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Bygone scene pictured in

Morris's Sentinel

by Malcolm Root

There has been a heavy shower quite recently in the night, but now at dawn the clouds are clearing, and the rays from the rising sun herald a beautiful day. Few people are stirring yet, but the Morris's lorry has a long day ahead making deliveries, so an early start is imperative.

The load on lorry and trailer appears to be about 65 drums of lubricating oil, meaning much energetic work to be done. The driver could not just climb into his cab and turn a key, or even swing a starting handle. It must have taken some time to get a full head of steam up so that he could tackle the hills along the route with a fully laden trailer as well.

Sentinel steam wagons were first produced in Glasgow in 1906, but the firm then moved to Shrewsbury in 1915. Steam vehicles were efficient, reliable and virtually silent, and today would be classed as environmentally friendly. They could be found in all spheres of road haulage, but sadly crippling taxes and legislation put an end to this form of transport. Sentinel was among the leaders, and in the 1930s its vehicles offered electric speedometer drive, automatic cylinder lubrication, self-stoking boilers, power take-off for a dynamo, tyre pump compressor and tipping gear, and load steam heaters to keep you warm!

The vehicle shown, which is a DG 4-6-7-ton flat platform wagon, was made in 1931. It has a vertical boiler beneath the cab, with a working pressure of 275psi, and the chimney passes up beside the driver and out through the cab roof. The cylinders. duplex 6 x 8in, are horizontal and placed beneath the load platform at the front, and drive is by chains to the rear wheels. The chain drive was later replaced with a conventional prop shaft.

This vehicle was first owned by Samuel Banner of Liverpool and carries the city's registration. It then passed to Paul Bros Ltd., Homepride flour mills, Birkenhead. It was sold for preservation after a long working life in 1949, passing to its present owners in 1977, who then restored it in the livery of Morris of Shrewsbury as seen in this picture. The old road sign and telegraph poles add evocative detail to this fine picture.

A lovely image of a bygone era in a 25 x 20 cm. (10 x 8 inch) clipframe.

The picture offered does NOT have the "SAMPLE" watermark!!