Post Office Telecommunications
A Dodge 'Spacevan'
Throughout the Seventies the Commer 15 cwt van with its two man crew was a common sight on the streets of Britain. Later models were badged as Dodge 'Spacevans'.

Sadly there are very few examples of the Commer in preservation. The example opposite is being restored (in 2008) by Martin Maltas.

 

For 6cwt vehicles, the Bedford HA utility was used by customer apparatus and line maintenance staff as well as installation fitters.

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Post Office Telecommunications

In 1968, Golden Yellow was adopted as the new 'safety' colour for all telecommunication vehicles and the white lettering was changed to grey-green. And from 1973, the words 'Telephone Manager' were phased out.

In 1975, the red 'double-line' Post Office Telecommunications lettering was introduced.


Commer & Dodge Spacevans
Commer and Dodge Spacevans
Throughout the 1970s the Commer and Dodge yellow Spacevans were a common site on the streets of Britain. Today, there are only a few surviving examples...


Bedford Vans

A Corgi limited edition model of a Bedford TK box van 'Post Office Telecommunications' in Golden Yellow livery. This example being part of South Eastern region.

Bedford TK Box Van

South East Telecommunications. Buzby says, " Make someone happy..."

Links to Bedford CF History
www.bedford-cf.co.uk/



Electric Bedfords

XOC 723 T
Bedford Lucas Electric
"Electrically powered vehicles have been on trial in the Telecommunications Business for some time. This one is at work in West  London."

www.looneyland.freeserve.co.uk/electric.htm

Extract from www.racingmechanic.co.uk

Retired Lucas employee H. B. Homer provides an insight to Lucas' place in the development of electric vehicles between 1968 and 1976.

"Lucas has been involved since 1968 in the development of electric drive systems for vehicles, including the development of a 1 ton electric powered Bedford C.V. going into production, prototype Ford Transit and B.L. Sherpa vans also being developed. These vehicles were in use by many fleet operators, public utility companies, airports, hospital complexes and the G.P.O. They had a range of over 70 miles between battery charges, sustained speeds of up to 50/55 m.p.h. and acceleration of 0 to 30 m.p.h. in under 14 seconds fully laden. Operating costs worked out at about one or two pence per mile, depending on usage and local electricity tariffs."


Facts from the Era

Singleton Working:

This was facilitated by the introduction of the 'dropwire dispenser' in 1969. It enabled one engineer, unaided, to complete the external wiring for a customer's installation with up to three spans of dropwire and a single road crossing. The 'dropwire dispenser' simply held the drum of cable and by means of a pulley arrangement, fed out the cable as required. More complex installations involving a main road crossing would still require a two man gang.

Commer van on trailer, photograph courtesy of the Martin Maltas 2008. Dodge Spacevan '42 wheel', Light Straw Archive October 2009.
POEU Magazine June 1971
POTJ Spring 1980
Bedford TK box van scan July 2000
Compiled by Light-Straw © 1997-2010