Spardo:
That Saddler’s sheet looks as if it was intended for an artic, or possibly an 8 wheeler.
1936 HGV licence? What’s all that about then? just needed to be 21 and have a car licence when I started in about 1963. Passed my test in the morning and got set on by the Co-op in the afternoon.
I believe the HGV licence was dropped early in WW2 so anyone could drive one due to shortage of drivers lost to call up, and not reinstated until the 1968 Transport Bill when the new HGV licences started at the same time as HGV plating and testing. The only restriction in between was needing to be over 21 to drive over 3 tons unladen when “heavy motor cars” got added to your car licence.
Bernard
Thanks for that Bernard, I had no idea that the HGV licence had been reinstated in '68, I thought it was a totally new idea. I got mine by grandfather rights of course but a mate of the same age, Barry Poole, at K&M of Hucknall had had a gap in his service as a driver and was forced to take the test. He failed, twice I think, purely on his habit of holding the vehicle on the clutch without engaging the hand brake at junctions. I thought it was most unfair because if you were trying to enter a very busy main road you needed a fast reaction to any gap and the time it took to engage a crash box and then release the air valve on an Atki was often too slow.
Or just a forlorn hope… [/quote] Surely it would be impossible to start a big diesel in the Leyland handle? [/quote] It must have been there for a purpose, no? If not starting the beast what else? [/quote]
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope. If it had been a Gardner you’d have used the decompression levers to take some of the slog out of it.
Or just a forlorn hope… [/quote] Surely it would be impossible to start a big diesel in the Leyland handle? [/quote] It must have been there for a purpose, no? If not starting the beast what else? [/quote]
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope. If it had been a Gardner you’d have used the decompression levers to take some of the slog out of it.
I seem to remember Dad saying they started 2/3 cyl Dorman diesels in old dumpers and excavators with 2 people using a rope. Not much good if it does not fire on the first hit of compression?
essexpete:
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope.
I must have been very lucky with my first motors and also came in at the end of that era because I only have one memory of starting heavy engines by the handle. Somewhere in the eastern counties I overnighted with my Albion at a transport cafe/digs and was called outside by the older blokes before breakfast to go round all the handles with a rope starting all the wagons that needed it. They were then left ticking over, causing a large cloud to hover over the neighbourhood, while we all then went back in to our full English.
My first real introduction to the Brotherhood of the Road.
essexpete:
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope.
I must have been very lucky with my first motors and also came in at the end of that era because I only have one memory of starting heavy engines by the handle. Somewhere in the eastern counties I overnighted with my Albion at a transport cafe/digs and was called outside by the older blokes before breakfast to go round all the handles with a rope starting all the wagons that needed it. They were then left ticking over, causing a large cloud to hover over the neighbourhood, while we all then went back in to our full English.
My first real introduction to the Brotherhood of the Road.
You missed the good old days then , i also remember in the worst of winters that some inconsiderate drivers would leave the engines running all night to save that chore in the mornings . these days they leave on their fridge units ,dont they ?-- — toshboy
essexpete:
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope.
I must have been very lucky with my first motors and also came in at the end of that era because I only have one memory of starting heavy engines by the handle. Somewhere in the eastern counties I overnighted with my Albion at a transport cafe/digs and was called outside by the older blokes before breakfast to go round all the handles with a rope starting all the wagons that needed it. They were then left ticking over, causing a large cloud to hover over the neighbourhood, while we all then went back in to our full English.
My first real introduction to the Brotherhood of the Road.
You missed the good old days then , i also remember in the worst of winters that some inconsiderate drivers would leave the engines running all night to save that chore in the mornings . these days they leave on their fridge units ,dont they ?-- — toshboy
I used to run the motor all night, but not in company, laybys only, but that was for warmth (very little from a Gardner) and, in those days of exhaust pipes just under the driver’s door, risked not freezing to death but suffocation.
essexpete:
As someone suggested: three chaps and a rope.
I must have been very lucky with my first motors and also came in at the end of that era because I only have one memory of starting heavy engines by the handle. Somewhere in the eastern counties I overnighted with my Albion at a transport cafe/digs and was called outside by the older blokes before breakfast to go round all the handles with a rope starting all the wagons that needed it. They were then left ticking over, causing a large cloud to hover over the neighbourhood, while we all then went back in to our full English.
My first real introduction to the Brotherhood of the Road.
You missed the good old days then , i also remember in the worst of winters that some inconsiderate drivers would leave the engines running all night to save that chore in the mornings . these days they leave on their fridge units ,dont they ?-- — toshboy
I used to run the motor all night, but not in company, laybys only, but that was for warmth (very little from a Gardner) and, in those days of exhaust pipes just under the driver’s door, risked not freezing to death but suffocation.
Dad left a dumper running all night on very cold winters. They could then tow a lorry and the old manual loading shovel to get going. (late 50s early 60s).
OK, I’ll stick my head above the parapet. Albion? Though I have no idea why there is no badge.
It is Mitchell & Butler’s isn’t it? A Birminghan brewery and I well remnember one of their directors, maybe the MD, advertising on tv with his strong Brummie accent.
Buzzer:
RECKON THIS WOULD BE OVERWEIGHT WITHOUT THE PALLET ON THE REAR, MERC’S WERE HEAVY CHASSIS
I think as long as the tractor is under six ton it should have been ok.
That’s quite right Dave, it was a touch over 5 tons & I know because that was my lorry.
The picture was taken in June 1994, I brought it back to Derbyshire from a farm near Bath, he had a weighbridge & I grossed out at a shade over 10 tons.
What’s all that about then? just needed to be 21 and have a car licence when I started in about 1963. Passed my test in the morning and got set on by the Co-op in the afternoon.
i also remember in the worst of winters that some inconsiderate drivers would leave the engines running all night to save that chore in the mornings . these days they leave on their fridge units ,dont they ?-- — toshboy
