The ice-cream dispensing vehicle has been converted from a MorrisCommercial J-type van, the original roof being replaced by one of' hand-beaten aluminium. Coachbuilt doors replace the original sliding doors, and the whole Of the body sides above the waist rail are fitted with 'sliding windows.
Interior fittings -include two aluminium lockers, one on each side of the body, and aluminium counters.
A Stuart Turner electrically driven water pump and a Perspex sink are fitted to the off-side locker, whilst two jellymould roof lamps provide interior lighting. A Flettner ventilator is fitted in the roof.
A high degree of manoeuvrability is a useful asset to an ice-cream dispensing vehicle, and this feature the J-type van possesses to a greater degree than many other types.
Another mention of the the JB van, this time 23rd September 1960,
TODAY'S announcement of a new range of Austin and Morris I0-12-cwt. forward-control vans sounds the death knell of a vehicle that pioneered the many small forward control vans built by many European countries. This was the Morris-Commercial J type, later known as the Morris JB. The J type was introduced at the 1948 Earls Court Show, and was revolutionary in being the first 1/4 -ton van not to be derived directly from a private car and bearing no resemblance to a car.
It has remained popular to the end, the G.P.O. alone having several thousand in service. With its large body capacity, neat lines and good manoeuvrability, the J type was a winner from the start. The only major change it suffered was the replacement of the original Morris Oxford side-valve engine by a more modern overhead-valve unit. In its development stages, however, the prototype once had a flat horizontally opposed engine, designed for a car and then dropped. One example was also built as a battery-electric milk float.