Call the Midwife. BBC Tv 10th March.

A rather nice series set in post war Britain, this series covering the 1950's.
A rather small selection of vehicles have appeared during this second series, I suppose it's due to the high cost of hiring vehicles and drivers for a days work.
The same old lorries have been seen parked up in the background these "blocking" vehicles are used to cover up items that cannot be moved, to hide a modern item that would otherwise spoil the period look. The Doctors car has an age related number plate, issued in Bute, Scotland and now it is supposed to be in east London. Funny also the scooter that has recently appeared also has a scottish issued number plate.
The Austin 101 is also a well known film and TV prop vehicle.
Its parentage is a bit unknown, from various sources, I have been told the number plate it carries comes from a 1953 Austin Devon, the chassis is believed to be a 1956 Morris, with the Austin body purchased and fitted when the van was being restored, an easier option than restoring its original body. It has now been up graded to a Sherpa 1800 cc Diesel engine and 5 speed gear box.
Only us sad purest anoraks would know this, still its out and about.
Link to its  5 seconds of fame here.http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01rbw29/?t=3m03s

Mind my washing.

Warning women van driver.

Look I have glow plug switches!

Where did you buy this?

You bought a Sherpa diesel engined van, idiot, this is 1957, they've not been invented yet!

For sale on e-bay, USA is
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Alloy-MORRIS-COMMERCIAL-Badge-TRUCK-LORRY-CLASSIC-/140927612480?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item20cff0b640

Thanks to Dean Martin for this.

Blaydon Burn, scrap yard.

A very early industrial area, it all started as a small charcoal production area, then minerals were found in the hill sides. A horse drawn wagon railway started up to export the goods produced in the area.

 By the 1930's the site was almost empty of activity.
The empty site was then a dumping ground and a scrapyard.
Granddad Joe Wright started the scrapyard, then passed it to his son Terry Wright, who still lives nearby.

The site was cleared of cars and the mining tunnels boarded up in the 1980's.

The whole area is now a nature reserve.

The side lamp castings have been selling steadily, 50% sold. Do you need one or will you need one in the future? 

 £28 each (cost price) a pair plus postage is £58.36, where else could you get one?

Vintage vehicle auction. Perth, Tayside.

Vintage Vehicle and Machinery Auction

Saturday 9 March 2013, 10am.

Errol Airfield, Errol, Perth PH2 7TB Admission: £5 Adults - includes car park and catalogue (Under 16s free)
Catering and toilet facilities on site.

Call us NOW on 01821 642574 if you'd like to sell your vintage vehicle (internal storage available). 
Or Download an Entry Form. All vehicle types welcome, including:

• TRACTORS
• SCOOTERS
• MOTORCYCLES
• TRUCKS
• HORSEDRAWN CARRIAGES
• COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
• BUSES
• MOTORSPORTS
• IMPLEMENTS
• DIGGERS
• LORRIES
• VANS

Early entry ensures inclusion in our online catalogue and nationwide advertising campaign.

• All entries must be on site by Wednesday 27 February to guarantee inclusion in auction catalogue.
  Updates are made daily, visit our Auction Catalogue for lot details and images.

J type sill panels.

MTR restorations have an Austin 101 in their workshop. One of the jobs being undertaken are new sills and door runners.
So I understand while making one pair they thought they would make a spare second pair.
Simple design but complicated by the tapering and gently curves of the body work.

Great work guys.

Yet more far flung vans.

I was sent a picture of a J van coming out of some trees.
From the registration number it was not hard to work out the van lives in Tasmania.
Sending the picture to the MCJTV vehicle owners group soon produced the information to track the van down.

Yes they have a blog site for their organic fresh produce. I have e-mailed them in the hope they can supply a chassis number, we await further progress.
Now another interesting "new" van is this

A Left hand drive, square side lamps Morris Commercial van in a car museum in Portugal. I'm trying to track down further details. After an hour searching on the WWW

I have tracked down some further details. Listed as a 1950 van.

Seems to be owned by a vehicle hire company, hiring vehicles for films,TV, weddings and corporate events.etc

See their collection here. http://museuautomovel.com/frames/index.html

On another note, this blog site had its biggest number of hit's yesterday, 120 people checked it out, or maybe it was me 119 times. Thanks to all for the support.

Far Flung J type vans.

Recently spotted on the Indian version of e-bay /exchange and mart, (mumbai.oix.in)
was this advert.
Shame the advert has expired as I wonder what the other views of the van were like and what if any details were given.
I will have to check this site from now on! Current exchange rate equals £8,824.00
 This is the first Indian van I've ever seen. Thanks to M.P. for the picture.

The recent J van advert on e-bay has disappeared , a cash sale maybe?
Turns out this is the old Colin Ellis van, RGK 535, a telephone utility van serial number U69944. It was sold on e-bay about 3 years ago in a similar state, they don't seem to have done any work on this since purchase.

Will it be restored as a GPO van, a normal van or another damn retro ice cream van?

Side lamp castings.

A small batch of side lamp castings have been produced. There are a couple of restoration projects out there that need these elusive parts.
One or two restored vans also have need of these castings, as a slight knock to the headlamp can easily crack the aluminium at its narrowest part.
These castings will need cleaning up, and both the headlamp bolt hole and side lamp hole with have to be drilled/filed out.
Not too much of a "big job", aluminium is not hard to shape.
Selling at cost price, £28 each plus postage which on a pair would be £2.36. in the UK.

Happy to post to anywhere in the world but postage will be higher.
( Example Australia would be £7.60 for a pair )
Would it be worth having a spare one?
e-mail fiftiesvehicles@mail.com . First come first served.

More e-bay sales items.

Armstrong Shock Absorber. Type AT7 / 1118 / C
New old stock. Metal is rust discoloured as can be seen in the photograph. Pulls open with no leaks.
Armstrong and Type number are embossed on the metal.
Suitable for the rear of Morris J type Vans 1950 - 53, chassis no. 001 to 17744.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHOCK-ABSORBER-ARMSTRONG-Type-AT7-1118-C-Morris-J-type-Van-1950-53-/221182806931?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item337f85cb93

J greetings card.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-J-Type-Van-Bakery-Delivery-Bread-Cakes-Shopping-Card-Art-Print-779-/160938057208?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&hash=item2578a7ddf8

And saving the best till last.

 View of the dash panel, showing rotary ignition/light switch and the side valve engine with cylinder head removed.

 H.P. HO????SON Ltd, Heating Engineers, Bucks, Phone Bourne End ?????
Checking the local Telephone book, their no longer around.
Note Rubber wings, tyre pressures 22-24 painted on body work.

 Spot lamp bracket on the front and the headlamp mounting holes in the cab side.

GPO spec drivers seat base? and hinged mates seat.

 Might need a bit of filler.

 GPO spec ventilation grill insert in tray and opening windscreen.

 Body plate seems to be missing.

 Watch your step getting in.

Taken from the e-bay advert,

up for auction is my mates classic 50s Jtype panel van!

morris jtype panel van for full restoration v5 in his name states build of manufacture 1950 many period parts still there has an  unusual opening drivers windscreen all dash panels and dials are there gearbox & some engine parts  are there chassis in good con needing miner repair to 1 outrigger theres a new old stock rear cross  member not fitted and some spare front doors and wing rolls & steers freely but will need a trailer etc  to remove cud deliver at buyers expence this not a quick job it needs a lot of work but a very rare and interesting vehicle so well worth saving or  using all the good parts to save another! item located in our unit near bangor n/wales has been dry stored until last week space needed viewing  recommended any qz mail me and ill ask my mate thanks for looking item advertised elsewhere at £2500 so reserve the right to remove deposit via paypal and rest on collection preferred open to sensible offers!!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Jtype-panel-van-1950-FOR-restoration-barn-find-project-/160969996597?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item257a8f3935

TV ad: Cadbury Dairy Milk: Joyville Special Delivery

The Australian Cadbury JB van is hitting the road and TV screens.

 The van has been restored and given a "striking " paint job.

The van as seen on promotional posters. Details of the advert are,
The Joyville-wacky commercial was filmed in New Zealand (so it’s alluringly pretty) and follows the Joyville driver in his Joymobile as he makes his journey to deliver three different chocolate creations, towing fifty thousand purple helium balloons behind him. Joyville surfers deliver life-sized chocolate surfboards. Joyville dog trainers present a giant chocolate sausage dog and an archaeologist accompanies a Dairy Milk T-Rex.
Watch the video here.

TV ad: Cadbury Dairy Milk: Joyville Special Delivery