Search results for ""Author Bill Reid""

Car production at Volvo began in 1926 in Stockholm with a prototype. By 1927 small goods vehicles based on the car designs were in production at Gothenburg, and heavier three-tonners were being produced by 1928. Already known for their robust cars, Volvo lorries first came to British roads in 1967 after Jim McKelvie, a former road haulier, saw the need for better trucks than UK manufacturers were producing at the time, and imported the Volvo F86 model as a 30/32 ton artic unit. The lorry was light, had a high power-to-weight ratio and provided incomparable comfort for the driver. It took the UK market by storm. This early import was the forerunner of later Volvo trucks across the entire range, with various models of bus chassis also being introduced to the UK markets. Volvo production has gone forward in leaps and bounds, today being a major player on the world stage. Though a relative newcomer to the UK scene, Volvos have gained a very large following. Lavishly illustrated with rare and unpublished photographs, Volvo Lorries traces their history in Britain from the early F86 imports of the 1960s to the FH16 750 bhp fleet flagships seen on the roads today.

Read more less

Tipper lorries have been part and parcel of road transport since the beginnings of the age of motor vehicles. In fact their roots are in horse-drawn carts, which were built to tip by balance and gravity. For many years, and probably still today, the tipper lorry was seen as a dirty, well-worn, poorly maintained and overloaded example of road haulage, not particularly beloved by the general public. As they are used in all forms from lightweight four-wheelers to maximum capacity artics, carrying almost any commodity that could be loaded in bulk, tipper lorries could be said to be the backbone of British industrial requirements. All makes of lorries have been used as tippers, with no exceptions, providing a great variety for the road transport enthusiast. Many endure short, hard-worked lives, while others soldier on to greater longevity, perhaps engaged in long-distance work. As time has passed, lorries have been allowed to carry more weight and become larger and, as a consequence, more powerful. For the transport enthusiast this brought an even bigger variety of types, up to 44 tonnes gross weight, which Bill Reid, with nearly 200 unpublished images, shows in this fascinating book.

Read more less

Hub van Doorne and his brother Wim set up a transport engineering company at Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 1928. The official name was to become Van Doorne’s Aanhangwagenfabriek, which translated as ‘Van Doorne’s trailer factory’, and the company was subsequently known as DAF. In 1948, DAF’s first prototype lorries were produced and the company maintained the reputation for quality products established by their earlier trailers. A few DAF lorries were exported to the UK in the early 1960s and, within a few years, driven by the newfound legality of sleeper cabs and the production of their own 2600 cab, DAF was a major player in the industry. Constant innovation in cabs and engines eventually led DAF to become the top-selling heavyweight truck brand in the UK. With its exceptionally diverse range, DAF enjoys an enduring popularity among truck and lorry enthusiasts. This book explores the company’s history with a lavish collection of images and detailed captions.

Read more less

AEC Lorries explores the story of lorry use in the last fifty years, showing the diverse use of the vehicles and their configurations for many different types of work, with a focus on one of the great British manufacturers – AEC. AEC lorries have always been held in high esteem at home and abroad because of their powerful engines, and relative simplicity. They were to be found in many large and small fleets, capable of any type of work. A large proportion of AEC production was exported, particularly to British Commonwealth countries, where they endured hostile climates, severe overloading, and abuse on poor roads; nevertheless, they remained as good working equipment. It has been said by many in the transport sector that, if AEC engines had been developed, rather than other types within the British Leyland range, AEC vehicles would have become a range of lorries and buses that were second to none. Lorries are now the lifeblood of the nation and, without them, our lives would be much less rich. Railways have always been of great interest, but road transport, in its many forms and diverse liveries, has become an object of enthusiastic interest. This book looks to explore one of the most iconic and recognisable brands of British roads, using 180 rare and unpublished images.

Read more less

A recovery vehicle, or breakdown wagon, is the type of truck you hope you will never need. Unfortunately, they are an integral part of everyday life and are to be seen in various forms attending breakdowns and road traffic accidents. From the beginnings of mechanised transport there has always been the need for towing disabled motor vehicles, and the earliest recovery was carried out by real horse power. In time, most urban and rural garages would have an old car converted as a towing vehicle, parked in a corner awaiting the call for help. As motor vehicles became larger, so did the recovery vehicles, right up to heavy lorry and bus conversions that could handle the transport of the time. Specialist recovery companies were set up for towing and transport of disabled vehicles, while local garages maintained an ability to deal with customer breakdowns and accidents. Recovery trucks have evolved into large multi-wheeled vehicles with up to five axles, equipped with custom-built equipment, including cranes and heavy-duty winches. Some of these vehicles are the most spectacular sights in road transport. Showing a wide variety of vehicles, Bill Reid celebrates Britain’s road recovery vehicles in a selection of rare and previously unpublished images.

Read more less

Commercial Cars Limited was the name of a new company set up in 1906 in south London to build a motor lorry, using what was then known as the Linley gearbox, which had degree of pre-selection in its use. The design was successful enough to require a relocation of the company to Luton and larger premises. Commer Car was the chosen name for the vehicle, and a range of lorries and buses were developed at Luton. Over the following decades, Commer produced a wide range of vehicles including lorries, buses, trolleybuses and light vans. The name passed hands on a number of occasions and enjoyed a long and successful period as part of the Rootes group, eventually being dropped in favour of the Dodge name in the 1970s. To the truck enthusiast, the history of Commer has always been of great interest, with the Linley gearbox, the development of the two-stroke engine and the machinations of ownership being a constant cause of fascination over the years. This lavishly illustrated volume explores this history with a wealth of rare and unpublished images.

Read more less

This new edition of a collaboration between one of the finest living artists in North America and one of Canada's finest poets includes a new introduction by the distinguished anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss. Ten masterful, complex drawings by Bill Reid and ten tales demonstrate the richness and range of Haida mythology, from bawdy yet profound tales of the trickster Raven to poignant, imagistic narratives of love and its complications in a world where animals speak, dreams come real, and demigods, monsters, and men live side by side.

Read more less