A popular use for Traders out in Oz was Fire Engines. They were converted into a crew cab configuration with the standard pumper unit mounted as a complete conversion. They were a stock item for a lot of fire stations within the suburbs.
The one shown in the photos was on display at the Australia Day Motofest in the middle of Sydney in 2011
Tunnels.
mother trucker:
HI I DROVE A SIX WHEEL TRADER FOR SMILES FOR MILES FROM BLUCHER NEWCASTLE MANY YEARS AGO THEY WERE A GOOD OLD LORRY ,REGULAR JOB WAS 3 LOAD OF GRAVEL A DAY FROM CATTERICK TO GIBSON READYMIX GATESHEAD NO MOTORWAYS THEN HARD DAYS WORK .LOVE TO SEE A PHOTO OF ONE
Nice to hear from you, MT, I worked for Smiles for Miles myself in the 60s, Can you remember these drivers I wonder, Josh Rutter, Charlie Chisolm, Barry Petiffer, Jack Keen, Harry Blow, Jimmy Jefferies,Bob Keen,Jimmy Trotter Bob Mather,Jimmy Hannet,Dicky Peaker,Tommy Leathard, Cookie, & of course the infamous Bob Smiles who thought he was god, Shults the German, Bobby Marsh, Tim who was based at Catterick, Tot Hepple & Wilfy his brother who was a fitter also Jimmy Fell, & Bobby Cairns, & The Bull himself who had his fave drivers, Eddie Smith, Ronnie Peaker plus lots more, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
mother trucker:
HI I DROVE A SIX WHEEL TRADER FOR SMILES FOR MILES FROM BLUCHER NEWCASTLE MANY YEARS AGO THEY WERE A GOOD OLD LORRY ,REGULAR JOB WAS 3 LOAD OF GRAVEL A DAY FROM CATTERICK TO GIBSON READYMIX GATESHEAD NO MOTORWAYS THEN HARD DAYS WORK .LOVE TO SEE A PHOTO OF ONENice to hear from you, MT, I worked for Smiles for Miles myself in the 60s, Can you remember these drivers I wonder, Josh Rutter, Charlie Chisolm, Barry Petiffer, Jack Keen, Harry Blow, Jimmy Jefferies,Bob Keen,Jimmy Trotter Bob Mather,Jimmy Hannet,Dicky Peaker,Tommy Leathard, Cookie, & of course the infamous Bob Smiles who thought he was god, Shults the German, Bobby Marsh, Tim who was based at Catterick, Tot Hepple & Wilfy his brother who was a fitter also Jimmy Fell, & Bobby Cairns, & The Bull himself who had his fave drivers, Eddie Smith, Ronnie Peaker plus lots more, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Lawrence Dunbar:
mother trucker:
HI I DROVE A SIX WHEEL TRADER FOR SMILES FOR MILES FROM BLUCHER NEWCASTLE MANY YEARS AGO THEY WERE A GOOD OLD LORRY ,REGULAR JOB WAS 3 LOAD OF GRAVEL A DAY FROM CATTERICK TO GIBSON READYMIX GATESHEAD NO MOTORWAYS THEN HARD DAYS WORK .LOVE TO SEE A PHOTO OF ONENice to hear from you, MT, I worked for Smiles for Miles myself in the 60s, Can you remember these drivers I wonder, Josh Rutter, Charlie Chisolm, Barry Petiffer, Jack Keen, Harry Blow, Jimmy Jefferies,Bob Keen,Jimmy Trotter Bob Mather,Jimmy Hannet,Dicky Peaker,Tommy Leathard, Cookie, & of course the infamous Bob Smiles who thought he was god, Shults the German, Bobby Marsh, Tim who was based at Catterick, Tot Hepple & Wilfy his brother who was a fitter also Jimmy Fell, & Bobby Cairns, & The Bull himself who had his fave drivers, Eddie Smith, Ronnie Peaker plus lots more, Regards Larry.
Heres a few more drivers comes to mind, Tommy Stafford,Harry Armstrong,John Twizzel,Vince Millain, Bob Raine, Little Walter, Maxie Robson, Can you remember these lads from the 50/60s ?, Regards Larry.
moomooland:
One of the earlier posts told how quick the engine could be changed. I worked for a very short spell at Hangers Ford main agent on Tyburn Road Birmingham.I saw a fitter change piston and liners in half a day!! Air tools used on every nut and bolt.The labour charge was a £100 and he got 33% of it.He put the pistons into the liners on the bench and dropped them in. 
leylandlover:
One of the earlier posts told how quick the engine could be changed. I worked for a very short spell at Hangers Ford main agent on Tyburn Road Birmingham.I saw a fitter change piston and liners in half a day!! Air tools used on every nut and bolt.The labour charge was a £100 and he got 33% of it.He put the pistons into the liners on the bench and dropped them in.
Clever brilliant stuff from someone who new what they were doing , Nowadays the diaognostic gadget would tell them how to do it, What is things coming to Eh, Men like him & thousands more who a long gone who could do the job with their eyes shut, Happy long gone days , Regards Larry.
Indeed,The new way of finding faults does take some of the old skills away.I know that I could still rebuild an engine but if it would not start,I would not have a clue what to plug in where. 
And cars? Well I am still a points,plugs and dynamo man
My toolbox doesn’t come out much since things went electronic! Apart from changing the oils & filters and checking the brake pads there’s not a lot I can do.
moomooland:
10
Edward Beck & Son Ltd website
Hello moomooland , i didnt know that Becks had any Traders , bet they had to work hard pulling a tandem trailer ! thank you Trevor .
tastrucker:
Hello moomooland , i didnt know that Becks had any Traders , bet they had to work hard pulling a tandem trailer ! thank you Trevor .
There was a chap rallied an artic TRADER with a low loader and a DROTT on it for a few years I think he came from N.YORKS. IT looked just like that one of BECKS.
Eddie.
moomooland:
tastrucker:
Hello moomooland , i didnt know that Becks had any Traders , bet they had to work hard pulling a tandem trailer ! thank you Trevor .0
Hi Trevor,
Yes Becks ran quite a large fleet of Thames Traders in all variations as can be seen by clicking HERE
Hello moomooland , thank you for this picture , i bet that engine had to work hard pulling that ! Trevor
Seen in Pateley Bridge on sunday , anyone recognize ?
