Unusual trucks

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I am working on a pictorial book at the moment and am stuck for identifying some. This is a very interesting shot...C15A? Any thoughts please? There were at least two of them...marked 'AFS TAKORADI HARBOUR No. 1 and No.2'. So, I assume that these were wartime, and used in Takoradi Harbour, Ghana.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
I am working on a pictorial book at the moment and am stuck for identifying some. This is a very interesting shot...C15A? Any thoughts please? There were at least two of them...marked 'AFS TAKORADI HARBOUR No. 1 and No.2'. So, I assume that these were wartime, and used in Takoradi Harbour, Ghana.

Looks like a 1945 C15A, David... also looks like a painted out name and address on the door - I wonder whether given the date of manufacture this might be a post-war rig. I've seen similar things for carrying longer items like poles or boats. The spring hanger on the trailer (as well as the hub) look CMP too. Possibly it's been made from a spare chassis. Interesting.

[Bill Murray]

David:

Looks post war to me also although I don't understand the blacking out of the info on the doors.

Over here, this is/was a fairly common design for carrying telephone poles or concrete or iron pipe. I cannot state with authority if what I heard or read is true, but it was told to me that this design was used to save the weight of the trailer and to add to the allowabe payload of the rig. The round or square dimensions of the poles/pipes lent themselves to be secured easier than general cargo and there was no need for a frame and floor.

For some strange reason I cannot just now find a picture of one but there was a 2 1/2 ton GMC 6X6 done during WWII that was called a "Bolster" truck and ran single rear tyres. I will post a photo when I find one.
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

As I said guys, the inscription on two of the photos which was blanked out was 'AFS TAKORADI HARBOUR NO.1' and another truck set 'AFS TAKORADI HARBOUR NO. 2'. ...I wondered if these were shipped back from Ghana to Liverpool post-war? There was a 'beam' apparently between the two sections...I reckoned the rear part was a cut-down 3-ton chassis. Note the conversion to fifth wheel. Then I found out that 'AFS' was an RAF term. I queried whether this meant that there was an RAF flying boat unit? Takoradi was of course used by the Royal Navy and there was an established route to Cairo from Takoradi...PanAm flew clippers to Cairo and although there is now an airport there may have been a 'Boat base. In which case was there a requirement for tender transport? I am totally out of my depth here [excuse pun] and have no idea what these two trucks were doing in Liverpool! Unless they were produced in Liverpool and shipped out post-war.

Incidentally I found a pic of a 2-wheel A-frame trailer that converted a fifth wheel trailer to a drawbar. Would that be called a 'Dolly Converter'?

[Bill Murray]

David:

I think you are on the right track in a roundabout way.
The photo I have is not interesting enough to post but it is of a trailing trailer so to speak which was used to transport amongst other things Higgins boats and various pieces of floating bridges.

My theory is that there are/were a number of consists that were either easy to bundle (telephone poles, concrete or steel pipes) or were items of somewhat large bulk such as assault boats, airplane fuselages, fire fighting lengths of pipe, and the like which were rather bulky but were capable of being transported without necessarily requiring a full trailer as described above. In other words, they provided their own strength to support the load.

Hope that helps a bit.
Bill

[Richard Farrant]

David,
Bill is on the same line of thought as me. This type of outfit was common years ago for transporting round timber. The rear bogie being detached from the truck and chained to the load, front of load secured on turntable on truck.
I did a quick search for AFS Takoradi and found one site that linked the two, AFS being American Field Service. Takoradi was on the route of the American supply flights to North Africa, via South America.
Now this truck could have been used for moving tree trunks as Ghana was a major source of timber. Could it be that the volunteers for the AFS were doing this to indirectly help the war effort, it appears there main role was operating field ambulances.

One other thing, the Auxillary Fire Service was not in being during the war, it was the National Fire Service then.

Just a thought............

Richard

[Don Birnie]

Good Day Everyone

Looking For information on the trailer section of the picture posted by David. On a road trip today I think I may have found one in a yard, but no one was home for me to ask any questions. What I can tell you is that the unit has a chassis and axle of the 15 cwt trailer. It also has the CMP split rim with 10.50 x 16 inch tires. It also has a master cylinder and stop light unit the same as that found on CMPs. The only difference between this unit and the one in Davids picture is that it has a long towbar from the front of the chassis. All information or pictures would be welcomed. If this proves to be a CMP unit I will try to contact the owner.
Thanks in advance

Don

[cliff]

It is a pole or logging truck with a walking beam. The trailer could be shifted to any length away from the tractor using the beam.

The picture is from the AWM and shows a similar unit being used as a logging jinker in the Northern Territory, Australia 1943 by the AIF.

Cheers
Cliff

[Grant Bowker]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Incidentally I found a pic of a 2-wheel A-frame trailer that converted a fifth wheel trailer to a drawbar. Would that be called a 'Dolly Converter'?

Short answer, yes. Although I might end up calling it a lot of rude names after trying to back up. I've never tried to back such a rig, but it must be a challenge keeping something with 2 joints so close together under control.

[cliff]

Originally posted by Grant Bowker
I've never tried to back such a rig, but it must be a challenge keeping something with 2 joints so close together under control.

I have and saying it is a challenge is a huge understatement but once you get used to it it is not too bad. I'd hate to try it now though as it's been 17 odd years since I did it ( my god that long)

Cheers
Cliff

[Don Birnie]

Cliff
Thanks for the reply. Now it leaves me with two other questions, what trucks where used to pull it and what units would use it.

Don

[cliff]

The AIF had forestry units who felled timber, transported it to the mill and then cut it into lumber for buildings. Engineer units probably used them as well to move logs for bridge building.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Cliff

[cliff]

Here is a photo from the AWM showing a Ford (possibly a Marmon/Herrington) towing the same trailer in Darwin

Cheers
Cliff

[Grant Bowker]

Like many other trailers this one used Ford springs and hub assemblies including parking brake (apparently no service brakes). Either 35 or 65 were produced to CDLV 1724 at a cost of 1240 dollars.

[Grant Bowker]

curb weight 2440 lb., payload 4000 lb.

[Grant Bowker]

overall length 125.5-269.5", width and height both 88", tires 10.50x20

[Grant Bowker]

They existed in both 6 and 10 ton capacity, apparently with identical frames, different springs and axles. The photo is of the 6 ton version.

[Grant Bowker]

Separate from the bolster trailer, there was a 5 (long) ton pipe trailer. It was a 5th wheel design3325 lb. curb, 11200 payload, length 205"-385", tires 7.50x20 (dual). It is listed as towed by a "Ford 3 ton 4x2, 134"WB Special Modified Conventional", no mention of a CMP tractor.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

For some strange reason my posting did not go through! Basically the back of the photos states that these two CMP outfits were "TIMBER CARRIERS".

[cliff]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
For some strange reason my posting did not go through! Basically the back of the photos states that these two CMP outfits were "TIMBER CARRIERS".

See just goes to show you can't fool us all

Cheers
Cliff