It's Keefy here

Max Hedges · #1 18-04-04, 00:54

I'm at Max's place and yesterday we collected a number 9 FGT from the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

The attached picture was taken on the way back at Bathurst, on our way to Yass, a LONG drive away!

If this image doesn't appear, you'll just have to wait until I get back to Melbourne.

Keith Webb · #2 18-04-04, 23:51

On our way up - our breakfast stop in Benalla.

This one was taken in Bathurst on the way through, at around 9PM. It was almost 2AM when we reached Yass.

How else do you tow a gun tractor off a truck?

There are many more pictures here.

Max Hedges · #3 19-04-04, 01:11

The FGT has been stored away for you Keith, never had one of those in my shed before.
Max

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 19-04-04, 11:50

Keith, good to hear "Number Nine" is finally secured! I wonder where it would have ended up without guys like you, Max and Euan? Thanks for taking all the pics and sharing them with us.
For our fellow MLU'ers, I attached an as-found picture taken by Keith well over a year ago.

H.

Tony Smith · #5 19-04-04, 16:34

That truck lived on a small rural plot of land not five minutes from where I live, and the owner said he couldn't sell as the truck was spoken for! I'll grumble a little less knowing it has gone to a good home

Keith Webb · #6 19-04-04, 22:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
That truck lived on a small rural plot of land not five minutes from where I live, and the owner said he couldn't sell as the truck was spoken for! I'll grumble a little less knowing it has gone to a good home

Thanks, Tony
We were half expecting a car to scream to a stop cutting us off as we passed through Lithgow.... just as well it was dark, eh?
Seriously though, I'd like to catch up one day.

Wayne Henderson · #7 19-04-04, 23:09

Excellent Keith! Maybe our GT's are related, my number is 134881.

Keith Webb · #8 20-04-04, 00:42

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne Henderson
Excellent Keith! Maybe our GT's are related, my number is 134881.

Wow! that's really close.
Under the bonnet, instead of the normal stencil of FGT 1942, or just GT 42, mine had C291 F.A.T. 4X4

I've also updated the database to include our trucks. I'll redo the page on your truck too. Can you please send me some larger images of your FGT as found?

Keith Webb · #9 20-04-04, 01:18

Hi again Wayne,
Just spoken to Mike and found out my truck's serial number...
The chassis and engine number is:
3G 47298F for mine, and yours is:
3G 47104F.

Wayne Henderson · #10 20-04-04, 12:53

The underside of my bonnet also has hand lettering C291 FAT 4x4. Euan can have it next time he's over here as it is... Ford.
As for the original chassis that has long departed. I will check the other GTs over here for numbers and will give Rocket Rod a call to find out his no. 9 chassis. Pics to follow soon.

Keith Webb · #11 20-04-04, 22:40

Thanks for that, Wayne.
I wonder how they came to be at opposite ends of the country.
I'd love a complete list of GTs in the West - I spent some time last night collecting all the tractor pics over the years to try to make a proper database of the type.
And, yes, would love the bonnet!

Alex van de Wetering · #12 21-04-04, 13:38

Keith,

Congratulations! She lookes in very good shape for a 60 year old truck!

Have you got any info on the wrecking equipment in the back? Is this also WW2 vintage? I have seen similar wrecking-equipment some time ago on a military base here in the Netherlands and I have also seen similar equipment fitted to a CMP that used to belong to Dirk Leegwater:

Allthough this lookes out of place on a FGT, it might just be a nice accessory for a F15a or C15A.

Alex

Keith Webb · #13 21-04-04, 22:36

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
Have you got any info on the wrecking equipment in the back? Is this also WW2 vintage? I have seen similar wrecking-equipment some time ago on a military base here in the Netherlands and I have also seen similar equipment fitted to a CMP that used to belong to Dirk LeegwaterAllthough this lookes out of place on a FGT, it might just be a nice accessory for a F15a or C15A.

Thanks for the post, Alex.
No, I don't have any information on the jib, other than it was manually operated. It reminds me of a picture in an issue of Wheels and Tracks of Australian built C60S light suburban wreckers with, from memory, similar cranes although they may have been larger.
Because this truck was demobbed in the mid-1960s it's unlikely to be of WW2 vintage, but you never know.
In any event I'll be keeping it and am planning to mount it on another truck, such as one of the F15s Euan and I have.

Tony Smith · #14 24-04-04, 06:20

Scott has taken advantage of our beautiful weather at the moment, Keith - Your old F15A now has a new coat of paint!

Tony Smith · #15 24-04-04, 06:22

The cab interior still is waiting..

Keith Webb · #16 24-04-04, 08:12

Boy, he didn't muck around, did he?!!
Wonder what he's planning to put on the back?

Hanno Spoelstra · #17 28-05-04, 13:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex van de Wetering
Have you got any info on the wrecking equipment in the back? Is this also WW2 vintage? I have seen similar wrecking-equipment some time ago on a military base here in the Netherlands and I have also seen similar equipment fitted to a CMP that used to belong to Dirk Leegwater:

Alex, it is a Harvey Frost Crane. This company made cranes which could be fitted to a variety of vehicles. Any ex-WD type of truck with a Harvey Frost recovery crane fitted in the cargo body made for a cheap breakdown truck after the war. Maybe Dirk can tell us more about the background of his former C15A?

H.

Stewart Loy · #18 28-05-04, 14:32

Keith,

What are you doing fooling around Down there?

I thought that you were in Europe taking care of Geoff?

Goodness only knows what sort of trouble that he will get into without continuous adult supervision. If he has been left in the care of the Ballards and that crew, I fear the worst...

Stewart

Keith Webb · #19 29-05-04, 00:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Stewart Loy
Keith,

What are you doing fooling around Down there?

I thought that you were in Europe taking care of Geoff?

Goodness only knows what sort of trouble that he will get into without continuous adult supervision. If he has been left in the care of the Ballards and that crew, I fear the worst...

Stewart

Hi Stu
I thought YOU were looking after him!

Goodness knows what sort of trouble he'll get into.
You'll probably have to give him a stern talking to when he gets back.

DaveCox · #20 29-05-04, 10:08

If he hasn't succumbed to the vast amounts of alcohol that FV and his friends were planning on pouring into him, then I 'll prop him up against a convenient truck , or make sure he has somewhere soft to collapse onto. Should see them all tomorrow if the typical English holiday weather doesn't cancel our planned visit.........

Hanno Spoelstra · #21 27-07-04, 00:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Alex, it is a Harvey Frost Crane. This company made cranes which could be fitted to a variety of vehicles. Any ex-WD type of truck with a Harvey Frost recovery crane fitted in the cargo body made for a cheap breakdown truck after the war.

Here's a pic of a C15 converted into a breakdown truck with a Harvey Frost crane, and recently recovered for restoration in Belgium.