Wasn’t so bad Fergie, don’t forget that most of the timbers (dunnage) was stuffed into the triangular space under the trailer between the legs and bracing strut. 
Then secured with a little piece of rope which became solid with muck and ice if you didn’t do steel or timber for a bit.
Must say though that I never had a bottle sheet (everything else though 
). I never did bottles but did do plenty of cans out of various Metal Box factories and we used 2 forty foot square sheets to cover those and no corner boards. 
.
Should have been an Olympic event, chucking coiled ropes backwards and forwards over those loads. 
Spardo:
Wasn’t so bad Fergie, don’t forget that most of the timbers (dunnage) was stuffed into the triangular space under the trailer between the legs and bracing strut.
Must say though that I never had a bottle sheet (everything else though
Should have been an Olympic event, chucking coiled ropes backwards and forwards over those loads.
The one thing it did do Dave, was to keep you fit. 1260 cases of apples, hand ball, on a '40ft, sheet and rope, perhaps 2 or even 3 trailers a day, kept me fit as a fiddle !!!
Fergie
Your memory is correct, the bridge was at Kincardine, the cafe was the Silver Link on the south bank of the Forth. The cafe building is still there but is now some sort of showroom. (They have built a new bridge to let traffic by-pass Kincardine to the west, along with a new dual carrigeway,will be opened in a wee while)
The bottleworks at Kellibank is still there and larger than ever. I worked with United Glass (in Glasgow) after I left Smith of Maddiston (also in Glasgow).
Your right about those bottle sheets, a proper
As for handballing two or three loads a day, well. we never thought much about it at the time.Nowadays if someone asked me to do that, I would ask them if they were familiar with the Glaswegian expression, ‘Go and take a flying to yourself!’
Spardo
Those pallets out of Metal Box! I hated them! I dont have a head for heights. When I used to climb up on top of those loads (before they became banded, as you will remember they were just layers of cans wrapped round the outside with a cardboard wrapper,) they used to sway, I used to crawl on the top as I always (but not quite!) ■■■■ myself!
We, also at Smiths, carried cans from Reeds at Liverpool. We had a new start, just out of the army, who fell off the top of one of those loads when the top two pallets collapsed, at Spillers Kennomeat factory, at Barrhead. He hurt himself real bad. The poor guy had left the army after a couple of tours in Ireland, unscathed, and that had to happen in his first week in civvy street.
Gogzy
You place you are thinking of in Alloa was the Carlesburg Brewery, which is now an ASDA as you said. The bottleworks are on the northern bank of the River Forth.
Mappo
The traffic you mention, ISR,Grangemouth, British Aluminium at Bainsford & United Glass, Alloa, Kinghorn and Shettleston (Glasgow), were all customers of Smith,s. Many a load I took out of those places. The BA is closed and is now home for another ASDA depot. The only bottleworks left is at Alloa. All the rest, history. As far as I know, the ISR is still there, cant recall whether its still the same name.
Every time I pass under the Kingston Bridge, I always look up to see what speed the traffic is flowing at, sooner or later some poor guy will go through the barrier again. I just dont want him (or her) to land on me.
The Friarton Bridge at Perth over the Tay is another with railings that would not stop a car never mind a truck. Someday, it’ll happen there too.
You take care, you hear?
As a matter of fact, YOU ALL TAKE CARE, you hear?
Alex
( language edit ) jd
alexsaville:
Fergie
Your memory is correct, the bridge was at Kincardine, the cafe was the Silver Link on the south bank of the Forth. The cafe building is still there but is now some sort of showroom. (They have built a new bridge to let traffic by-pass Kincardine to the west, along with a new dual carrigeway,will be opened in a wee while)
The bottleworks at Kellibank is still there and larger than ever. I worked with United Glass (in Glasgow) after I left Smith of Maddiston (also in Glasgow).
Your right about those bottle sheets, a proper B******!
As for handballing two or three loads a day, well. we never thought much about it at the time.Nowadays if someone asked me to do that, I would ask them if they were familiar with the Glaswegian expression, ‘Go and take a flying F*** to yourself!’Spardo
Those pallets out of Metal Box! I hated them! I dont have a head for heights. When I used to climb up on top of those loads (before they became banded, as you will remember they were just layers of cans wrapped round the outside with a cardboard wrapper,) they used to sway, I used to crawl on the top as I always (but not quite!) [zb] myself!
We, also at Smiths, carried cans from Reeds at Liverpool. We had a new start, just out of the army, who fell off the top of one of those loads when the top two pallets collapsed, at Spillers Kennomeat factory, at Barrhead. He hurt himself real bad. The poor guy had left the army after a couple of tours in Ireland, unscathed, and that had to happen in his first week in civvy street.Gogzy
You place you are thinking of in Alloa was the Carlesburg Brewery, which is now an ASDA as you said. The bottleworks are on the northern bank of the River Forth.Mappo
The traffic you mention, ISR,Grangemouth, British Aluminium at Bainsford & United Glass, Alloa, Kinghorn and Shettleston (Glasgow), were all customers of Smith,s. Many a load I took out of those places. The BA is closed and is now home for another ASDA depot. The only bottleworks left is at Alloa. All the rest, history. As far as I know, the ISR is still there, cant recall whether its still the same name.
Every time I pass under the Kingston Bridge, I always look up to see what speed the traffic is flowing at, sooner or later some poor guy will go through the barrier again. I just dont want him (or her) to land on me.
The Friarton Bridge at Perth over the Tay is another with railings that would not stop a car never mind a truck. Someday, it’ll happen there too.
You take care, you hear?As a matter of fact, YOU ALL TAKE CARE, you hear?
Alex
Nice one Alex, you’ve got a good memory and obviously very knowledgeable about your area. No doubt in the near future I’ll think of something that you’ll be able to put me right on.
Running out of Southampton and delivering and re-loading in Scotland, I at one time knew Glasgow / Edinburgh better than my home town. All those places you mentioned, I loaded out of several times, especially the " doggie" factory, nice palletized load of 21 tons, for home !
Cheers
Dave
Fergie47:
alexsaville:
Fergie
Your memory is correct, the bridge was at Kincardine, the cafe was the Silver Link on the south bank of the Forth. The cafe building is still there but is now some sort of showroom. (They have built a new bridge to let traffic by-pass Kincardine to the west, along with a new dual carrigeway,will be opened in a wee while)
The bottleworks at Kellibank is still there and larger than ever. I worked with United Glass (in Glasgow) after I left Smith of Maddiston (also in Glasgow).
Your right about those bottle sheets, a proper B******!
As for handballing two or three loads a day, well. we never thought much about it at the time.Nowadays if someone asked me to do that, I would ask them if they were familiar with the Glaswegian expression, ‘Go and take a flying F*** to yourself!’Spardo
Those pallets out of Metal Box! I hated them! I dont have a head for heights. When I used to climb up on top of those loads (before they became banded, as you will remember they were just layers of cans wrapped round the outside with a cardboard wrapper,) they used to sway, I used to crawl on the top as I always (but not quite!) [zb] myself!
We, also at Smiths, carried cans from Reeds at Liverpool. We had a new start, just out of the army, who fell off the top of one of those loads when the top two pallets collapsed, at Spillers Kennomeat factory, at Barrhead. He hurt himself real bad. The poor guy had left the army after a couple of tours in Ireland, unscathed, and that had to happen in his first week in civvy street.Gogzy
You place you are thinking of in Alloa was the Carlesburg Brewery, which is now an ASDA as you said. The bottleworks are on the northern bank of the River Forth.Mappo
The traffic you mention, ISR,Grangemouth, British Aluminium at Bainsford & United Glass, Alloa, Kinghorn and Shettleston (Glasgow), were all customers of Smith,s. Many a load I took out of those places. The BA is closed and is now home for another ASDA depot. The only bottleworks left is at Alloa. All the rest, history. As far as I know, the ISR is still there, cant recall whether its still the same name.
Every time I pass under the Kingston Bridge, I always look up to see what speed the traffic is flowing at, sooner or later some poor guy will go through the barrier again. I just dont want him (or her) to land on me.
The Friarton Bridge at Perth over the Tay is another with railings that would not stop a car never mind a truck. Someday, it’ll happen there too.
You take care, you hear?As a matter of fact, YOU ALL TAKE CARE, you hear?
AlexNice one Alex, you’ve got a good memory and obviously very knowledgeable about your area. No doubt in the near future I’ll think of something that you’ll be able to put me right on.
Running out of Southampton and delivering and re-loading in Scotland, I at one time knew Glasgow / Edinburgh better than my home town. All those places you mentioned, I loaded out of several times, especially the " doggie" factory, nice palletized load of 21 tons, for home !Cheers
Dave
Hi Alex,
I knew of those places because like Fergie47 i worked for Smiths out of Southampton depot.
We would leave the south normally with either Cape fruit from Soton Docks,
all handball then as you well know, ISR rubber from Hythe or Membury,or
Guernsey tomatoes straight off the ship at Weymouth quay.
In fact we even used to load and go on a Saturday, stopping overnight at
either THE COLONELS at Penkridge or IVYS at Newton-Le-Willows, then running up to " Scotch " on Sunday to either London rd. depot, Newbridge, or into Maddiston.
It was,nt unusual to then be kept local loading trailers for the night trunks
for 2 or 3 days before getting a load south ( My poor Missus, to think that in those days i didn,t even have a phone at home )
RE Kingston Bridge Alex,
I,m sure that at the time of my accident, underneath bridge was mainly waste ground although i actually " landed " in Carnoustie st.
Regards Tony
Fergie47
Dave remember the " double cross " on back of load ?
Fergie47
Dave remember the " double cross " on back of load ?
[/quote]
…
Certainly do Tony, they we’re called braces, by the Scottish lads. I think we we’re well taught by the likes of Bobby Knox, Jimmy Carlin, Mick Hennessy.
You could always tell a Scottish wagon from behind, by the way they roped the back of the load !!!
Always proud of the rope and sheeting in those days, took your time to make it tidy, and as you say, finished off with a nice set of "braces "
Dont ever remember a double crossover being called braces. I do remember that when the crossover was in place at the back, the rope was passed round the back to a hook just about positioned on the tail above the outside edge of the chassis. It was then passed through the centre of the crossover and taken down, tightly, using hitch knots, to the corresponding hook,on the other side of the tail.This was known as a Dundee hitch.
I was taught that the sheets kept the load on, the ropes kept the sheets on.
And it was a matter of pride that it was done neatly.
I was a boy with the Scottish CWS Transport Division. When I was with BRS, I was told more than once by older men that ‘Co-operative boys’ all came from the same school of well taught transport boys.
I accepted that as a compliment from men who knew what they were talking about.
Alex
When I was a trailer boy on the BRS in the fifties the " Dundee hitch" was known as a Scots Cross to me.My job was to load,sheet and rope the trailer.God help me if all the ears on the dollies weren’t in line.Happy days
charlie one:
When I was a trailer boy on the BRS in the fifties the " Dundee hitch" was known as a Scots Cross to me.My job was to load,sheet and rope the trailer.God help me if all the ears on the dollies weren’t in line.Happy days
I think that they we’re called various names, depending on where you came from, certaily, as Alex says , Dundee hitch was one, but I always knew them as braces. Bit like the slang for the chain tentioners, known as, Dwangs, Silvesters, Dogs, ■■■■■■■, and hopefully a lot of you will remember calling them something else.
Alex:
Spardo
Those pallets out of Metal Box! I hated them! I dont have a head for heights. When I used to climb up on top of those loads (before they became banded, as you will remember they were just layers of cans wrapped round the outside with a cardboard wrapper,) they used to sway, I used to crawl on the top as I always (but not quite!) [zb] myself!
Tell me about it, lifted up on the forks of a stacker and if he wasn’t around when you were ready to come down gingerly lowering yourself over the front edge hoping your toes would find the top of the (often low) headboard before your arms failed and sent you crashing at best onto the rope/chain tray and at worst straddling the propshaft.
Not only with cans but, coming from Nottingham, we had Raleigh bikes too. Flat packed in cardboard cases loaded crosswise 2 abreast, 2 high and on edge on duckboards sticking 9 inches on each side of the bed it was a very unstable load. Same carryon with spreading the giant sheets but also at Liverpool docks no help at all. After pulling the sheets off and as many down with them as possible it was then necessary to climb on top and push each stack down with the feet till only one was left and a precarious jump down onto the deck hoping the stack didn’t follow too quickly. Then stack the bloody lot under the eagle eye of the checker with his clipboard.
Oh how we gladly embraced the container revolution.
BTW the extra cross on the back, which was often just the way to use up a left over length of rope (I don’t remember starting a new rope just for that), was known to us as a Dundee Cross or a Scotch Cross. It was also the cause of the only broken bone in my career to date. Standing on the last free 12 inches of bed to pass the rope through the cross I lost my grip and, after catching my foot in the bottom rope, fell headfirst to the ground. The broken wrist was the result of the outstretched hand to break my fall. I lay under the trailer where I had rolled in shock trying unsuccessfully to attract the attention of the forkie till he went home forcing me to eventually climb back into my Mk1 Atki and drive it one armed to the local hospital - not easy with armstrong steering. 
[/quote]
Spardo:
Alex:
Spardo
Those pallets out of Metal Box! I hated them! I dont have a head for heights. When I used to climb up on top of those loads (before they became banded, as you will remember they were just layers of cans wrapped round the outside with a cardboard wrapper,) they used to sway, I used to crawl on the top as I always (but not quite!) [zb] myself!Tell me about it, lifted up on the forks of a stacker and if he wasn’t around when you were ready to come down gingerly lowering yourself over the front edge hoping your toes would find the top of the (often low) headboard before your arms failed and sent you crashing at best onto the rope/chain tray and at worst straddling the propshaft.
Not only with cans but, coming from Nottingham, we had Raleigh bikes too. Flat packed in cardboard cases loaded crosswise 2 abreast, 2 high and on edge on duckboards sticking 9 inches on each side of the bed it was a very unstable load. Same carryon with spreading the giant sheets but also at Liverpool docks no help at all. After pulling the sheets off and as many down with them as possible it was then necessary to climb on top and push each stack down with the feet till only one was left and a precarious jump down onto the deck hoping the stack didn’t follow too quickly.
Oh how we gladly embraced the container revolution.
BTW the extra cross on the back, which was often just the way to use up a left over length of rope (I don’t remember starting a new rope just for that), was known to us as a Dundee Cross or a Scotch Cross. It was also the cause of the only broken bone in my career to date. Standing on the last free 12 inches of bed to pass the rope through the cross I lost my grip and, after catching my foot in the bottom rope, fell headfirst to the ground. The broken wrist was the result of the outstretched hand to break my fall. I lay under the trailer where I had rolled in shock trying unsuccessfully to attract the attention of the forkie till he went home forcing me to eventually climb back into my Mk1 Atki and drive it one armed to the local hospital - not easy with armstrong steering.
[/quote]
Nice stories. If we could all get together, what a tale we could tell ■■?
hiya,
Fergie47 i think the only thing you forgot on your list was S hooks to fasten two chains together on high loads very useful thanks harry long retired
hiya,
i developed a variation of the what i always called the dundee cross on the back end when the standard cross was braced with rope pulled in different directions it looked like a mercedes badge, a pal of mine (hope your still about fred) who had the task of driving bowkers only long nosed merc adopted it and it sort of became his trade mark, never made a penny from that one,thanks harry long retired.
Hi all, here,s another pic
And another
thought i would say allo tone, dont want u feelin left out.
I Think these are worth a refresh, Amazing pics… Regards Kev, Sorry Tony ha
Thanks Kev. 
mappo:
Fergie47:
ainacs:
I remember Tony when he was on for Sea Route Ferry didn’t he put a truck over a bridge Glasgow way very lucky not to have been killed? I think he broke his leg or hip. It was a Seddon Atkinson I seem to remember!Regards Pat
Correct Pat, he had a front wheel blow out on an overpass in the centre of Glasgow, The truck ( S.A.) went over the safety barrier and ended upside down, flat as a pancake some 50’ below. Tony will no doubt have the newspaper cuttings from what was certainly a miracle escape.
Here goes. It was,nt my fault, honest.
Bl**dy hell Tony not a lot left of that mate, looking at the pics cant belive you got out of that !!! still looks like the roof name board will go again, JImski
Got a parachute on the new one Tony ??Jimski