GPO meets Hi - Top

Overdue stripping.

I know I should have done it sooner, I should have stripped off the vinyl lettering as soon as the Buckingham Palace event was over. I just knew that they would leave a mark at the very least.
Well due to the excessive temperatures we had in early July, the Palace gardens reaching 31.2 degrees, the perimeter wall helping to keep any breeze out, I just knew I was going to have a problem.
Yes, also leaving them on till now has had a big effect.

The paint has changed and the ghost lettering can clearly be seen. Nothing for it but I must now rub down and repaint some of the panels on the van.
This is one of the many problems you encounter when "your van is for hire" a cost that must be factored in.
Magnetic signs are better but can also effect your vans paint work. If they get wet or if the signs are left on for long periods of time they seem to make the paintwork sweat.
Still I'm sure I would be bored without these extra little jobs. Now I just have to find the time as the nights draw in, to work on the van.
Just to tell you all, that ALL the side lamp castings have been sold, I have no more and I won't be getting another batch made. The only J parts I have for sale at the moment are the NEW rear shock absorbers mentioned in the last posting and a NEW Lucas headlamp bowl with chrome bezel, headlamp wiring loom and hollow mounting bolt. Picture to follow.

For Sale a pair of shockers..

For sale a pair of NEW old stock Armstrong shock absorbers for the REAR of our J vans.
They will fit J vans from Chassis number 17745, they are six inch stroke and fitted with the correct Morris / BMC rubber bushes in each end. (being held in with blue tape).
Price £42 the pair plus postage, Royal Mail 1st class £13.35 (they weigh 2.35kgs) or I can do next day courier for £6.00 but the package would have to be signed for.
Contact Fiftiesvehicles@mail.com
Well done to the people that noticed the location of the JB van in the last couple of header pictures on this blog.
At the filming location of the golfing section of GOLDFINGER.

Goodwood 2013,

Photo by Chris Stanley CCMV group.

Then and now pictures.

Having had a god response to the period picture at the top of the blog, the most common question was where and when was it taken. I was sent the web image by a friend as it features a nice J van in an unusual colour scheme of "all one colour" and bucked the trend for black wings as so many other firms had at the time.

So I purchased a print of the photograph, the details are, picture taken August 1952 and is Princes Street Edinburgh but I'm not sure where along the street it was taken.
Looking at street view in Google I cannot locate the correct junction, mind you so many old building have gone.
It might be at the junction with South Bridge but I'm not sure, anyone know?
Now Charlie, one for you.
A nice 1930 shot of Stratford Ontario,

 From Google street view, the garage has changed use but the house on the left is still there.

Pipe Perfections J van history.

Check out http://pipeperfection.com.au/pippy-vintage-sydney-plumbers-van/ to learn a bit of their vans history.

An Austin 101 for sale and NOT on e-bay.

A rather nice Austin 101 is for sale, follow this link to the Morris Leslie auction site.
http://www6.amstock.co.uk/morrisleslie/StockDetail.aspx?lot=507&regno=PWH920&sale=1575

Registered on 10 March 1960 in Bolton, early history unknown.

In storage for 30 years!

Yes SXH 241 a GPO telephone planners van has been quietly resting for 30 years and has recently surfaced.

Its in fair condition and is already under restoration with it's new owner who has already restored one J type, so he knows what to expect.

 I was sent the picture below as another example of that OUCH moment. The picture was taken in 1953 at the bottom of Booker Hill in High Wycombe.

A Leeds mini-bus has an OUCH moment.

Ouch, that's going to hurt in the morning.

A nice Morris J type, registered in Middlesex in March 1956 has come to a sudden stop.
Fairweather Ltd of London N 10, now need another van.

NZ J van for sale.

• Original Drivers and Workshop Manuals included, not very often this happens, along with any previous written history from previous owner if we still have.
  
• I'm the third owner since new, I remember going to school in this van, even got to drive it too.
  
• Was owned by local butcher since new and my father purchased off him once he retired....
  
• Repowered with Renault engine and Toyota older style 5-speed gearbox so tough as bricks (North-South, 5 on the floor, 4cyl, configuration), Austin Princess Wiring loom and dashboard.
  
• Needs bodywork, but this is certainly a good example at this price.
  
• Collection is from Palmerston North and we will need 2-3 weeks notice as currently bring used as storage in our workshop.

Shipping is the full responsibility of the purchaser. If purchaser is outside Palmerston North, New Zealand we will prepare van for shipping from collection address.

Stunning original van, slightly modified but could easily put back to standard.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-MORRIS-COMMERCIAL-J-VAN-FRONT-SLIDING-DOORS-/130972338822?forcev4exp=true