Morris Commercial 15cwt Compressor Truck
Date
of Manufacture : 1940
Engine
: 3498cc 6 cylinder (60hp)
Gearbox
: 4 speed 'crash' box
Fuel
Tank Capacity : 2 x 11 gallon (220 miles at 10mpg)
Gross Weights : 2 tons 18cwt unladen, 3 tons 3½ cwt laden
Suspension
: Leaf springs all round
Brakes
: Lockhead dual circuit hydrolic drum brakes
This particular
Morris Commercial was made in 1940 as a compressor truck, fitted with a
150cu ft air compressor driven via a PTO from the truck's gearbox.
These trucks were designed for use by the Royal Engineers and
other arms of the services for road works, airfield repairs, obstacle
clearance, etc and could be equipped with pneumatic tools : saw,
woodboring drills, concrete breaker, picks, rock drills, etc.
When manufactured, this vehicle would have had a canvas roof to the
cab, but only aero screens to protect the driver and passenger from the
weather. There would have been no cab doors and no canvas cover
or frame to the back of the vehicle, leaving the compressor exposed.
This truck now sports the later full windscreen and half metal/half
canvas doors fitted as standard to the later models, which I believe
may have been fitted by the Army as an improvement upgrade after the
war. I have also fitted a rear frame and canvas cover to make it
a more practical vehicle.
This truck was in service with the Army until 1959, when it was sold
out of service and bought by its first civilian owner who used it until
1985. The vehicle was then loaned to the Royal Engineers Museum at
Chatham until late 2007 when its services as a display item were no
longer required and I bought it from its civilian owner. Although
in quite good condition, it required new brakes, tyres and a thorough
service from being left standing for 22 years. The metal work is
in very good condition, but the rear body is rather rotten and will
need a full rebuild in the future.