Does anyone has access to a register of the Austins ATV's/registration numbers that were produced during the war detailing what they were built as. I have just found some registrations of ATV's that were inherited by Somerset Fire Brigade in 1948 but there are some that I don't believe were ATV's looking at the registrations and where they were stationed.
Added by Paul Pickford on 07 November 2010.
There were several series of ATV regs most shared with other machines The regs seem to predate the actual machines arriving . The earliest I have been able to identify is GGN issued late 1940. The only ATV I have seen in this series is the one Roger Culverhouse had. Some ATVs were rebodied as canteen vans post war. From what I have seen the series were:- GGN 1940 GGX mid 1941 GLC late 1941 GLE late 1941 includes batch of K3 HUs GLR late 1942-early 1943 GLT 1942 Seems to be the 1st narrow ones GXH 1943
If anyone has anymore in depth or contrary information I would be very pleased to hear
There were also some in the GJJ series. There were in excess of 4, 800 Austin ATVs built all to a fairly standard design. Later on the TVs were built on a Ford 30cwt chassis with GXT registrations, perhaps it is one of these you have in mind Paul. Could you quote some registration numbers of the ones you are querying?
Added by Dusty on 08 November 2010.
The ATV's that I'm interested in are GLE142, GLR359, GLR493 and GXH 75. Any information would be much appreciated its possible that GLE142 was an escape carrying unit possibly ex London Fire Brigade that was passed over to Somerset Fire brigade in 1948.
Added by Paul Pickford on 08 November 2010.
Paul, all the information I have shows these four registration numbers as being Austin K2 ATVs. I have the last three as passing to Somerset in 1948 but no mention of where GLE 142 went. If it was an ATV as seems likely then I doubt it would have been converted into an Escape Carrying Unit as this was a short wheel base model, more likely an Austin Heavy Unit would have been used as these were long wheel base.
Added by Dusty on 08 November 2010.
Dusty Do you have any info on GLC988 or GLR567 please? We know GLR 988 was with Cumberland following conversion to a HrT but not whether it previously was with them as an ATV. GLR567 was probably still HO but did it serve with the Police Mobile Column for a period (blue paint around)? All information gratefully received.
Neil, The GGN series was not a major ATV batch, since the majority were Fordson 7V jobs. The only ones that I'm aware of as being ATVs were the GGN 656-683 block.
Added by Ian Moore on 09 November 2010.
Neal, I have GLC 988 passing to Cumberland in 1948 as a HRT or at least being converted to one soon after. No idea where it was before then. I have no record of GLR 567 passing to any brigade in 1948 so it was probably returned to Home Office Stores. Not aware that it ever served with the Police Mobile Column but you never know.
Thanks Dusty, that is what we always assumed. We found some blue deep down hence the PMC query. GLC988 was converted 1952 at Wakefield HO Workshop but we were not told its history before that. I wonder if the HO vehicle allocations are still buried in Kew somewhere. Period shots of ATVs rarely show the reg number as you probably have noticed. Very frustrating!!
Further to earlier correspondence Reg letters GJJ were issued Jun-Sep 1941 so probably on the run Sep-Nov. There are variations in the framework over the cab so different bodybuilders?
When local brigades were re-established post 1948 I am pretty sure I remember Grimsby Fire Brigade having two Austin ATVs and definitely Lindsey County Brigade having one which was converted to a Hose Reel Tender, and stationed at Cleethorpes. Can anyone confirm and hopefully supply regn. nos? My thanks in anticipation.
Added by Royce Treacher on 16 November 2010.
Royce I'll try and find the numbers for you - however Lindsey County had numerous ATV's -Epworth, Crowle and Winterton had them certainly !
Rick - My thanks to you. I remember Cleethorpes having a line-up of the 1939 PE (very smart!), a Commer/Hampshire Car Bodies "A" type WrT with Trailer pump and the Austin HrT, also with Trailer Pump. This would be very early '50s.
Added by Royce Treacher on 18 November 2010.
I think you will find that GLR reg was the first narrow bodied ones, mine is GLR 993
Added by Neal Glover on 01 July 2010.