Stone delivered

“Traces Through Time’s recent photograph of bridge construction at Bridge of Allan reminded me of a tenuous connection between the vehicles using the bridge and the recent contributions about the Bradford van made by Jowett Motors,” emails Crawford Taylor of Wolfhill.

“The two tipper lorries shown (one centre and one at three o’clock) appear to be involved in the delivery of quarry stone to the three workmen. These lorries are Fordson ET6S or ET7S (the 6 denoting petrol engine and the 7 diesel).

“These were available in two, three and five tonne carrying capacities, though all looked much the same, externally. I am guessing these to be three-tonners judging by the size of heap just dumped.

“These trucks were manufactured between 1949 and 1957 and were fitted with a Briggs motor panels normal control (bonneted) cab. Briggs was a Usa-based firm with two production plants in the UK – Dagenham and Doncaster. They made panels for a wide range of motor manufacturers including Ford and Chrysler.

“In addition to the Ford ET6 and 7 trucks, this cab was also used by both Dodge trucks UK for their five and seven tonne 100 series (nicknamed ‘parrotnose’) lorries and Leyland in their post war seven tonne normal control Comet. These three marques differed slightly in grill and bonnet but otherwise had an identical cab.

“The Briggs family died off and the company was sold to Chrysler USA in 1953. Chrysler did not wish to retain the UK operation so sold it to Ford. Likewise, Ford was not interested in the Doncaster side of the operation so sold it to another enterprise who quickly sold it on to the newly-formed BMC group.”

“A snowy scene looking from the Sidlaws to the Grampians in the north west,” says Harry Greig of Coupar Angus. “It is very noticeable there is no snow in the Strathmore Valley.”