James Jones Foden Lorry LUA895 before and after restoration
The image is courtesy of David Leslie of James Jones and has been lying in the in-tray since he passed the image to here in 2013!
Lovely image of a six wheel heavy duty truck/lorry obviously set aside for a considerable time in some forgotten corner and then found and beautifully restored. Must be from the 1950s can anyone confirm?
An amazing piece of work – can anyone fill in the full story of the original and its restoration?
The surprise is in the attached PDF below as this machine has real hauling power with a large cable winch fitted to the rear and large spade anchors to prevent backward slippage.
Any comments and details on the winch would very welcome.
Download Large Version (349kB)
Groups: Timber lorries and loaders
Group: Forestry Areas - 3245 pictures
6 Comments
Wow what a nice restoration that winch is something else looks powerful I wonder what make it is?
Comment left on 13 December 2020 at 10:48 by leslie phillip
A Foden STG6 6x4 tractor, used for heavy haulage, timber haulage and by showmen for hauling their fair rides (Please read Jimmy Thain's following comments of 27/02/2021). I believe the winch was made 'in-house' by Foden. I suspect but don't know that this tractor was used to haul a pole timber trailer and the winch would have been used to extract the logs from beside a forest track and then to tush them onto the pole trailer, using the rope to roll the logs up skids onto the bolsters that could be adjusted for length along the pole of the pole trailer.
Comment left on 13 December 2020 at 16:50 by Bill Rayner
The Foden is not a STD6 as suggested, it is a special built at James Jones workshop.
It started life as a wartime army DG6 and was rebuilt using the winch and other parts from an older Foden timber tractor, the cab is from a 1950’s Foden .
The impressive looking winch is Fodens own manufacture.
It is now owned by Mike Dreelan, an Aberdeen vintage vehicle enthusiast.
I remember seeing it loaded up and still in commercial use at James Jones Forres sawmill in the late 1950’s
Comment left on 27 February 2021 at 20:55 by Jimmy Thain
It started life as a wartime army DG6 and was rebuilt using the winch and other parts from an older Foden timber tractor, the cab is from a 1950’s Foden .
The impressive looking winch is Fodens own manufacture.
It is now owned by Mike Dreelan, an Aberdeen vintage vehicle enthusiast.
I remember seeing it loaded up and still in commercial use at James Jones Forres sawmill in the late 1950’s
Comment left on 27 February 2021 at 20:55 by Jimmy Thain
Thank you Jimmy, for your first hand knowledge of the tractor/lorry. I shall make an amendment to my comment. Good health, BillR
Comment left on 28 February 2021 at 11:11 by Bill Rayner
Re Pic 4983. JJ&S Foden.
This Foden was originally a long wheelbase platform FG or SG 6 ex royal navy painted dark blue. It's purchase and conversion was initiated by the late Bill Baillie, who was the chief engineer at James Jones& Sons.
It was constructed to replace a four wheeled STG6, similar to one owned by Brownlee of Earlston , the photo of which is also here. Both, I believe, were supplied by the then Ministry of supply to assist in the production of timber during wartime, the STG6 model first appeared in 1941 and both came with a Dyson four wheeled pole trailer. However, if my memory is correct the four wheeler had no brakes on the front axle and vacuum brakes to the trailer.
However, as we were hauling from loch Laggan to Larbert it was felt that a larger trailer could carry more and we purchased a new six wheeled Dyson trailer.
However, it was soon apparent that the tail was wagging the dog and that a larger tractor was required. As we could not source something suitable in our price range, LUA695 was purchased from Don Martindale of Chorley, who was one of the largest sources and suppliers of ex military vehicles, and whom we purchased all our ex wd vehicles from, I believe this was round about 1960.
Once in our workshop the rear bogie was removed and moved forward to what we thought would be a suitable wheelbase and cropped the chassis to suit. As the cab was badly damaged we purchased a completely new fully trimmed cab from Sandbach, and following a check of the engine it was duly fitted. Having removed the winch from the four wheeler, which had been out of commission for a few weeks due to what we suspected was one or more broken teeth on a gear wheel, it was completely dismantled and as we were unable to obtain a replacement from Foden the broken tooth was built up by welding and gentle use of a small grinder. and fitted to the new chassis.
In these days the paint scheme was thorpe green cab , mid mason red chassis and wheels.
Sometime in the early 70,s it was retired and given to Willie Smith, the manager at the Kirriemuir mill, who was a steam traction engine enthusiast.
It lay there for many years then was sent to, I believe Alan Imrie at Arbroath for restoration, but sadly ,that didn't happen and it was returned to Kirriemuir. On Willie Smith's death all his engines and equipment were auctioned at Forfar and,I believe, one of Mike Dreelans friends bought it on his behalf. I am delighted to see pictures of it and hope to meet up with it some day , as I spent many happy days during its construction. My congratulations to Mike for a wonderful restoration
Bill Nicol--EX JJ&S from 1946--2011
Comment left on 10 March 2021 at 22:15 by Bill Nicol
This Foden was originally a long wheelbase platform FG or SG 6 ex royal navy painted dark blue. It's purchase and conversion was initiated by the late Bill Baillie, who was the chief engineer at James Jones& Sons.
It was constructed to replace a four wheeled STG6, similar to one owned by Brownlee of Earlston , the photo of which is also here. Both, I believe, were supplied by the then Ministry of supply to assist in the production of timber during wartime, the STG6 model first appeared in 1941 and both came with a Dyson four wheeled pole trailer. However, if my memory is correct the four wheeler had no brakes on the front axle and vacuum brakes to the trailer.
However, as we were hauling from loch Laggan to Larbert it was felt that a larger trailer could carry more and we purchased a new six wheeled Dyson trailer.
However, it was soon apparent that the tail was wagging the dog and that a larger tractor was required. As we could not source something suitable in our price range, LUA695 was purchased from Don Martindale of Chorley, who was one of the largest sources and suppliers of ex military vehicles, and whom we purchased all our ex wd vehicles from, I believe this was round about 1960.
Once in our workshop the rear bogie was removed and moved forward to what we thought would be a suitable wheelbase and cropped the chassis to suit. As the cab was badly damaged we purchased a completely new fully trimmed cab from Sandbach, and following a check of the engine it was duly fitted. Having removed the winch from the four wheeler, which had been out of commission for a few weeks due to what we suspected was one or more broken teeth on a gear wheel, it was completely dismantled and as we were unable to obtain a replacement from Foden the broken tooth was built up by welding and gentle use of a small grinder. and fitted to the new chassis.
In these days the paint scheme was thorpe green cab , mid mason red chassis and wheels.
Sometime in the early 70,s it was retired and given to Willie Smith, the manager at the Kirriemuir mill, who was a steam traction engine enthusiast.
It lay there for many years then was sent to, I believe Alan Imrie at Arbroath for restoration, but sadly ,that didn't happen and it was returned to Kirriemuir. On Willie Smith's death all his engines and equipment were auctioned at Forfar and,I believe, one of Mike Dreelans friends bought it on his behalf. I am delighted to see pictures of it and hope to meet up with it some day , as I spent many happy days during its construction. My congratulations to Mike for a wonderful restoration
Bill Nicol--EX JJ&S from 1946--2011
Comment left on 10 March 2021 at 22:15 by Bill Nicol
Bill Nicol - If you send me your contact details I can speak to Mike Dreelan to try and arrange a meet up. The man who restored it with Mike is a real Foden Enthusiast and would be real keen to hear your information first hand.
Best Regards
Michael Anderson
manderson_mainside@hotmail.com Comment left on 12 August 2021 at 17:29 by MICHAEL ANDERSON
Best Regards
Michael Anderson
manderson_mainside@hotmail.com Comment left on 12 August 2021 at 17:29 by MICHAEL ANDERSON
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