Yet more period pictures, Wales in the 1950's.

Many thanks again to G.D. for finding these.

Had to use the J type again this morning, I took a large flap of skin off one of my fingers last night, needed stitches and I found this morning I could not ride the motorbike. I could not operate the clutch lever so the J was pressed into service. It was reluctant to start due to the whole of the inside of the van running with condensation having not been used for a couple of days. A quick wipe of the plug leads and distributor cap and we were up and running.

What's happened to YLH 859?

Rally picture taken over 20 years ago.

I have been contacted by the seller of this GPO J type, who informs me: that it did in fact sell.

That my own description of the vehicle from my own recollection from seeing it many many years ago was unfair.

That when purchased by him it had some major problems, many hours and many parts have been fitted by him since purchase to correct the various faults. It is a credit to him that it is now in full road worthy condition and all mechanical items have been replaced or overhauled correctly.
I'm more than happy to put the record straight.

The camera never lies?

Looks good? YLH 859 is on e-bay again, this is changing hands faster than a "ticking" pass the parcel game.




Side transfers in the wrong place, yes I'm being picky.

When I first heard about this vehicle I was very tempted, after all it had all its original GPO fittings, and I have three other GPO vehicles.

The price it sold for was well out of my league. Once I heard just how bad this vehicle was I was so relieved that I had not bought it.

Faults ranged from silly things right up to major work.

The engine smoked like a bonfire, oil pressure was between 0-20 psi, normally zero, the big ends were so worn you could wobble the crankshaft in its bearings.

The front brakes had the wrong cylinders welded into the back plates and the hydraulic hoses at the front were too short they stopped the wheels from being put on full lock!

The front panel mounting lip was also badly corroded with the spot welded edge joint between the two plates bursting and splitting.

Plenty of poor repairs had been carried out in the past to the body work and also there seemed to be rather a lot of filler around the vehicle when I saw in the flesh a few years ago.

The current seller has done some major work, the engine has been replaced and new rear tyres fitted. Handy "Town and Country" tyres, better in the snow but they can be so noisy and lets face it a J type van is not the quietist of vehicles when driving, there's not an ounce of sound deadening material anywhere. I also wonder if the front brakes have been sorted out? What about some of the other problems? Well if your looking for a (BIG) running project this could be the one for you.

Pinewood studios, then and now.

Some weeks ago I was given an old picture of my van taken in the 1970's, outside Pinewood film studios. I said I would take the van back to see how it has changed. This I did this morning as I have not used the van for a few weeks it was time to give it a run.Taken from an old photograph the original entrance to the studio, of course Lorry's and all the tradesmen had a side drive way, this entrance was for the "stars" and staff cars.
A slightly more grand entrance, the little Indian guy sitting in his box, who kindly let me park on the pavement while I took this picture this morning. I think he was letting me, very difficult to understand him or for him to understand what I wanted to do. At first he was saying "no filming" next "you want to come in?" maybe he thought I was on official business with my METROPOLITAN POLICE signs on the side of the van, still lots of waving as I drove off, I think in friendship. Or maybe he thought I was just another "mad" English idiot, driving a 50 year old van, at 8.30am on a bright but frosty Sunday morning.

To customise or not to customise?

I have been thinking about this, is it a bad thing? It's not my thing and it would be a shame in my view if the Brazilian van ended up modified. Mind you if the only person to take on the van wants to do this why not. Below is the well known 344CNM, now this has been around for many years in various forms.This second picture shows the very same van in 1977, yes 33 years ago it was captured on standard 8 cine film at a HOT ROD car show. At this time it had the doors hinged at the top, gull wing fashion (with both doors open it was over 13 feet wide). So in a way the old van was saved and has given the various owners over the years a great deal of pleasure and of course it has survived.

If you want to see this cine-film in full it is now on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJ-hTnWwNg its only 4.30 minutes long and the first view of the J is at 3.20 minutes.

What's the difference between the Boon's bread vanand the recent van found? The answer is 2, yes the chassis numbers are just two digits apart, so must have been in the same export batch in 1955.

This fantastic early van is for sale, the only person interested in it seems to be an American who likes to customise vehicles, not my thing but each to his own. It would be nice if we could put the American who might just throw away most of the mechanical items from this vehicle in touch with Charlie in Canada who is in desperate need of these very items as he un-customises his van and puts it basically back to standard.
Here are two screen shots of the latest Shreddies advert for the people who not yet seen it on television.

Just to drive away the winter blue's here is a nice pair of J's in the sunshine, yes a customised J can look very nice.

Views of Leeds in the 1950's.

16th July 1956, View showing tram no 561 on route 18 Cross Gates with tram on route 16 to New Inn Wortley also visible. Photograph taken at City Square. Post Office and Majestic cinema and ballroom can also be seen. Postal J type goes about its business.
12th July 1955. View looks east towards White Horse Street. Photo of a stone set road with cars and vans parked to sides. To the left a two storey factory and a four to five storey factory with chimney is on the corner of White Horse Street, possibly Dawson & Co or Rhodes and Co Printers.
Description:
4th January 1952. View shows a Leeds Public Health Department ambulance (a Morris van) after an accident, parked in a Leeds City Transport garage. There is a clear view of the Leeds coat of arms on the bodywork. Thanks again to the 6/80 and MO club for this gem.

If you are interested in seeing the shreddies video advert it is on "youtube" under "shreddies ding dong".

Since asking people NOT to use the comments link at the bottom of my postings I have gained two more, although pleased that people are reading my rantings, I cannot reply via this method, so in this instance, George who ever you are, where ever you are I cannot contact you!! I do not know you, I do not have your e-mail address, please, please, please e-mail me and I will reply with the information you need. morris.jtype@yahoo.co.uk