Wanted: Water Bowser Fittings

[Owen Evans]

Still fruitlessly searching for the following elusive items, for my C15 water tank:

1 pair of water filters (either 'Stellar' or 'Metafilter')
1 pair of differential hand pumps

Example photos attached. The first three are of the filters; the last two are the hand pumps.

Thanks,
Owen.

[horsa]

Likewise interested in any leads for these parts as well in case someone turns up a long forgotten stockpile. Or if anyone has the ability to make at least an externally correct copy of the filter.

[simon king]

Have you tried asking the same question on the HMVF trailer forum or the FB British Trailer group? People were looking to reproduce these parts as they are so scarce. I think the same filters and pumps were fitted to both trailer and lorry mounted bowsers.

[Mike K]

Me too

A chap on the HMVF was looking into have some of these filters and pumps reproduced, don't know what became of it

There are a few originals out there but they are rather scarce items

With today's expoxy and other modern materials, I think it would be possible to make non-functioning replicas . The main body could be machined or cast from aluminium.

[horsa]

Marco in Italy (on the FB Trailer Forum as well) is the one that hoped to make copies of the filter. He hasn't had time to go to a museum in Rome to get measurements of an example they have on one of the bigger trailers.

We also have a second person here in Texas in need of both filter and pump so there are quite a few people that would buy them if available.

[Owen Evans]

These are incredibly hard to find items. Seemingly when these water tanks were processed out, the folks that bought them binned the filters and pumps. Either that, or the military took them off for future use.

I found a company that will cast new ones, but I need original examples as a basis. To make a new pattern from scratch would cost a small fortune.

I'm looking at replicating a couple of 'lookalike' filters. If anyone else wants to try this, the attached drawing from the Metafilter instruction manual may be of use.

Regarding the hand pumps, the attached photo shows a different style (semi rotary). Maybe a different tank manufacturer?

Owen.

[Andy Mitchell]

You need to try and get hold of Ian Litchy on HMVF - he seemed to corner the market in UK for these trailers lol

[Alex van de Wetering]

the attached photo shows a different style (semi rotary). Maybe a different tank manufacturer?

To me the tank also looks different....more like egg-shaped.....a lot like the one someone posted yesterday in Pete's D15T thread on HMVF.


Did the Canadians fit British (licence?) made pumps and filters to the water Bowsers? or were the Canadian ones from a different manufacturer? That might widen the search area a bit.

Alex

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

You need to try and get hold of Ian Litchy on HMVF - he seemed to corner the market in UK for these trailers lol

Thanks. I spoke with Ian about a month ago. He sadly doesn't have any spares. He also kindly explained how difficult they are to find.

Owen.

[horsa]

I've managed to track down the original manufacturer for the water bowser / water truck filters in the UK. Explained that there was a small number of people that were preserving these British military vehicles and most were in need of the filters.

They took this to their weekly admin meeting and currently seem interested in helping us out. They asked how accurate we needed them in terms of internal and external features and I told them that the most important aspect was the external look. Internal fittings would be very expensive to replicate and likely everyone could live without the canister filtering as long as water could still pass through it and thus allow the device to not require the hose lines to be re-routed for the pump to work.

Plan right now is they will get quotes for 1, 2, 5 and 10 filter canisters. The canisters will look as cosmetically correct externally as possible and will have a pipe inside to allow the water from the in and out hoses to pass through so that it appears to be functional. Finish would be unpainted so that people can match their own trailer or other fitting colors. They will also see if the original manufacturer for the cast nomenclature plates on the filters can help out. Failing that they will do a laser etched plate which should serve as a satisfactory placeholder that could be replaced by individuals over time if a suitable replacement becomes available.

Will update once I know more. This would likely be a one time group purchase where everyone gets them at cost. Price will likely be cheaper as the quantity increases.

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by horsa

I've managed to track down the original manufacturer for the water bowser / water truck filters in the UK. Explained that there was a small number of people that were preserving these British military vehicles and most were in need of the filters.

They took this to their weekly admin meeting and currently seem interested in helping us out. They asked how accurate we needed them in terms of internal and external features and I told them that the most important aspect was the external look. Internal fittings would be very expensive to replicate and likely everyone could live without the canister filtering as long as water could still pass through it and thus allow the device to not require the hose lines to be re-routed for the pump to work.

Plan right now is they will get quotes for 1, 2, 5 and 10 filter canisters. The canisters will look as cosmetically correct externally as possible and will have a pipe inside to allow the water from the in and out hoses to pass through so that it appears to be functional. Finish would be unpainted so that people can match their own trailer or other fitting colors. They will also see if the original manufacturer for the cast nomenclature plates on the filters can help out. Failing that they will do a laser etched plate which should serve as a satisfactory placeholder that could be replaced by individuals over time if a suitable replacement becomes available.

Will update once I know more. This would likely be a one time group purchase where everyone gets them at cost. Price will likely be cheaper as the quantity increases.

That is potentially great news, well done sir! Not sure how many other members want them, but mark me down as interested in three filters.

If this is a goer, I have quite a few photos of the filters as well as a manual for the Type 2 Metafilter. Happy to email copies through, if it helps in any way.

Owen.

[horsa]

I sent them photos when I initially made inquires as to them being the original manufacturer. Apparently they still have drawing plans so its really a question of them having an economical way to make a modern copy, less the guts. I'm sure they don't have the ability to stamp one out like they did during the war.

Will update this thread and the facebook trailer group when they post back an update. Likely be a week at least since they are looking into things on their end.

[Jon Bradshaw]

I am going to be starting on my bowser this coming winter, I have filter bodies but no pumps. The Shilo Museum one, last time I saw it, was missing both pumps and filters. I think I know of one or two other guys with bowsers that might jump on a chance to buy these.

[Dusonn]

I might also be interested in two filters and couple of pumps for my bowser project, shall the replicas become available.

[Guy Verstrepen]

if possible I would also like to join the project for 2 filters and 2 hand pumps, for my c15a waterbowser.

[horsa]

Once we know for certain if the company can build the filters and provides a price per unit, it will be posted and we can lock in who whats them. They would only be building the filters as the various types of pumps that were used during the war were made by other companies.

[Owen Evans]

Originally Posted by horsa

the various types of pumps that were used during the war were made by other companies.

Apparently, the hand pumps were manufactured by a company called Barclay Kellett in Bradford, England. I think they were bought out by Albany Pumps in the 1980's?

Attached is a schematic of the unit, if anyone wants to have a go at making some. No dimensions, but if someone can measure the distance between the mounting holes on their tank, the approximate size should be easy to work out.

I can't measure the hole centres; the mounting brackets have been torched off my tank!

Owen.

[Guy Verstrepen]

soon I have a manual operating and spare parts 200 gal. water tank.
mounted on Dodge T 222 4X2 Chassis.

hopefully I can get more information there that can help us further.

[Richard.Moys]

Hi

Did anything ever come of making the replicas, I am after two filters and two pumps for my MWC restoration

Cheers
Richard

[horsa]

As far as my attempt at getting the original maker to produce a run of parts, they fell through as cost would have been more per unit than anyone would ever pay. I ended up scratch building a mock-up for my water trailer.