GC038 - Fordson Van converted to carry pianos

gilescooperuk · June 22, 2015, 05:48:09 PM

A long time since I have posted a puzzle.

So what is this and why is it unique?

gilescooperuk · June 29, 2015, 03:05:08 AM

Experts....

richard cuyler · June 29, 2015, 09:10:50 AM

Is it a 1940s Morris Y van with what appears to be a Royal crest on its sides?

gilescooperuk · June 29, 2015, 09:24:08 AM

Not a Morris

richard cuyler · July 01, 2015, 08:13:12 AM

A Ford 10cwt van (1938 - 1957), with the load section apparently widened?

gilescooperuk · July 01, 2015, 06:39:28 PM

Fordson van - yes but now why it is unique...

richard cuyler · July 02, 2015, 08:47:22 AM

Is it a telephone company's service vehicle?

gilescooperuk · July 02, 2015, 01:17:28 PM

Nothing to do with anything electrical

AlexFrance · July 05, 2015, 09:59:38 AM

Is it uniqueness based on what it was transporting/delivering?

gilescooperuk · July 05, 2015, 10:15:55 AM

Transporting something in a unique manner

AlexFrance · July 05, 2015, 06:03:16 PM

Any connection with postal services?

gilescooperuk · July 05, 2015, 06:05:25 PM

You wouldn't post what this was designed for, the postman might find it a bit heavy

AlexFrance · July 13, 2015, 04:57:36 PM

Wild guess: how about a van to deliver safes?

gilescooperuk · July 13, 2015, 05:22:16 PM

Not safes....

AlexFrance · July 13, 2015, 05:38:06 PM

Gold bullions then?

gilescooperuk · July 13, 2015, 05:40:15 PM

Nope - and not that valuable

richard cuyler · July 15, 2015, 12:24:57 PM

Horsebox?

gilescooperuk · July 15, 2015, 01:22:29 PM

Nope....

A clue before I move it to the pros.

Soft and loud

AlexFrance · July 16, 2015, 05:01:12 PM

Sheep?

gilescooperuk · July 16, 2015, 05:02:37 PM

Sheep are loud?

Nope not any sort of livestock

AlexFrance · July 16, 2015, 06:25:32 PM

Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 16, 2015, 05:02:37 PM
Sheep are loud?

Nope not any sort of livestock

Oh yes, sheep can be loud when they start bleating!

Anyway, I will have to give your clue some more thinking...

gilescooperuk · July 23, 2015, 06:26:23 PM

Off to the pros....

oko94 · July 23, 2015, 06:31:51 PM

Fordson E83W for White & Sentance Pianos

Bill Murray · July 23, 2015, 08:16:21 PM

I am not looking for a point, but the full story is..............

1952 Fordson E83W.

Commissioned by White & Sentance.

The design of the truck was to use a "rocker" device to allow a piano to be tipped on it's back to allow it to be tipped into the vehicle. This was the "idea" of Ernest Sentance.

The coach work was carried out by W.H. Goddard of Oadby, Leicester.

Additional photos below.

Bill

richard cuyler · July 24, 2015, 12:04:21 PM

What a brilliant idea!

After loading a heavy piano, off went the driver and his assistant - with a whole 1172cc of sidevalve engine delivering a massive 30bhp and attached to a three-speed gearbox - to transport the load. All they could do was hope the customers' pianos were as close to their office as possible.

Things weren't expected to be resolved at great speed in the 1950s and everybody was quite happy with that.....

News:

GC038 - Fordson Van converted to carry pianos