Early vickers carrier

[Ben]

I was given this photo the other day, it shows the London offices of Vickers. In the shop window is a carrier type vehicle, can anyone help to ID what the vehicle is please?

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Ben,
it is a Carden Loyd tractor truck dating from about 1930, it towed a tracked trailer as well. Think it was aimed at a commercial market. Vickers at that time were selling across the world with light tanks.

Here is a link to photos of one in use..
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/...nV156-p083.jpg
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/...1v152-p522.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Excellent picture, excellent place for window shopping!

To me it looks like one of many variations of a theme Vickers Amstrong manufactured to sell their tracked tractors to military and possibly civilian users.

An exmaple of such a tractor is the Fighting Tractor - see Overvalwagen.com > Tractors. Most likely a one-off, built for testing in the Netherlands East Indies, but they ended up buying Vickers Utility Tractors. Most likely this one was based on Vickers Amstrong's D50.

Hanno

Edit: while I was looking for pictures of the Fighting Tractor Richard posted the right answer

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Most likely this one was based on Vickers Amstrong's D50.

Hanno,
I see your link to World of Tanks website has a wartime photo of Ben's Scout Carrier in Perth, WA on it.

Sorry if I was a bit quick on the draw!!

[Ben]

Thanks for the help. You don't see window displays like that anymore. I like the pre war carrier/tractors shame that more don't survive.

Nice to see the Scout carrier photo, the picture below it is a Scout or AOP MK1 not a cavalry carrier abandoned by the BEF. Nice to see the Kiwi Brens too.

Ben

[charlie fitton]

excellent string - now I have ideas for the hulls in my backyard...

[Alan McGuinness]

This little machine, along with its bigger brother, were written up in the 19 October 1931 edition of Motor Transport; a photo from that article and a subsequent advert from 9 November showing them both are attached.

The smaller one was said to be able to ford water 2 ft 6 in deep; travel at over 25 mph; and made use of a 3-point mounted 50 bhp six-cylinder water-cooled engine and 5-speed gear box coupled to a driving front axle. The frame is of sheet-metal, and forms a large water-tight box accommodating engine and driver. The lorry floor covers the engine. Steering is effected by the usual method of braking one track.