Real Antique discovered

Clay Atkinson from Queensland has recently acquired the remains of a 1936 Bristol bus which he hopes to restore.

It's a Bristol JO5G originally delivered to United Automobile in north-east England as their fleet number BJO42 (rego BHN 237). In the 1970s it was converted to a caravan and set off on a "world tour".

In April 2006 Clay said "Looks like things are starting to come together to finally bring the Bristol home, I have a friend who believes he can borrow a truck and trailer for a weekend so we will go and pick it up ourselves. As you can see from the photo, the driver's cab looks quite unstable so I will be removing the windscreen and building some bracing in the cab area to support the roof during the trip. I will keep you posted on the progress."

In October 2006 Clay sent more info; "I thought I would let you know that I have finally got the Bristol back home to Brisbane. It was an interesting exercise, we organised with a local farmer at the pickup point to give us a hand, with his tractor to load it. He was very concerned initially that his machine would not be powerful enough to do the job, but once we got it rolling, steering and stopping he soon got into the spirit of the occasion. All and all it only took an hour and a half to come up with a plan and get it on the truck, luckily there was a loading ramp that we were able to use which was great."

"Getting it off at home was another thing, we had no loading ramp and very little flat ground so we ran the truck up a reasonably steep embankment and lowered it off using a pair of 7 foot ramps, a snatch block and the winch on my Nissan Patrol. It was a slow and challenging task and took about 5 hours. Now for the hard bit, getting started on the restoration! Keep you posted."

Thanks Clay, and good luck with the restoration.

A couple of Lodekkas

Scott Mitchell sent me these two pictures of Lodekkas in Australia;

He says; "Here are two Bristol Lodekka's currently in NSW. The first one is a motor home and in "Flight Centre" livery, it is ex Top Deck Travel". This is LWC 665C, a 1965 FLF6G originally No.2839 with Eastern National, joining the Top Deck fleet in 1983 as "Loft". Now registered QVC676 it was last recorded with Bill James of Sydney.

"The second one is ex Hants & Dorset No.1517 (registration CLJ 868C). It spent time operating a sightseeing service in Melbourne, but that operation no longer exists. It now resides in NSW and is owned privately by a bus driver at Premier Nowra who intends on restoring it."

Thanks for the pictures, Scott.

Antique Leyland Lion now in good hands

Bob Pearce called me some years ago from Perth WA to say he had acquired a 1935 Leyland Lion LT5A halfcab which he intended to restore. The bus was first registered in 1935 in Perth, and became No.36 in the Metro fleet. The 32-seat bus body was by local makers Campbell and Mannix.

Note the original 'hand' signalling device beside the mirror !

Bob told me that the bus was sold by Metro in the early 1960s to the lower south-west of WA for use as a school bus. It was last licensed in 1965, and Bob kept it some 400 kms southwest of Perth. It was basically complete, although much work needed to be done to get it working again. The present motor is a 4-cylinder diesel, type E.101, and the engine number is 10.933. Bore is 4.5" (the plate reads 41 but it is not distinct - so it is a guess that it is 4.5"); stroke 5.5"; rating 32.4HP; Firing Order 1 3 4 2.

But the story doesn't end there, because in 2006 the Lion was donated to the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia, based at Whiteman Park. Cameron Bell from BPSWA very kindly sent me the photo below showing the bus at Whiteman Park, and it now joins the list of vehicles waiting there for a new lease of life (some fantastic rebuilds come out of that facility, so it couldn't be in a better place). Many thanks to Cameron for the photo. Looks like a lot of work to do !

The Big Blue Bedford - a little story that grew and grew.....

It all started with this;

Ross Daniel wrote; "Gidday, Have just stumbled on your site and I'm finding it very interesting. I thought you might be interested in some images of a Bedford bus we owned up until 1988. Not sure of its date of birth but think it was around 1950.

We found it languishing in the back of a Caravan park with no motor or gearbox, totally stripped out and in a dilapidated state. The park owner was glad to be rid of it, as he had no idea whose the bus was. It had been at the back of the park for many years prior to his buying it. My wife and I then spent 2 years rebuilding it as a mobile home. Unfortunately due to health problems we never actually got to use it, apart from a couple of small trips.

I sold it and it is now being used as an office for a canoe hire company. As the bug to travel in a bus never left us, last year we bought a 1969 ex Sydney Leyland Leopard and are just setting everything up now. Anyway mate, loved your site and will drop back often. Cheers, Ross Daniel."

Ross later added the following; "Gidday Dick, I'm in the process of trying to track the bus down. When I find it I'll let you know. It was being used about 20 miles from here, Maryborough, Queensland, on the Burrum River, as a clubhouse for a canoe club. I'm fairly sure I can locate it. Also, I have some other photos I'll dig out and send to you if you're interested.

About the only history I am aware of is that it was a council bus for the Redcliffe City Council, near Brisbane, and was originally painted red and cream. I was also told that these buses were built by the CAC (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation) in either Adelaide or Melbourne after the 2nd World War on surplus Bedford 5 ton truck chassis, apparently to keep workers employed after the need for aircraft dried up after the war. Not 100% sure of any of this but I  guess it could be checked somehow. Anyway mate, glad you liked the photos, I certainly agree that it is very important we record and disseminate this sort of information. Cheers,Ross."

Thanks very much for that Ross, it sure is an unusual beastie ! Anybody know anything more about these buses ?

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In response to the above I received the following from Ian Lynas; "The blue Bedford that Ross bought as a caravan did not come from Redcliffe City Council. They have never operated public transport. Bus services in Redcliffe (north of Brisbane) have been in the hands of two private operators, Redcliffe-Petrie Bus Service and Hornibrook Highway Bus Service. The former became Redcliffe-Brisbane Motor Services with heavy Worldmasters, Leopards, Royal Tiger Cubs, and the latter became Hornibrook Bus Lines in 1977. Hornibrook then took over Redcliffe-Brisbane."

"The Hornibrook fleet consisted of some of this type of Bedford (both OB and SB) purchased in the early post-war period. They had all gone by 1962. Yes, the bodywork was built in Melbourne by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, over 1000 were built. Hornibrook's fleet was a couple of Bedford SB's, loads of Worldmasters, Leopards, Tiger Cubs, Royal Tiger Cubs and Japanese Hinos. Hornibrook are still in business as Hornibrook Bus Lines with a big fleet of Mercedes-Benz 0305, 0405, OH1625 and a couple of minibuses. They also have on lease 11 Volvo B10M's from Brisbane City Council."

Thanks Ian.

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And then, in July 2002, I received this; GDAY. JUST WRITING ABOUT THE BIG BLUE BEDFORD THAT IS PICTURED ON YOUR WEBSITE. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE SAME MODEL BEDFORD BUS AND ANY INFORMATION YOU FIND WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP. EMAIL ME HERE, OR MY MOBILE IS 0409 393 085. I'D BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANKYOU, ADRIAN AND CHARISSA

Are there any more out there ? Apparently yes. Here's another;

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Hey guys,

Saw your call for help about the Bedford on Dick Gilbert's website and just remembered it when I came across one in last month's HOT ROD magazine, Cruzin (don't ask). Terry Mackrell found it at his local tip in Nanango, Qld. (very close to Maryborough but not the same bus)...you could look him up in the telephone directory or get in touch via Cruzin Magazine thecrew@cruzin.com.au.

We are very close (by Christmas) to having our '48 OPD 2/1 (Sydney Double Decker) Leyland on the road as a caravan....lot of work though. Our full resto OPD 2/1 is on the back burner for a while...a long while...but who knows. . .If I win the lottory tonight. . .  Hope this helps, Daniel.

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And then there was more. In April 2006 I received this;

"Hello from Perth, I just thought that you might like to know that seeing the blue bus, and owning as I do, a Comair bodied SB , I have to say I think it's a Holden body. Our state library has a forties sales book for the SB and the drawing is of the "streamliner type" body which it clearly states is Holden. It certainly is quite unlike any Comair. Sorry to chuck a cat among the pigeons but I do like your site. Cheers. Michael Mullany, nr. Perth"

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In July 2006, David Hurst of Korumburra, Victoria called with information from his father, Ian Hurst;

"Regarding Big Blue Bedford, Dad had this to say: "It is an OB Bedford – O designates Bedford O series, and B designates Bus chassis. It appears to be a 31/33 Passenger CAC bodied vehicle. Would be keen to know the door configuration on the left side which would make definite identification easier. All CAC bodied OB series buses had the front mudguards enclosed. (When they weren’t rattling open!)"

"CAC bodies were built in the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, Vic.between 1946/7 and 1952. This vehicle appears to be c1950, but without knowing the door configuration makes ID a little difficult. The CAC bodies were manufactured similar to aircraft construction, with an aluminum skin that was solid riveted to a formed rib frame. (On the shocking roads of the time, rivets wore loose, occupying the country bus proprietor’s time immensely replacing rivets). OB chassis vehicles were grossly underpowered, underbraked and the 4 speed full “crash” gearbox needed constant driver concentration to promote smooth gear changing. CAC later renamed their bus bodies as Comair."

"My Grandfather pioneered government susidised school bus travel in country Victoria many years ago. Ralph Hurst began transporting children from farms to the Korumburra Higher Elementary School in a 7-seater Vauxhaul car, converted to carry 14 children. The Vauxhall was the ex governor's car I believe. Ralph's fleet grew over the years, his sons Brian and Ian (my father) joined the business also. Ralph passed away in 1968, leaving the fleet with both sons. Ian retired due to ill health in the mid 1970's, Brian continued and later his son Trevor joined the business. Over the years "Hurst's of Korumburra" was scaled down to two buses, and Brian retired from driving. Trevor sold off the remaining bus circa 2000. The Bus service continues with other owners, namely Harley's of Korumburra. Also my Mother's brother has a fleet of buses on school runs, Alan Winterhalter. My Dad taught him to drive buses. Sadly Uncle Brian passed away in 2003."

"I have attached a couple of photos for you."

"First is NA-424, a 1949 Bedford OB on its delivery day to R.R. Hurst & Sons. Beside her is the 4th bus purchased by Ralph Hurst, an ex McHarry's of Geelong 30-seater Ford, MH-143."

"The second image is "Nelly" (NL-117) a 1950 Bedford OB, also on its delivery day to R.R.Hurst & Sons."

My thanks to David for the pictures and details.

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In December 2007 Pete Kane published a picture he had taken of a Driver Brothers Heritage Fleet Bedford which turned up at the 2007 Sandown Park Rally, near Melbourne.

It's a 1947 Bedford OB (rego KP-495), and definitely comes from the same mould as the one shown above. Pete says "unfortunately not much is known about its history with previous owners, but there were quite a lot of them built at CAC just after the war". My thanks to Pete for letting me use the photo. (Subsequently Pete revealed the chassis number as OB 81181.)

And here comes another one! Peter Kane also photographed MO-3712 in 1988 at the Bi-Centennial Rally. It wears the livery of Purtill's bus service, based in Deniliquin, New South Wales. Keith Purtill started operations in 1951, and the firm now have the honour of operating what is thought to be the last Bedford OB still in service in Australia, and this is it.

As Purtill's fleet number 9, it is a 1948 CAC-bodied Bedford OB preserved as a school bus. They acquired it from Rose, Conargo, NSW, but it had previously been with another (unknown) operator in Rochester, Victoria. Anyway it's clearly yet another one of the same breed as the others.

Pete says "The Bi–Centennial Rally was held in 1988 when the Victorian BCSV decided to run some restored buses from Melbourne to Sydney for the official opening of the HCVA museum. There were about 6 vehicles made the journey and we went via Deniliquin, where the OB joined the rally." Thanks for that info Pete, and also for letting me use the photo.

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And then in October 2010 the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia of Whiteman Park, Perth acquired one. Here it is outside their depot on 10 Oct 2010 shortly after its arrival.

The Society's newsletter 'Rattler' says; "a 27-seater Bedford OB that has been languishing on a property in the north eastern wheat belt was promised to our Society several years ago. We decided it was time to retrieve it from its "dry storage" and repatriate it to Whiteman Park. Its history is unknown, and it is thought it was used as a school bus all its life. Bedford OBs were operated by many private bus companies in Perth, including Beam, Emu, and Tourist Omnibus Service - fleets that are not represented in our collection, so there is potential to repaint our delightful little OB into the livery of one of those long lost fleets."

"The bus is in remarkably good condition for its age, and still has quite a few difficult-to-replace fittings and items. It doesn't appear to have ever been fitted with flashing turn signal indicators, suggesting a life in the country and withdrawal from use many years ago. Nor has it been subjected to a motorhome conversion."

Many thanks to Colin Davison and Cameron Bell for the news, and to Nicholas Pusenjak for the photo.

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