If at first you don't succeed....have another go! Biglorryblog regular John Shepherd recently sent me some scans from old historic prints of some Sandersons Seddon Atkis. Sadly they were not quite good enough to use. 'Do you have any others?' ventured Biglorryblog. And John has come back with these crackers from yesteryear! "Hi Brian, I've attached a few photos of varying quality of A.Stevens. They were based in my
John says: "The shot of the F10 at the very top was taken at Michaelwood services whilst waiting for police escort to Swansea, I was the mate on the vehicle, beams are 90ft long I think pole trailer opened up to 75ft. The F88 (below) was shot at Camberley. The two older photos of the F88 (above) and Scammell were taken by my uncle at Bridlington in the 60,s. If these photos are any use I do have a few more. I do know that Bob Tuck has some knowledge of Stevens haulage also. Keep up the good work as I enjoy my daily dose of BLB."
My pleasure John and if they're like these ones, send 'em in! Meanwhile, click through here for that Scammell.....and a BLB opportunity to annoy Mr Tuck...!
And here it is...ahhh...but is it a Handyman or a Trunker? I can here Bob spitting out his tea cake as I ask....! (he must have told me at least a dozzen times and I STILL can't remember...)
Brian, as a canny Northerner I'd never spit out good tea cake but I think you know more about Scammell models than you let on. Stevens of Great Ayton were long steel specialists and in their golden era, their drivers did things with odd ball trailers which other lesser hauliers would never dream of. The 4x2 Scammell pictured is a one of the earlier Handyman units although Stevens ( the company was owned by the Foster family) also ran a Scammell Routeman eight wheel tractor unit during the '60s on long steel work for better strength and stability. And they also ran an eight wheel Leyland Octopus unit on similar work. Long before Quads were ever thought of in NZ. Sadly the firm is long gone and the Great Ayton depot now has housing built on it but this is great stuff to see.
It's a Handyman, Brian, which was the 4x2 version. The Trunker was a 6x2 twin-steer tractor unit.