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    British Lorries of the 1950s
    British Lorries of the 1950s
    British Lorries of the 1950s
    Ebook110 pages29 minutes

    British Lorries of the 1950s

    By Malcolm Bobbitt

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    About this ebook

    British commercial vehicle manufacturers played a key role in bolstering Britain's economy throughout the 1950s, especially during the period of postwar austerity, a time when they contributed to the all-important export drive. British lorries were, therefore, seen as the workhorses of the world and performed a wide range of tasks from goods delivery to heavy haulage. This highly visual study of British lorries of the 1950s captures, in 120 illustrations, the vital but often understated duties that were reliably conducted 365 days a year. The images, contemporary black and white as well as colour, include evocative publicity material in addition to pictures from the preservation and heritage scene. The comprehensive text reveals much about the marques that were household names, along with information about Britain's road haulage and commercial motor industries.
    Malcolm Bobbitt, member of the Society of Automotive Historians and the Guild of Motoring Writers, is the author of some thirty books. In this instance he has combined a collection of fascinating images with informative text to provide a nostalgic and unique insight into British lorries of the 1950s.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVeloce
    Release dateMay 30, 2013
    ISBN9781845846282
    British Lorries of the 1950s
    Author

    Malcolm Bobbitt

    MALCOLM BOBBITT is a professional motoring writer and author of about forty books. He is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and editor of the SAHB Times, published by the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain.

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      Book preview

      British Lorries of the 1950s - Malcolm Bobbitt

      Introduction and acknowledgements

      The lorry, ‘King of the Road’, is an intrinsic part of Britain’s road scene. Carriers of everything in the nation’s shopping baskets, lorries large and small have, since the very beginnings of the motor transport industry, performed tasks of immeasurable value. A familiar sight on minor roads as well as motorways, today it is easy to overlook the importance these vehicles play when it comes to the country’s economy. Without these leviathans, supermarket shelves would be empty, garages without fuel, and our homes would lack the everyday items we take for granted.

      In the 1950s, motorways had yet to make their mark on Britain’s landscape. Changes were afoot, however. Lorry manufacturers were introducing new designs of vehicles to make use of advancing technology, and the building of bypasses around some of the larger and most congested towns meant that vehicles could travel further and faster than ever before. The autoroute, already familiar on mainland Europe, was destined for the United Kingdom. By the end of the decade lorry drivers had a glimpse of the future when they travelled along the newly opened Preston bypass, the beginning of Britain’s motorway network.

      0-1.tif

      This London scene typically represents the early 1950s. The location is Covent Garden, the lorry in the foreground being a prewar Leyland. Parked behind it is a Scammell three-wheeler Scarab tractor unit wearing British Railways livery. Two Bedfords can be seen; one is parked outside the Kings Arms public house and is operated by TS Barnard, the other, in the background, is owned by Grove Motors. There is no indication as to the date, though the type of Bedfords dicate it be post-1953. The fact that the street cleaner seen behind the Scarab is wearing shirt sleeves suggests it is a spring or summer day.

      (John Curwen collection/Hub Publishing)

      The pages that follow contain some evocative names: AEC, Albion, Bedford, Commer, ERF, Leyland, Foden, Maudslay, Scammell, Thames and Thornycroft to name but a few. Whilst these and other vehicles kept Britain moving, it is essential to remember that not a wheel would have turned had it not been for the people who designed and built them, and not least the drivers who steered their charges up and down the country, night and day, summer and winter.

      Venturing into the world of British lorries of the 1950s has been an enjoyable experience, except that a lorry, whatever its age, will never quite seem the same again! I am grateful to the many people who have helped me compile this book. John Burrow introduced me to various vehicle owners and John Curwen allowed me to trawl through his extensive photographic collection.

      My thanks are extended to the kind folk who let me photograph their vehicles. Gratitude is expressed to motoring researcher and historian Andrew Minney for his helpful comments and guidance in respect of

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