eric the judge:
There used to be a firm from Oakley nr Bedford called FM Sparrow who had at least one 6 wheeled Trader and i think it was double drive as i remember the driver giving it some welly on a wet road while turning right and ploughing straight into a hedge in front of him …This would be about 1967 when i was still driving a van
Yes they were noted for doing that, they had Hendrickson Axles as far as I know, The tyres had to be matched perfectley otherwise the diffs used to get red hot with this direct double drive system, plus they ran the tyres off quick even in normal conditions . These Traders were my great Uncles he had about 15 of them in the 50/60s. Regards Larry
eric the judge:
There used to be a firm from Oakley nr Bedford called FM Sparrow who had at least one 6 wheeled Trader and i think it was double drive as i remember the driver giving it some welly on a wet road while turning right and ploughing straight into a hedge in front of him …This would be about 1967 when i was still driving a van
Yes they were noted for doing that, they had Hendrickson Axles as far as I know, The tyres had to be matched perfectley otherwise the diffs used to get red hot with this direct double drive system, plus they ran the tyres off quick even in normal conditions . These Traders were my great Uncles he had about 15 of them in the 50/60s. Regards Larry
I think there was an issue regarding tyre wear/diff problems on Albion Reivers similar to as described,but I never ran any Reivers so have no first hand knowledge.Cheers Bewick.
Very true, but all direct double drive axles wore the tyres quick, I remember when worked for Baxters Road Services they got a new 8wheeler Albion Caledonion, & the first time they tyres on the back the fitter put them one one axle, it got as far as Scotch Corner & the back diff was just about on fire,plus the tyres were ruined, Regards Larry
Some of the Traders Smiles had, were worked to th limit. & stood up to it very well, mind you they had some good lads behind the wheel, they took pride in their job & their tippers. They used to take shale to the A.1M. Bowburn area when it was being constructed,tip, then to Catterick load Aggs, then to Meanwood Rd Leeds, tip, Then to Giggleswick Lime Quarry at Settle load, then run back to LSM,Greenside tip back to Seaton Burn pit heap & load for the next day, for another earley start. Now that was a very good days graft, wouldnt you agree, Regards Larry
Some of the Traders Smiles had, were worked to th limit. & stood up to it very well, mind you they had some good lads behind the wheel, they took pride in their job & their tippers. They used to take shale to the A.1M. Bowburn area when it was being constructed,tip, then to Catterick load Aggs, then to Meanwood Rd Leeds, tip, Then to Giggleswick Lime Quarry at Settle load, then run back to LSM,Greenside tip back to Seaton Burn pit heap & load for the next day, for another earley start. Now that was a very good days graft, wouldnt you agree, Regards Larry
Lawrence Dunbar:
Some of the Traders Smiles had, were worked to th limit. & stood up to it very well, mind you they had some good lads behind the wheel, they took pride in their job & their tippers. They used to take shale to the A.1M. Bowburn area when it was being constructed,tip, then to Catterick load Aggs, then to Meanwood Rd Leeds, tip, Then to Giggleswick Lime Quarry at Settle load, then run back to LSM,Greenside tip back to Seaton Burn pit heap & load for the next day, for another earley start. Now that was a very good days graft, wouldnt you agree, Regards Larry
Hi Larry.Yes you would be ready for your supper in a modern motor and I bet there was a scramble for the hosepipe.Regards Mike.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Some of the Traders Smiles had, were worked to th limit. & stood up to it very well, mind you they had some good lads behind the wheel, they took pride in their job & their tippers. They used to take shale to the A.1M. Bowburn area when it was being constructed,tip, then to Catterick load Aggs, then to Meanwood Rd Leeds, tip, Then to Giggleswick Lime Quarry at Settle load, then run back to LSM,Greenside tip back to Seaton Burn pit heap & load for the next day, for another earley start. Now that was a very good days graft, wouldnt you agree, Regards Larry
hiya,
Larry did Young’s used to go into Giggleswick lime at Settle, I seem to recall going into there in the early 70s for a load when doing nightshift for a spell I seem to remember it was destined for Motherwell but I only loaded it and took it back to the yard a nice easy shift for a change and it would have been a doddle for the day lad as well motor washed off, fuelled up and checked over ready for straight out the gate eh, too considerate for words, that’s my trouble, or maybe I was told to to do it, now that’s more likely.
thanks harry long retired
Quite possible Harry, but in the earley 70s I myself used to run lime to Ravencraig for J,R,Young,also to Scunthorpe, The lime Smiles hauled was for the Lime Sand & Mortar plant , at Greenside, Regards Laryy
I thought I had already posted that I drove a Thames trader for Les Mellor from glossop in the early 60’s,
I once hit a sheep on the snake pass during the night and made a right mess of the trader.
1
[/quote]
A couple of nice looking Traders there Jim.I spent a lot of time as a teenager riding shotgun in one of those,also drove one later when my lorry was off the road.
Cheers Dave.
4D or 6D-- without the badge on the wing how could you spot the difference between them ? I can’t remember now,was it something to do with the grill and the name badge.
Stanfield:
0
4D or 6D-- without the badge on the wing how could you spot the difference between them ? I can’t remember now,was it something to do with the grill and the name badge.
the 8 stud wheels should give you an inkling if my memory serves me well , fredm
FOUND IT
A Mk 2 version was introduced in mid-1962. Externally it is very easy to differentiate between Mk1 and Mk2 versions; the Mk1 has the words THAMESTRADER in red on a chrome strip along the bottom of the bonnet opening and the white painted grill between the headlights has a vertical divider with a red circular badge with 4 stars, whereas the Mk2 has just the word THAMES and TRADER in white letters spaced out between the headlights replacing the divider and badge. The Mk2 Diesel engined variants had either a 4D or 6D chrome badge on each front wing, on the Mk1 it was a squarish chrome badge with either a red painted 4, 6, 4D or 6D to indicate the engine configuration. The lower edge of the badge had a horizontal chrome strip running the length of the lower part of the wing.
hiya,
There’s actually a picture of a Trader on the the “Northwest Trucks” website in the part that refers to Nuttall’s of Rochdale, they must have bought out my old firm Holdsworth’s of Rochdale It is still signwritten in Holdsworth’s livery, not my motor but drove it once or twice when I was there in the very early 60s.
thanks harry long retired.
