In the background

[Keith Webb]

Spotted this one on a FaceBook group called "Old Service Station Photographs - Australia". A post by Chris Keating caught my eye... a Chev CMP with window open enters from the right. Also one of my favourite old British cars (I used to have one the same colour) a Morris Minor 1/4 ton pickup.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Postcard showing the beach promenade at Noordwijk aan Zee, Holland, probably late 1950s, showing a 3-tonner CMP.

Both Fords and Chevrolets came from Canadian Army dumps and were used to dredge/harvest shells from the beach. Working in the harsh salty and sandy environment ensured none of them survive today.

Boulevard oud..jpg

[Keith Webb]

I wonder whether there's a pic of that area today.

[David Dunlop]

Hanno.

At first I thought you were referring to ordnance shells and then realized it must be sea shells you were referring to (I hope!). Being used in the construction industry somehow, I assume.

David

[Mike Cecil]

It was a common source of grit additive for making mortar (the wet sloppy stuff, not the ordnance!) but I think that's largely a thing of the past now. Shell-grit mortar was common in early colonial construction in Australia, for example.

'Wicked-pedia' also state -

"Shell grit is coarsely ground or broken seashells. It is used, among other things, by birds as a source of calcium for egg shell production, and to aid digestion.

Other uses include protecting plants from slugs or snails[1] and in aquariums."

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Seashells indeed

Mostly used for seashell lime which is used as a soil fertilizer, as I understand it.

[hrpearce]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Also one of my favourite old British cars (I used to have one the same colour) a Morris Minor 1/4 ton pickup.

Keith I saw a black one on full rego in Wagga today.

[David DeWeese]

Hi,

Don't think this photo has been posted before...

Thanks, David