I am not given to nostalgia, but...
Discussion
I grew up in Ireland, a very different place in my youth, ( I am now 77) but spent most of my life in North America working in finance and technology where the past was a month and the future was overdue. Yet, Ireland of my childhood was poor, insular, conservative and looked to the past. I recently saw a video of vintage commercial vehicles from the UK and it brought a rare moment of nostalgia.
As a kid I had Dinky toys, including DInky commercial vehicles. Ireland , like the UK had the same mix of generally British commercials, so you could see AECs, ERFs, Fodens, Albions, Atkinsons, commercial Fords,Fodens,Guys,a very rare Scammel,Bedfords, Commers, Karriers, Leylands, Morris,Austins and so on.
When I saw the video below about a vintage truck meet it brought back memories of a time of so much variety and small players before the global markets overtook them. Of course I know the commercial reality, but I do have a moment now and then when I think we have lost something. I am very well aware that change is inevitable and necessary but there is always some loss.
As a kid I had Dinky toys, including DInky commercial vehicles. Ireland , like the UK had the same mix of generally British commercials, so you could see AECs, ERFs, Fodens, Albions, Atkinsons, commercial Fords,Fodens,Guys,a very rare Scammel,Bedfords, Commers, Karriers, Leylands, Morris,Austins and so on.
When I saw the video below about a vintage truck meet it brought back memories of a time of so much variety and small players before the global markets overtook them. Of course I know the commercial reality, but I do have a moment now and then when I think we have lost something. I am very well aware that change is inevitable and necessary but there is always some loss.
Not forgetting Euclid !
Back in the early 60 s I had my Ts & As. removed at Ely Hospital, Cardiff. In those days every 5 year old had their tonsils torn out - it was fashionable but of dubious clinical benefit. A bit like every nipper getting an I Pad/tablet for their 4th birthday these days I guess
To soften the blow post operatively mum and dad bought me this magnificent Euclid dumper. It remains with me to this day.
Only now, a million years later, have I done some research. Euclid was an American Co. known for its heavy duty machinery. The R-12 dumper made them prosperous so by the time that it was superseded by the R-15 they had spread their wings & built a factory in Motherwell, Scotland.
The R-15 was an expensive bit of kit but you could always hire one :
Dinky we re keen to add a big truck to their model range so they took a trip to Scotland to see the real things & plans were literally drawn :
With its chunky looks and the groovy wind-up rear it became a best seller between 1955 & 1969. In 1961 it even began to feature glazing to the truck cab.
A bit confusing to most of us at the time - as Dinkys (unlike Corgis) were known as “ the ones without windows”.
Back in the early 60 s I had my Ts & As. removed at Ely Hospital, Cardiff. In those days every 5 year old had their tonsils torn out - it was fashionable but of dubious clinical benefit. A bit like every nipper getting an I Pad/tablet for their 4th birthday these days I guess
To soften the blow post operatively mum and dad bought me this magnificent Euclid dumper. It remains with me to this day.
Only now, a million years later, have I done some research. Euclid was an American Co. known for its heavy duty machinery. The R-12 dumper made them prosperous so by the time that it was superseded by the R-15 they had spread their wings & built a factory in Motherwell, Scotland.
The R-15 was an expensive bit of kit but you could always hire one :
Dinky we re keen to add a big truck to their model range so they took a trip to Scotland to see the real things & plans were literally drawn :
With its chunky looks and the groovy wind-up rear it became a best seller between 1955 & 1969. In 1961 it even began to feature glazing to the truck cab.
A bit confusing to most of us at the time - as Dinkys (unlike Corgis) were known as “ the ones without windows”.
Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 1st April 08:17
moffspeed said:
Not forgetting Euclid !
Back in the early 60 s I had my Ts & As. removed at Ely Hospital, Cardiff. In those days every 5 year old had their tonsils torn out - it was fashionable but of dubious clinical benefit. A bit like every nipper getting an I Pad/tablet for their 4th birthday these days I guess
To soften the blow post operatively mum and dad bought me this magnificent Euclid dumper. It remains with me to this day.
Only now, a million years later, have I done some research. Euclid was an American Co. known for its heavy duty machinery. The R-12 dumper made them prosperous so by the time that it was superseded by the R-15 they had spread their wings & built a factory in Motherwell, Scotland.
The R-15 was an expensive bit of kit but you could always hire one :
Dinky we re keen to add a big truck to their model range so they took a trip to Scotland to see the real things & plans were literally drawn :
With its chunky looks and the groovy wind-up rear it became a best seller between 1955 & 1969. In 1961 it even began to feature glazing to the truck cab.
A bit confusing to most of us at the time - as Dinkys (unlike Corgis) were known as the ones without windows .
I had one of those (it might still be in one of the boxes of stuff I cleared from my parents house) but it must've been a 2nd hand toy as they went out of production the year I was born.Back in the early 60 s I had my Ts & As. removed at Ely Hospital, Cardiff. In those days every 5 year old had their tonsils torn out - it was fashionable but of dubious clinical benefit. A bit like every nipper getting an I Pad/tablet for their 4th birthday these days I guess
To soften the blow post operatively mum and dad bought me this magnificent Euclid dumper. It remains with me to this day.
Only now, a million years later, have I done some research. Euclid was an American Co. known for its heavy duty machinery. The R-12 dumper made them prosperous so by the time that it was superseded by the R-15 they had spread their wings & built a factory in Motherwell, Scotland.
The R-15 was an expensive bit of kit but you could always hire one :
Dinky we re keen to add a big truck to their model range so they took a trip to Scotland to see the real things & plans were literally drawn :
With its chunky looks and the groovy wind-up rear it became a best seller between 1955 & 1969. In 1961 it even began to feature glazing to the truck cab.
A bit confusing to most of us at the time - as Dinkys (unlike Corgis) were known as the ones without windows .
Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 1st April 08:17
It was also in rough condition having spent a lot of time in the 1970s being 'driven' around in a pile of builders sand in my playpit.
Here's my bit of old Brit lorry desk nostalgia, the Dinky Coles Hydratruck, given to me by my Nan in about 1972 and treasured ever since.
(I also have a Matchbox Hoveringham Foden just like the one in the OP, but that's still at Mum's house, very battered and faded to pink from long hours in the garden.)
(I also have a Matchbox Hoveringham Foden just like the one in the OP, but that's still at Mum's house, very battered and faded to pink from long hours in the garden.)
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
Going back to the OP's main point though, it's true that globalisation and I suppose the increasing sophistication of vehicles have brought about a huge decline in the variety of manufacturers on the commercial side. I'm more familiar with the history on the bus side, but it's a similar picture. Though this rationalisation isn't a particularly new thing - Leyland took over AEC in 1962, and even then Leyland had owned Albion for a decade, while AEC owned Crossley and Maudslay. Over the following decade Leyland took over Daimler and Bristol too, and eventually closed all these separate brands. Manufacturer closures continued until there were hardly any of the old names left.
Leyland Trucks still exists but the vehicles it makes are branded DAF. On the bus side, at least Alexander Dennis survives, maintaining two long-established British manufacturing names (three if you count Plaxton).
Going back to the OP's main point though, it's true that globalisation and I suppose the increasing sophistication of vehicles have brought about a huge decline in the variety of manufacturers on the commercial side. I'm more familiar with the history on the bus side, but it's a similar picture. Though this rationalisation isn't a particularly new thing - Leyland took over AEC in 1962, and even then Leyland had owned Albion for a decade, while AEC owned Crossley and Maudslay. Over the following decade Leyland took over Daimler and Bristol too, and eventually closed all these separate brands. Manufacturer closures continued until there were hardly any of the old names left.
Leyland Trucks still exists but the vehicles it makes are branded DAF. On the bus side, at least Alexander Dennis survives, maintaining two long-established British manufacturing names (three if you count Plaxton).
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
Yertis said:
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
No idea where my one got to, but loved the fact that the brushes were driven.
I had the great pleasure of meeting the creator of the Corgi cars I played with as a kid Marcel van Cleemput . I have an autographed copy of his book as well as a few pictures of us together in Northampton . Marcel had a model of every Corgi produced in his collection and how he came to be cheated out of this collection was really quite appalling , heartbreaking even . Great days .
jeremyc said:
Yertis said:
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
No idea where my one got to, but loved the fact that the brushes were driven.
reddiesel said:
I had the great pleasure of meeting the creator of the Corgi cars I played with as a kid Marcel van Cleemput . I have an autographed copy of his book as well as a few pictures of us together in Northampton . Marcel had a model of every Corgi produced in his collection and how he came to be cheated out of this collection was really quite appalling , heartbreaking even . Great days .
What happened, if you can tell us without compromising yourself?I had the Great Book of Corgi but for some reason sold it in a pre-move clear-out
I'm 30 years younger, but I already feel the pang of nostalgia, and similarly, mine comes from the Matchbox, Corgi and Majorette cars and trucks I had in the late 80s and well into the 90s.
I think I'd do a bigger double take to see a Ford Transcontinental or Cargo than a modern Ferrari.
I think I'd do a bigger double take to see a Ford Transcontinental or Cargo than a modern Ferrari.
jeremyc said:
Yertis said:
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
No idea where my one got to, but loved the fact that the brushes were driven.
Yertis said:
What happened, if you can tell us without compromising yourself?
I had the Great Book of Corgi but for some reason sold it in a pre-move clear-out
Marcel was persuaded into selling the collection to the Turners Show People who operated a fair in Northampton for £7500 . Marcel did this as it would keep the collection intact along with various technical drawings etc and on display in Northampton where they were originally produced in a museum setting . They were exhibited by Turners for a few years before miraculously appearing at an auction for sale in Europe marketed as the "Marcel van Cleemput Collection" . Marcel of course was totally unaware . Some Swiss Collector bought them for £55,000 and as far as I recall locked them away . Five or so years later the Swiss collector had gone Bankrupt and the collection sold for £250,000 . Marcel to his credit was more philosophical than bitter but I know he was genuinely hurt that the People of Northampton had lost this part of their heritage forever . Unfortunately I knew him later in life but what a sight it must have been to have seen that collection in cabinets within his own home . Wonderful .I had the Great Book of Corgi but for some reason sold it in a pre-move clear-out
reddiesel said:
Marcel was persuaded into selling the collection to the Turners Show People who operated a fair in Northampton for £7500 . Marcel did this as it would keep the collection intact along with various technical drawings etc and on display in Northampton where they were originally produced in a museum setting . They were exhibited by Turners for a few years before miraculously appearing at an auction for sale in Europe marketed as the "Marcel van Cleemput Collection" . Marcel of course was totally unaware . Some Swiss Collector bought them for £55,000 and as far as I recall locked them away . Five or so years later the Swiss collector had gone Bankrupt and the collection sold for £250,000 . Marcel to his credit was more philosophical than bitter but I know he was genuinely hurt that the People of Northampton had lost this part of their heritage forever . Unfortunately I knew him later in life but what a sight it must have been to have seen that collection in cabinets within his own home . Wonderful .
A sad storey indeed. 5 In a Row said:
jeremyc said:
Yertis said:
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
No idea where my one got to, but loved the fact that the brushes were driven.
I obviously didn't do much road sweeping as a kid
Simmos said:
5 In a Row said:
jeremyc said:
Yertis said:
5 In a Row said:
Granadier said:
If we're doing 'early memories of model lorries', then one of my earliest automotive toys, which I still have somewhere, is one of these Ford D roadsweepers from the early 1970s. What fascinated me was the gutter brush, which rotated as the thing was pushed along. A simple rubber band drive from the rear axle, but it fuelled my young interest in how mechanical stuff worked.
I've got one of those too albeit, again, not in such good condition.I think the elastic band that drove the gutter brush was actually silver coloured.
They must have had a deal on that metallic green paint, also used for UFO Interceptors.
No idea where my one got to, but loved the fact that the brushes were driven.
I obviously didn't do much road sweeping as a kid
It is rather nice.
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