Kempston:
Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
Kempston:
0Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Need more skill to operate?
Buzzer:
Buzzer
Had not realised Stort Ash were still operating as late as that. Dad bought ash from Stort for breeze block making in the 50s and early 60s.
The other firm in the outer London area might have be Palmers?
essexpete:
Kempston:
0Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Need more skill to operate?
Well certainly less easy than with longer trailers when reversing, but not going forward. Less cut in on corners. 
essexpete:
Kempston:
0Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Need more skill to operate?
Good point Pete, not sure if you need a class 1 though but at least a 3 I’d have thought?
DEANB:
Kempston:
1Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
0
Yes of course BRS were big users of them as were the railways. Thanks for the info on Ringwood by the way Dean, went the way you suggested and no problems either way.
Thanks to coomsey, Buzzer, Ray Smyth, Punchy Dan, DEANB for the photos 
also essexpete for the link
Oily.
Highlanders at Leeming Bar recently.
I had a good day out today at the Leyland factory, free to go in, and a free snack lunch.
Ray Smyth.
I’m parked for weekend in Holland & this came in this morning think it must be an export? The driver went in hotel I think
DEANB:
Kempston:
1Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
0
Were they fitted with Scammell coupling? Thanks.
Froggy55:
DEANB:
Kempston:
1Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
0
Were they fitted with Scammell coupling? Thanks.
Ford made a cylinder D-series version some years later. That did have a Scammell auto coupling for quick and easy use but also allowing it to use older trailers. I used one occaisonally in London and found it a useful little vehicle. So I imagine its predecessor was too.
Andrew Morrison:
I’m parked for weekend in Holland & this came in this morning think it must be an export? The driver went in hotel I think0
Guess so, no UK tax.
vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/V … ?locale=en
Froggy55:
DEANB:
Kempston:
1Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
0
Were they fitted with Scammell coupling? Thanks.
Yes.
Andrew Morrison:
I’m parked for weekend in Holland & this came in this morning think it must be an export? The driver went in hotel I think0
Frans Op?
Froggy55:
“DEANB” “Kempston”Love these little artics, really surprised they weren’t used more but I suppose the demountable bodies work out cheaper especially on 7.5 ton chassis like many distribution companies use.
Karrier advert.
Were they fitted with Scammell coupling? Thanks.
There were loads of different couplings available and some did have the Scammell coupling but there were also the J type by Brockhouse trailers and the BK type.(not sure who built it) Other companies like Taskers,Merriworth,Hands and Bedford all built them off the top of my head.
The BK and J Type were Karrier made couplings, in 1930 Karrier were the first to build an auto coupling named the Wolverton for the three wheel Karrier Cob this was developed and patented by an LMSR Road Motor Engineer and Karrier went on to develop it further as the BK. Scammell brought out their coupling in 1933 and sold it to many other manufacturers and became more widely used. Having a full width rear axle with the trailer jockey wheels between, the earlier Karrier coupling had the trailer wheels on the outside of the tractor rears so Karrier had to bring out a similar design to Scammell in their J Type to compete. The Karrier Bantam in the pic above will have the J Type. By the end of the 1950’s makers were offering 8 to 12 Ton payload Auto Coupling tractors. However in the 1960’s when the 32Ton limit came in this was way above what an auto coupling could manage and the Mechanical Horse/Scarab declined in use. The brake efficiency requirements of the 1968 regulations really put the tin hat on the auto coupling trailers in particular. Vans and low weight goods vehicles then seemed to take over the role the ‘Mechanical Horse’ had enjoyed for many years. On the subject of a license to drive these auto coupling artics such as the Scarab there was a Class Four license apparently. Franky.
Thanks for all your contributions concerning the Karrier’s coupling. It’s no secret to me anymore!
Geordielad:
The BK and J Type were Karrier made couplings, in 1930 Karrier were the first to build an auto coupling named the Wolverton for the three wheel Karrier Cob this was developed and patented by an LMSR Road Motor Engineer and Karrier went on to develop it further as the BK. Scammell brought out their coupling in 1933 and sold it to many other manufacturers and became more widely used. Having a full width rear axle with the trailer jockey wheels between, the earlier Karrier coupling had the trailer wheels on the outside of the tractor rears so Karrier had to bring out a similar design to Scammell in their J Type to compete. The Karrier Bantam in the pic above will have the J Type. By the end of the 1950’s makers were offering 8 to 12 Ton payload Auto Coupling tractors. However in the 1960’s when the 32Ton limit came in this was way above what an auto coupling could manage and the Mechanical Horse/Scarab declined in use. The brake efficiency requirements of the 1968 regulations really put the tin hat on the auto coupling trailers in particular. Vans and low weight goods vehicles then seemed to take over the role the ‘Mechanical Horse’ had enjoyed for many years. On the subject of a license to drive these auto coupling artics such as the Scarab there was a Class Four license apparently. Franky.
Franky were all the different makes different and not compatible?
My first farm employer, in the late 70s had a few Scammell trailers and a unit chopped to a dolly. No brakes set up then and, even at 20mph, things could be scary. A half loaded tanker/bowser was the worst.
