Operation Jigsaw

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #1 07-03-07, 11:25

Hi all
Here comes a tale of my latest field trip recovery. Very recently a a dear friend and fellow collector/restorer gave me a lead on a Carrier that he had obtained parts from in the early 90s. Once I had established that I wasn't going to poach on his find I followed through like a rat up a drainpipe.

As background we believe that this Carrier was a late production, 1943, manufactured by the State Engineering Works in Freemantle West Australia. We believe this due to the style of upper rear tool plate and that this Carrier had a non-rubberised front wheel.

Attached is an image of a WA Carrier

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #2 07-03-07, 11:34

The Carrier was converted by the owner to a timber snigger, a crane type device, that he used for forrestry work.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #3 07-03-07, 11:41

The following four posts are images of what confronted Ada & I on our initial recce.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #4 07-03-07, 11:44

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #5 07-03-07, 11:48

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #6 07-03-07, 11:51

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #7 07-03-07, 11:59

Tracks - method one where a mate and I used the trailer winch to haul the tracks on board. This was after using a tow rope to drag them off the pallet and straighten them out in the paddock.

ron · #8 07-03-07, 12:03

Hi Bob,
Looks like I had better come over for a couple of days to put it back together for you , you have broken it
Regards,
Ron,

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #9 07-03-07, 12:03

That was too hard, so a bit of hunting around located some bore casing off-cuts and along with a crowbar we devised a roller system.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #10 07-03-07, 12:10

The Air Scoop rear

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #11 07-03-07, 12:14

The Air Scoop front attached to the rear fire wall

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #12 07-03-07, 12:21

The offside rear upper armour

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #13 07-03-07, 12:25

The rear end. Unfortunately the lower tool plate was nowhere to be found

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #14 07-03-07, 12:33

At this stage Ada & I had conducted the recce and myself and a mate had completed the first recovery. The next images are stage two of the recovery. Each one of these trips was about a 14 hour round trip. This second recovery trip was myself but ably assisted by a yard crane.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #15 07-03-07, 12:37

Here goes the rear lower section, basically the engine compartment

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #16 07-03-07, 12:42

And here goes the almost complete driver's & gunner's compartment

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #17 07-03-07, 12:48

The next three images are an acknowlegement to the yard crane which was unique in it's own right.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #18 07-03-07, 12:54

I reflected on this second recovery trip and thought, I'm using a crane that was manufactured in 1880 to lift a Carrier that was manufactured in, I believe late 1943, onto a trailer that was probably manufactured in the 1980s.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #19 07-03-07, 12:59

The late owner's wife told me that this crane was purchased from the South Australian Railways so possibly the SAGR could stand for South Australian Government Railways.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #20 07-03-07, 13:05

All loaded up. These two components weighed 1.18 tons.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #21 07-03-07, 13:09

I LOVE MACHINERY

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #22 07-03-07, 13:13

I'm having a ball

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #23 07-03-07, 13:21

This is what I finished up with, almost.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #24 07-03-07, 13:29

After talking with the late owner's wife and assessing the type of bloke the late owner was I just knew there was more stuff lying around. So I hunted around the yards and eventually located a front compartment back rest and a pristine driver's floor plate. I was then allowed access to THE SHED and in one area, under a large bench overladen with tons of steel, this is what I found.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #25 07-03-07, 13:33

Another view. Eat your hearts out.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #26 07-03-07, 14:01

I now have two Carriers. Peek-A-Boo and Jigsaw. My original intentions were firstly to save them and secondly to see what parts I needed for Project PHOENIX. I don't want to restore another Carrier, been there and done that, besides which I have access to more Carriers than I can poke a stick at. The two Carriers combined have all the parts to complete one Carrier so long as one doesn't mind mixing a 1941 SAR Carrier with a 1943 WA Carrier.

The image is the start of PHOENIX

Ryan · #27 07-03-07, 20:29

Great story bob, love the images. Those 14 hour round trips must have been a killer, hope you had some decent music.

Tony Smith · #28 07-03-07, 21:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
I reflected on this second recovery trip and thought, I'm using a crane that was manufactured in 1880 to lift a Carrier that was manufactured in, I believe late 1943, onto a trailer that was probably manufactured in the 1980s.

All under the careful hand of a bloke who looks like he was born in 1901!

cliff · #29 07-03-07, 22:06

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Moseley

This image is the start of PHOENIX

Along with these parts

. Cab back will be a resin copy as I used the one from this cab as a master for moulding.

Cheers
Cliff

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #30 07-03-07, 22:53

All under the careful hand of a bloke who looks like he was born in 1901!

I know where you live

Bob