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| c1947 with AEC diesel truck |
I was quite
overwhelmed by all the comments on my recent Sepia Saturday blog about Pa’s
trucks, so thought I should write a second post on this theme trying to answer
some of the questions, and include more photos!
Yes, there are
more!
Pa loved taking
photos and had a movie camera too, although these aren’t digitised yet - not
past putting on videos.
 |
| On the way to pick up yearlings in Mansfield |
If you are
interested in reading about ‘a day in the life’ of a racehorse transporter,
then read the second half of my Melbourne Cup Day post where I ‘interviewed’ my
Dad about what the day was like for him – very hectic and quite a different
view than the fun I associate with going to the races.
Dad came back to
me with some more info about the odd fronted truck from my first Sepia Saturday post on this theme:
“This truck was a 6 Horse float AEC
diesel "LH" and dates
from about 1947.
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| c1941 first premises of Garrett & Griffiths |
It had the same chassis as the old Sydney double-decker buses but the
chassis was lengthened along the wheelbase to accommodate 3 horses all facing
the front and with room for a strapper (attendant) for each horse on race day,
or as a sleeping area for a relief driver on interstate trips.
The chassis was
also lengthened behind the wheels to allow for another 3 horses and seating for
strappers. Each horse was in its own separate, padded compartment. Built in for
each horse was a feed bin. These weren’t used for race days.”
 |
| post 1947, 911 Glenhuntly Rd, Glenhuntly, Vic. business premises and residence |
Pa worked for a
company called Hardiman’s, then the large Chapman’s racehorse transport company
before he started Garrett & Griffiths, so he already knew there was a
growing need for this service.
He started out
on his own in 1940-1941 in partnership with Jack Griffiths.
In 1947, he dissolved the partnership with Griffiths but kept the company name.
They moved
premises then, and Mum has fond memories of living at 911 Glenhuntly Road, and
not so fond ones of the smelly gas-producer truck in the backyard.
 |
| Dad thinks this is funny as there were only 2 or 3 companies involved in this industry at the time. |
Wow, the newspaper clippings are nice too, what a story. But I think all the trucks are very interesting to see, a style that I haven't seen much of!
ReplyDeleteI notice your father recognized the value of maintaining the business name of the company after parting from Mr. Griffiths.
ReplyDeleteA piece of family history worth to be recorded!