So many nice e-mails and so interesting.

 A nice e-mail from Australia supplied the above picture, a rough van but it is going to live again. Customising is not my thing I must admit but at least it will survive and not be just robbed of a few bits and crushed. You never know in 20 years time somebody might decided to restore it back to originality.

 Another e-mail from Australia shows this 1956 Morris JB van before restoration commenced.
The owner said in the e-mail "I have owned this van for four years and it has been a slow on and off project to restore it, more off than on.
The attached photo is of the van when I puchased it , it doesn't look too bad but it had a lot of rust and some very bad repairs.
I have replaced the rear crossmember and door frame, both sills and door steps and the front valance panel under the grille.
The body had a lot of filler in it, in some places 20mm thick, this was all sand blasted out and most of the damage has been panel beaten out. Apart from the brakes, mechanically the van is pretty good. I still have a fair bit of panel work to go before I can start reassembling it."  I know the full details of both these vans but to protect the owners I have withheld their and their vans details.

 A period London street shot? No, a shot taken last year, part of the filming I did with the JB van. It has taken nearly a year for the film to come out, it was due for release in the spring but like the filming, everything over ran.

 Another shot from the film, this one at the back of Pinewood studios and features my mate Brain Holdsworth's Wolseley 6/80.

Four other views of 940 BYY, now fully on the road and being enjoyed, that's what it's all about. Thanks to all who have contributed.

The profile of the J type van has increased, thanks to Harvey Pitcher's efforts.

BLOG: J-REGISTER WEBSITE WINS TOP AWARD!
Stop Press: At the Classic and Sportscar Awards (in association with Lancaster Insurance) ceremony at the NEC on the 12th November, the J-type Register won the award for the Best Club Website!
We were the first award announced too. First one I’ve ever been to in all the years we’ve been doing the show, and we win something!
And the award isn’t for the best SMALL club website, it’s The BEST Club Website! We beat all comers!
Our thanks to the guys at Carousel Digital, without whose help the website wouldn’t be anywhere near so professional.

Well done that man, What is the next improvement in the site? Now you have set the standard you cannot stand on your Laurels or ( Hardy's). Keep up the good work and well done.

Lots of e-mails!

Well my last couple of postings generated so many e-mails, most on the 10 out of 10 Ranting scale. Its so good to use the delete button, on the ones that are all written in CAPITALS.
The planners van in a Birmingham garden, was in fact a west London van. Another e-mail gave me the vans details and yet another e-mail informed me the van was no longer there! Get my facts straight! Said the sender.  The west London owners who were going to restore the van (for about the last 20years) and had resisted all offers to sell the van. Well its not there anymore (moved 2 plus years ago) so where is the youngest JB van hiding? Or has it been scrapped, exported to China and made into the new i-van.

More complaints! Re my posting of the GPO J van batch details, why had I not included chassis numbers? In a curt reply I said "it has taken many months to get this far with the PO data, that I'm working on chassis numbers but it all takes time, would he like to have a go and produce a list and share, if he can do it quicker than me" I await his reply. (Me thinks I will wait rather a long time unless it was David Allison, in disguise sending me that e-mail). Oh for the days of the J Register, not just pretty pictures but FACTS! Who had What, Recently Seen,  Spotted on the Box, On the Move, lots of nice section with Data/Facts. It seems to be all smoke and mirrors these days, cloak and dagger, nobody wants to share, knowledge is power and the majority like to keep all information about their vehicles, chassis numbers, history, location, to themselves, that is till they want something, where can I get? comes the plea and your expected to supply the details, once you have helped them out you never hear from them again, always one way traffic.
At a recent club meeting I attended (nothing to do with J types), a volunteer was asked for from the gathered group, to deliver some boxes of small car trim parts to a fellow member that had just come out of hospital and could not drive, it was amazing at that very moment everybody studied their shoes. Yes I took them on the back of my motorbike, took about an hour round trip, including a nice warming cup of tea with the old gent.
Right my rant over, got something to contribute?, send it in, got a problem? send it somewhere else and go do your own site!!

An apt way to explain running old vehicles?

Some GPO J type van data. A few months hard work here, going over old lists. I like to share, unlike some sites, please feel free to copy anything on this site for your own use.

GPO Fleet, Postal vans just had a fleet number, 
Telephone vans had a pre-fix of U which stood for Utility.

LUU 572 – 970   41308 – 41706   Morris J  100cf. mailvan

          971   42490              “       “       “

(610 with ‘Demister’ & Fog lamp. 634 = J531 Jersey. 
971 sold to Cyprus 4/51)

MLB 591 – 969   42491 – 42869   Morris J  100cf. mailvan

MLH 567 – 634   42881 – 42948   Morris J  100cf. mailvan

MYE   1 – 158   43204 – 43361      “       “       “

(104-6,8,9-26,9-47,9-54,6-8 had opening o/s windscreens)

MYF 492        U58826           Morris J  10cwt Utility (Prototype)

MYF 856 – 951   44060 – 44155   Morris J  100cf. mailvan

NXO   2 – 251   44857 – 45106      “       “       “

(115/129 to Jersey as J15121/J8363 – 249 to Cyprus Postal Dept. 4/54)

NYH 280 – 414  U66436 – U66570  Morris J  10cwt. Utility

 “  416 – 428   45515 – 45527      “   “  100cf. mailvan

 “  432         17054              “      Planning (Utilibus)

OYF 224 – 318  U67526 – U67620     “   J  10cwt. Utility

 “  332 – 841   50239 – 50758      “   “  100cf. mailvan

PGO   2         17110              “   “  R.I. van

 “   35 – 119   50762 – 50846      “   “  100cf. mailvan

(2 later re-regd 461 DJJ, it had a coachbuilt,largely 
wooden body apart from a std. front end)

PUL 435 – 456  U68407 – U68428     “   J  Planning

 “  480 – 611  U68429 – U68560     “   “  10cwt. Utility

RGJ 980 – 999   52246 – 52265      “   “  100cf. mailvan

RGK   1 – 490   52266 – 52755      “   “    “      “

 “  491 – 663  U69827 – U69999     “   “  10cwt. Utility

 “  664 – 730  U76000 - U76066     “   “    “      “

(9/11 to Jersey as J 17504/5)

RLB 725 – 784  U76475 – U76534  Morris J  Planning

SGH 479 – 572   53337 – 53430      “   “  100cf. mailvan

 “  573 – 609  U77490 – U77526     “   “  10cwt. Utility

 “  610 – 666  U77527 – U77583     “   “  Planning

SLO  26 -  65  U79004 – U79043     “   JB    “

 “   66 – 345   54327 – 54606      “   J   100cf. mailvan

 “  346 – 565   54607 – 54826      “   JB    “      “

(326 to Cyprus 11/56)

SXH 227 – 246  U79941 – U79960     “   J   Planning

 “  380 – 504  U79123 – U79247     “       10cwt. Utility

(237 with large rotatable roof ariel for use as a R.I. van)

TGC 309 – 356  U79892 – U79939  Morris J   Planning

 “  666 – 770  U79961 – U80065     “   “   10cwt. Utility

UXH 981 – 999   56204 – 56222      “   JB  100cf. mailvans

UXV   1 -  61   56223 – 56283      “   “    “       “

 “  379 – 396   56284 – 56301      “   “    “       “

 “  397 – 628   60000 – 60231      “   “    “       “

 “  650 – 658  U80906 – U80914     “   J    Planning

WLA   1 – 326   60974 – 61299      “   JB   100cf. mailvan

XXD 814 – 914   61911 – 62022      “   “      “       “

YLH  74 -  91  U82474 – U82491     “   J    10cwt Utility

 “  417 – 959   62648 – 63190      “   JB   100cf. mailvan

 “  962 – 981  U82496 – U82515     “   “    Planning

YXF   1 -  45  U82516 – U82560     “   J       “

 “  989 – 993  U84334 – U84338     “   JB      “

(1-45 + 989-993 some used as R.I. vans)

807 – 857 BLE  U84339 – U84389  Morris J    Planning

392 – 491 BYY   64938 – 65037     “    JB   100cf. mailvan

492 – 496  “   U85024 – 85028     “    “    Planning

922 – 949  “   U85212 – U85239    “    “       “

(492-496 some use as R.I. vans)

598 – 729 BXE   65120 – 65251   Morris JB   100cf. mailvan

311 – 334 BXY  U86015 – U86038    “    “    Planning

615 – 619  “   U86171 – U86175    “    “        “ 

This blog got a couple of hits from Vietnam today Hue and Hanoi ( that is Central Vietnam and North Vietnam) from John B, who even when on holiday took time out to check on the J type world, thanks John, a true enthusiast.

LYM 297 has chassis number 6733, this has been confirmed by The J type register who have added pictures of the van to their website in it's correct location, yes a nice early van, the 2nd oldest UK van in fact.

Another J van found? Maybe it's not lost?

An ex-GPO planners van in a front garden in Birmingham. No details on this one, the picture was posted on a photo site a few months ago, is that an "X" or a "Y" an "8" or a "B" that can just be seen on the rear registration plate. I wonder if any local J van enthusiasts know any more about this van?
Thanks again to M.P. for this picture.

 A Postal J van with roof mounted number plate waits outside The George and Dragon.

Another post van waits under a NO WAITING sign, outside the main Post Office, the security locking bar is released and yet no Postman is in sight.
These period pictures have been supplied by The MYtH. Many thanks MYtH.

Another van saved but 3-4 more lost.

I had heard on the grape vine that some J types had been found in a warehouse that had to be cleared. That somebody who had an interest went to see all the vehicles but found that most had been scrapped. He managed to save the one in the enclosed pictures.

I have just rescued this J Type Mini Bus from the Crusher.
There were four more small vans like this that were sent to the crusher last week.
I heard about them on Sunday by a chance meeting with a gentleman who owned some warehousing. I mentioned that I towed a vintage caravan behind my classic car. 
He informed me that he had to clear out a warehouse he owned and would I like to take a look sometime at some of the vans,cars and caravans. 
Without waiting any further I phoned him the very next day and arranged to go that afternoon. 
He had been on holiday the week before and was shocked to find when we visited the premises that in his absence someone from the company had cleared out the warehouse thinking they were doing him a favour. 
All that was left was this van,an Eccles caravan and some other more modern items. 
Thanks M.P. for this information. I have this down as a 1951 Martin Walter mini-bus chassis number J/R 6733 First registered in April 1951 in London.

Far flung J types.

Now I know that J types were exported to all parts of the British Empire when we had one,  and I do have a long list of places they went. My thanks to Mike Parry for finding one in Bankok of all places. The location of the Old Morris Van is geographically located at latitude (13.7856 degrees) 13° 47' 8" North of the Equator and longitude (100.5001 degrees) 100° 30' 0" East of the Prime Meridian on the Map of Bangkok.

Now so many of the vehicle restoration blogs have seen little progress these last few weeks, I know all my fleet of vehicles are wrapped up for winter (unless a film crew calls) but its so nice to report stunning progress on the HBF263 Tipper Truck. Here is a sneak preview picture of their progress.

Well done Bob and the restoration crew..

Also do check out the MYtH blog updated 4 November....

Latest e-bay news.

The e-bay GPO J type chassis cab is currently £1500 with 4 days to go, will there be a late burst of bidding?
Currently there are some J type spare parts on e-bay from two different sellers.
A front wing, a rear inner wing and an outer rear wing. All new just very dusty and slight surface rust from over 40 years in storage.
From a second seller they have both front and rear morris commercial badges for sale.
I'm using a nasty Windows PC to post this so its rather long winded to copy the pictures (so much easier with an Apple Mac) so you will have to make do with just the links to the items.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-J-Type-Van-Front-Wing-/160668577076?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item256897ed34#ht_500wt_1112

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-J-Type-Van-Rear-Wing-/160668587321?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item2568981539#ht_500wt_1112

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-J-Type-Van-Inner-Rear-Wing-/160668844274?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item25689c00f2#ht_500wt_1112

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-J-TYPE-VAN-GRILLE-BADGE-/220878184414?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item336d5d9fde#ht_500wt_1112

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-J-TYPE-VAN-REAR-BADGE-/220878185642?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item336d5da4aa#ht_500wt_1112

Another JB for sale. New South Wales..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110757747674#ht_500wt_1202

From the advert the seller states,
I have finally decided to sell my 1950 Morris J Van. It has been a great car and fantastic advertising for my business.
It is fully registered til September 2012. (not club rego) It starts every time first even if it's been sitting for a few weeks.
Despite it's rough look it is very straight and would paint up well.
Every time i park it outside my shop i get ten people asking about it and wanting to talk about it. The J Van is a real crowd puller.
All the mechanical work has been done locally by qualified mechanics, brake specialist, auto electricians and engineers.
It has had new wiring, new brakes (complete overhaul), steering and suspension, exhaust system, new upholstery. lots of work. lots and lots.
the fuel lines and tank were removed and overhauled or repaired. floor was repaired and or replaced where needed. new battery.
Must be paid for immediately and collected in Kyogle or I will arrange transport at your expense.
All these years i thought it was a 1950 J van but after looking at the chassis number i think it is probably a JB from 1957 onward.
I am no mechanic as you can tell .. so look at the photos and let me know.
It does have the 4 speed gearbox of the JB van. anyhow to me they are all the same J Vans (certainly they look the same.)

(it's registered as a 1950 Morris J van)

Chassis number would seem to be 46713, so this would date it to early 1960. A check on the Triplex glass coding would also help.

I love the foam air filter and with the breather pipe  missing from the rocker box cover it could well get rather an oil covering over everything, maybe thats why the engine has just had a wash off.