton AEC dealer. Prince’s had already supplied Victory Transport with some Mk 5 Park Royal cabbed Mandators & when the Ergomatic was announced,Victory Transport switched to the new model DOR 736D was probably the first ergo Mandator Princes supplied to a customer
It is seen coupled to an ICS 40 ft Flexivan whilst alongside the Dry DockThanks for the info,can only remember Princes as a Volvo dealer as a kid. But here’s a couple of clippings when it was a AEC dealer.
Brand new AEC outside princes Southampton
robthedog:
Brand new AEC outside princes Southampton
The high roof extension was built by Sparshatt Metal Bodies.
I never knew Prince’s were a Dodge Distributor…prior to shifting to Tilbury’s I 'spose.
That Mandator of R A Lane I always assumed was summat to do with Ken Lane…but then maybe not!
gazzer:
I never knew Prince’s were a Dodge Distributor…prior to shifting to Tilbury’s I 'spose.That Mandator of R A Lane I always assumed was summat to do with Ken Lane…but then maybe not!
Think your right with Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch cars.
Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch cars
Talk of the devil (obv that’s not Ron)
robthedog:
Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch carsTalk of the devil (obv that’s not Ron)
“STS 1” did live on the bumpers of a few of Ron`s cars. Porsche, Rangie, and did that number get put on the Maserati he had?
Franglais:
robthedog:
Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch carsTalk of the devil (obv that’s not Ron)
“STS 1” did live on the bumpers of a few of Ron`s cars. Porsche, Rangie, and did that number get put on the Maserati he had?
I believe it did
gazzer:
I never knew Prince’s were a Dodge Distributor…prior to shifting to Tilbury’s I 'spose.That Mandator of R A Lane I always assumed was summat to do with Ken Lane…but then maybe not!
Gazzer, I think I have read on this thread previously that RA Lane was Ken Lane’s wife Rose.
Buzzer:
gazzer:
I never knew Prince’s were a Dodge Distributor…prior to shifting to Tilbury’s I 'spose.That Mandator of R A Lane I always assumed was summat to do with Ken Lane…but then maybe not!
Think your right with Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch cars.
LTS at our old Yard Andersons Road, there were always a couple of Wim Vos parked in there, I think that was all it was though, just parking. Whether or not it was local lads, or they had an operating centre in Andersons Road. Taylor Barnyard also used to park in there.
Horry:
Buzzer:
gazzer:
I never knew Prince’s were a Dodge Distributor…prior to shifting to Tilbury’s I 'spose.That Mandator of R A Lane I always assumed was summat to do with Ken Lane…but then maybe not!
Think your right with Ken Lane before Spring Road days of course, he is the one who sold Ron Griffith the STS 1 number plate IIRC which he had on several Porsch cars.
LTS at our old Yard Andersons Road, there were always a couple of Wim Vos parked in there, I think that was all it was though, just parking. Whether or not it was local lads, or they had an operating centre in Andersons Road. Taylor Barnyard also used to park in there.
Harry LTS had about 5 on contract but Roole hat will confirm