1910's Mike Overfield-Collins comments "Model T Ford van from c1914-1920" (Courtesy Richard Gaylard)
1926 This Morris Cowley was purchased by the Express as a 10cwt van and milk float. A classic ‘squashed’ Bullnose on chassis no 169743, fleet no 99, RP 3530, it was first registered in Northampton, in 1926, but was purchased second-hand from Freeman & Fisher of Eltham High Street in April 1929. No record of maintenance costs exist for this one, but it passed to the Ranburn Magneto Company in Greenwich in June 1932 for £5; the name of Ranburn still trades in the area. (Courtesy The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
1921 Ford Delivery vans by Bob Wishart in Motherwell
1929 This went onto the market in 1926 as the ‘Divco’, powered by a 4-cylinder Continental engine with Warner 4-speed transmission. The first 25 Divcos were forward-control vans with a front-hinged door through which the driver could step ahead of the axle. Control from the running boards was also possible. Read more on https://www.fleetowner.com/equipment/article/21698533/the-milk-truck-delivers-a-look-at-divcos-legacy
1931 A fabulous, original photograph of the first refrigerated van built for the Express, by J&E Hall of Dartford, on a Morris-Commercial ‘TX’ 30/40cwt chassis, no 27539. Becoming fleet no 68, GO 9043, the chassis cost £284 4s, and the specialised bodywork and painting added a further £488. Entering the fleet in March 1931, the body was removed in May 1935, being replaced by a simpler affair costing £98. Total ‘docking’ costs between 1932 and 1938 amounted to £477. When sold in March 1940, to a buyer in Archway Road, N6, it realised just £5. (Courtesy The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
1933 Introduced in mid-1933, the Bedford, six-cylinder, 8cwt van could be bought as a 12hp (ASYC) or a 14hp (ASXC). This one-off for the Express was supplied by Spurlings, at a net cost of £132 17s 6d, and registered on 17/4/36. Seen delivering to Fred’s Café, somewhere in the Bromley area, the local Palais is advertising the British musical film Come out of the pantry, coupled with the American ‘romcom’, The Goose and Gander; both made in 1935. After a mechanical overhaul in January 1939, it was sold three months later. (Courtesy The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
1936 A detail from a wonderful, commercial postcard view of Hammersmith Road, from around 1936. The shop assistant in the Express on the corner can be seen in her ‘whites and mop cap’, while two school girls peered into the window. They were probably pupils from the Sacred Heart High School across the road, which still survives. New laid eggs and cream are advertised while the delivery driver (spot his legs through the chassis!) sorted his load. This Ford ‘AA’ 30cwt box van, Express fleet no 25, GW 9102, was supplied on 8/12/31 by AE Gould Ltd, for £165 8 6d. TH Lewis built the body, which came complete with roller shutters front and rear and cake trays, for £155 19s. Chassis no AA4793085 was built at the new Dagenham plant during the first month of production there. The first vehicle off the line on 1/10/31 was an ‘AA’ truck, on chassis no AA4791110. The van was sold to G Ridler of London W11, in December, 1942, for £27 10s. Apart from the mounted policeman, passing traffic includes a large Sunbeam, an Austin 16/18hp and Morris Oxford. (Courtesy The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
(Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1950's? Egg collection truck at Job's, Didcot. Colin Sheppard comments "Didcot was in the county of Berkshire until 1974, then became in Oxfordshire so most probably in the early 1950s." (Courtesy Lyndon Rees, Didcot Memories FB Group)
1952 Express had about 12 of these mobile shops in the 1950s. Allan Bedford commented "The ‘semi-detached’ setting is appropriate for this mobile grocery shop dating from 1952, on Bedford chassis no 0LAC241245, engine no 241716, which was supplied by Capital Motors of London, N1. The body was built by Spurlings, for an on-the-road price of £2,469. Various modifications and additions in the early days of service included partitions counters, coat hooks, shelves and a bacon bench. It only enjoyed a five-year service life, before sale to King & Taylor of Godalming in September 1957, for £850. One wonders where it went next?" (Courtesy Dave Fane/ The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
1950's Self Service Shop Reg: OGT 910, Fleet: 1448. (Courtesy Phillip Budd)
1950's Express mobile shop (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1950's Express Mobile Shop (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1950's Express Mobile Shop (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1950 Express delivery van in London, alongside Tram on route 46: City – Southwark Bridge – Southwark – New Cross – Lewisham – Eltham Church – Woolwich (Courtesy Express Dairy Memories FB Group)
1954 Banstead. Bedford Self-Service Shop and Milk Bar. (Courtesy NA3T/ Michael Aldread)
1956 Banstead, Bedford Mobile Shop and Milk Bar. (Courtesy NA3T/ Michael Aldread)
1950's Dave Fane comments ' This Commer PUC 198 was new in 1954 and sold or scrapped in 1962.' (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1950's Bollo Lane (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1954 Another chassis purchased in September 1954, was this Commer 25cwt, chassis no 52A0952, engine no 3114. Fleet no 1692, PUC 198, was supplied through Rootes of St Johns Wood Road, with bodywork built by Strachans of Acton. Passing to Hamptons at Fenstanton in 1962, it made just £50. (Courtesy The Express Dairy Motorised Fleet, Allan Bedford, Heritage Machines)
1960's Golden Seal Bedford van
(Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1960's Nick Gurden comments "This is my Dad on the left when he was manager at Minsterley Creameries"
1960's Express Restaurant Service Austin (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1960's Karrier Van - Marshall's Dairies. (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1960's Tetra Pak Long Life carton on parade. (Courtesy Paul Smith)
1960's Morris/ Austin van in Eden Vale old livery (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1960 Model T Fords in use at Drings Limited. (Express News Autumn)
1962 Eden Vale sales van with products
1964 Reg AYV 921B (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1964 Reg Commer delivery van BLH 189B. Colin Huntington identifies as a Morris lD (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1965 Reg Morris (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1965 Reg Morris (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1970's Kids playing by Driver Training Van
1970's Express Van CLK 260H (1969/70 Reg), Co No: 4080 (OO Scale Model)
1970's Express Van CLK 260H (1969/70 Reg), Co No: 4080 (OO Scale Model)
1970's, 1967 Reg. Bedford Tipper Truck SUL 671F. "Lynn Matthews confirms "Early 70's, collected broken glass from retail depots." . Dave Fane remembers that a firm called Berrymans collected the broken glass from South Morden Processing. (Courtesy Dave Fane)
1970 Ford Thames Trader II, Training, Hayes. (Courtesy NA3T/ Michael Aldread)
1980 Reg Marshall's Dairies Delivery Float Reg: PLB 823W Fleet: W3. Allan Dawes comments that "this vehicle was also at Banstead. I was sent there to cover a semi-retail round this van was on." (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
1980's Appleby Yard (Courtesy Dave Fane)
Michael Aldread USB Collection
Michael Aldread USB Collection
Unusual vehicle, Long Lane, Aintree, Liverpool address on the side (Courtesy Old Milkmen Never Die FB Group)
1992 Reg Wales & Edwards Delivery Float (Courtesy Michael Aldread)
