Once again Biglorryblog's anorak army has charged into battle and I'm grateful to Chris, Richard and especially John Henderson, (BLB's Scottish chum) for their posts and comments. John has e-mailed me this picture and to say: "Sorry I've not been in touch for a while, it's been very busy on the work front! ['Twas ever thus John...'twas ever thus. If work was so good then the rich would have bought it all years ago...but I digress].
Anyway John goes on: "Re Pollock - they moved to Bathgate officially in 2006, as there were no local manufacturing customers left in Musselburgh or the east side of Edinburgh. They've owned the 16-acre site in West Lothian since February 2004 and it was initially used as warehousing/storage etc. William Pollock started out in 1935 and firstly owned a depot in Corstorphine, western Edinburgh before moving to Musselburgh after denationalisation in 1954."
As for that Pollock Peterbilt, John reckon's: "It's 'just for shows' and as far as I am aware, has never pulled a trailer. Its route to these events has to be planned carefully, as it can only cope with the larger diameter roundabouts! The Atkinson Borderer tractor unit is ex-Reid of Insch and was purchased/restored by Scott Pollock in the mid 1980's."
"The 8-wheeled rigid Atki is an original Pollock vehicle and was found by Alston's John Douglas upside down in a scrap yard many years ago, after doing its twilight years with a showman. He rescued/restored and showed it, eventually selling it back to Scott P last year."
And what about those funny yellow things in the Atki dash that confused BLB? John remarks: "All Pollock Atkinsons had the back of the dash binnacles painted yellow, as a 'trademark' and after a visit to America by the late WGD Pollock in the mid 1960's, most trucks were fitted with extra cab top marker lights, way before they came fashionable elswhere in the country. Finally, the Scania 141 is ex-Olivers of Kelso and started its working life somewhere in the Aberdeen area."
"To complete the 'classic' collection there is also a 1946 ERF CI5 in the paintshop at the moment, which is ex-Mitchell's of Grangemouth & Joseph Grant, Broughty Ferry. Cheers for now, John...."
My thanks to John for that most comprehensive round-up---now click through here for exciting news of a forthcoming book on Pollock AND another Biglorryblog 'for a pie' quiz involving the superb AEC pictured above....
Thanks to John I've got a real sneak preview for you on BLB. He tells me; "Edinburgh enthusiast, Frank Richardson is in the process of publishing a history of Pollock Transport between 1935 and 1972. I've attached a front cover image and a superb shot from its pages, taken on Berwick bridge in the 1960s. I'll let you know later when the book is due, as I've seen the proof copy and its a cracker!" We look forward to it John.
Now about that quiz...Apart from being a superb period piece with a Ford Anglia in the background, a smart driver with bib and brace set (whatever happened to bib and brace sets I wonder?) and great bit of the old roping and sheeting the AEC bears an unusual name....as seen here in this close-up....
Now here's the hard bit...where does the name come from? And what is the connection with a certain cross-eyed Lion? And what was the Lion's name too? Last but not least, for good measure what model AEC is it?
Daktari was the name of a childrens tv show set on a game reserve. The cross eyed lion was Clarence and the wagon is I think a 6wheel AEC Marshall
don,t know any answers for the quiz,however when i went north of the border for the scotland versus wales rugby game in 1997,i took a trip to the olivebank yard of pollock,s and was made most welcome and had the full tour.saw all the fleet old and new.thanks guy,s
I have some recent documents for sale, i.e. employee safety handbook, and employee handbook plus a drivers procedures book and some other paper work all mint a1 condition. Please contact me if anyone is interested. Thanks.