CMPs from all over postwar

[gjamo]

Here,s another that was on Epay recently.

[Owen Evans]

Picked these up the other day, and thought folks might like to see them. My suspicion is that these are post war, based on the light colour scheme and absence of markings. Unusual to see so many water bowsers together, especially with the late model Thompson Bros. british water tanks fitted. Also what looks like a Bedford QL at the back of photo 3.

The third (and possibly seventh) truck along in photo 3 looks like it may have the earlier oval pattern british tank fitted?

Not sure of the location. The second truck in photo 3 has a registration plate fitted. I believe 'CD' used to be the registration code for Brighton, on Britain's south coast. But the letter/number format seems odd. Could they be trade plates?

They all show some text written on the windscreen, but I can't make it out. Could be my eyes, but it looks like the headlight glass is missing?

Wonder where all those water filters and hand pumps ended up?!

Owen.

[david moore]

Wonderful photos! I think that is a "trade plate" aka a dealers plate here. Looks like the south downs in the background so Sussex is probably right!
I suspect that they simply removed the blackout metal inserts from the headlamps, hence the slight gap being apparent?

[Richard Farrant]

There was a war surplus vehicle dealer at Brighton after the war and I seem to recollect from photos I have seen in the past that they refurbished trucks. I think the name was something like Premier Motors, but can't be sure. The Trade Plate is a Brighton issue. This could be a batch of vehicles prepared for the United Nations for aid in Europe.

[David Dunlop]

Would that large stone pillar with the carved crest near the top at the road side help narrow down the actual location? Might be some form of marker which, judging by the weathering, had been there for a while.

David

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Would that large stone pillar with the carved crest near the top at the road side help narrow down the actual location? Might be some form of marker which, judging by the weathering, had been there for a while.

David

David,
The pillar is what is known as the Patcham Pylon on the A23 London to Brighton road, just north of Brighton.
See here for details:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patcham_Pylon

regards, Richard

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for that reference, Richard.

In the current photo on the Wiki site, the pylon in the old photo is clearly the one on the right side. Interesting ‘Then and Now’ with regards to how the trees in the background have all matured.

Cheers,

David

[Pete Ashby]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

There was a war surplus vehicle dealer at Brighton after the war and I seem to recollect from photos I have seen in the past that they refurbished trucks. I think the name was something like Premier Motors, but can't be sure. The Trade Plate is a Brighton issue. This could be a batch of vehicles prepared for the United Nations for aid in Europe.

Could well be right Richard, the vehicle dealer you are thinking of could well have been part of the Premier Group which had 15 depots both in Britain and on the Continent selling both vehicles and parts.

The headquarters of the group was located in Hanworth Lane Chertsey Surrey and as can be seen from the photo of the inner page of the 1953 catalogue the list of vehicles is both comprehensive and impressive.

Pete

SDC18478.JPG SDC18479.JPG

[Hanno Spoelstra]

WW2 Trucks in Holland ~post war use -Vol.1

https://youtu.be/rfEPdNgKo_4

"1945 - 2015 ~ Seventy years of Freedom
Vol. 1 (black / white images)

Once the war has ended, the allied forces (US, Canadian and British) left thousands of vehicles behind. These vehicles, real strong work horses, came in handy and enabled businesses, institutions, organisations and governmental bodies to rebuild the wrecked economy."

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks for the link, Hanno. Lovely compilation. Some conversions are quite smartly done, but others...... No wonder a lot o coach builders went out of business afterwards