Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has taken up the 'Robson's of Carlisle Challenge and says: "Hello Brian, the above subject headline--Robson's Frae Carlisle' is not a Scots spelling mistake! Rather it is, in fact, what Robson's old sign writer Tommy Osgood used to paint, alongside some other classic phrases, on the front of the company's box vans. Brian Lomas' black and white Robson pictures are absolutely superb! Please keep 'em coming. As it's too cold to venture into the attic for my Robson album (and Mr V. is keeping me too busy anyway) here's some stuff from the shelves of my warm office at home! There's no big motors allowed on Tower Bridge today, but back in 1971 the crossing was a favourite spotting haunt of late Edinburgh enthusiast, Joe Donaldson. The slight speed blur on the image of Border Cossack just adds to the period atmosphere."
John continues: "The Provincial Insurance Company cashed in on the popularity of Robsons in the early 1980s with this advert featuring the legendary, hand typed spotters list. This were revised three or four times a year and sent out to very grateful young enthusiasts such as myself. You didn't need an 'Eddie' paid up fan club then! The advert features Border Saracen, " Nice to see a Daf 2800 represented John---as I recall Robson's were big Daf fans.
"The T45, Border Patrol is a cutting from an old Motor Transport," adds John, "Its trial obviously went well, as Dafs continued to roll in to the Carlisle depot long afterwards!" Now here's a question for all T45 experts. yes it had the TL11 (C?) engine or was it TL12? And yes at one time it had a Cummins too..and as the daf 80 Series the old 11.6-litre Dutch lump. But did Leyland ever fit a Gardner in it? Answers to the above please. Now click through here for a Robson's brochure....
"Finally a brochure front from the days after Robsons were bought over by United Glass. By then things were going downhill faster than an Aberdeen driver in an Atkinson Silver Knight. Hope this is of interest, Best regards,
John
Of interest John? Are you kidding! And keen-eyed readers will note that this is also Border Queen the last time I showed a truck with this name it was a Foden and it came from Brian Lomas! Was there another 'Queen' in between I wonder? Must have been!
Gardner engine in a Leyland T45? Never heard of that before - so I would say no. Great to see all the Robsons material from John and others.
'Border Queen' was the first name Stan Robson ever used and that went on a brand new Chinese Six Foden he bought in 1937 but you'll have to read the Robson history to learn why he did it.
After the S18 four wheeler, the name was then used on an S20 eight wqheeler LHH 572; an S80 tractor unit PHH 1M; and the featured Daf 2800 which was registered A387 NRO.
Leyland did fit a Gardner engine in a T45 but only in an 8x4. The model was the wide cabbed 30.23 and I think the motor was the 6LXCT.
Dave - nice one. Forgot about that.
does anyone know the whereabouts of a copy of this book
Nynehead Books might have a new copy but if not try the Amazon marketplace for a variety of second hand copies.
I currently have a copy of the national picture brochure for sale on e-bay. I DROVE FOR ROBSONS FOR 10 YEARS OUT OF THE ST HELENS DEPOT.MY 1ST TRUCK WAS AN ERF WITH A ROLLS ROYCE ENGINE, "BORDER COURAGE", I HAVE A PHOTO SOMEWHERE. I THEN PROGRESSED TO A SCANIA 112M , "BORDER OMAHA".THE FLEET AT ST HELENS CHANGED ITS COLOURS WHEN IT WAS TAKEN OVER BY NATIONAL CARRIERS AND THEN LOST THEIR "BORDER NAMES" AND CHANGED THE FLEET TO MERCEDES AFTER THE TAKE OVER BY NYK SHIPPING.
hi there it was standard after national carriers had taken over that any new vehicles bought would be white and just put a few stickers on and i think they tried to lose the border names but they had to many people complaining so they put the names back on