"Out of the Past", August 1986

Sir,

I read with interest your article “Out of the Past ‘ A flood of memories returned of the time mentioned by W B In the Mid-Twenties I was apprenticed to Eddie Bunford. The Garage Trefeglwys. and I have a clear memory of the motor cars in that area Trefeglwys being 4 miles from Llanidloes George Jenkins of Central Garage, Llanidloes, known locally as “Jenkins Cwmran” started his service to The Van Oldhall and Staylittle in competition with Tommy Evans -The Van” with a 1921 7-seater Buick tourer. Other cars in the area were-1921 Ford -T. 7seater tourer (very rare). 1923 Ford “I”‘ Sedan. 1919 Chevrolet Tourer. 1922 Studebaker Tourer. 1926 Buick “MasterSix” 7-sealer limousine with open rear have photographs of the Ford Sedan and the Buick) There was also a SuperFord charabanc Model “T” with detachable seats (a SuperFord because it was fitted with a SuperFord gearbox attachment that gave one speed higher and one speed lower than the normal 2-speed transmission On Saturdays and Tuesdays the SuperFord was used to convey passengers to Llanidloes and Newtown markets, tare to Llanidloes 1/3d and Newtown 2/return. On other days the seats were removed and it functioned as a furniture remover or to carry sheep and pigs to market Another local car-hire operator was Billy Jones. The Nynfa”. Llawryglyn He had a 1924 Ford “T” which he eventually scrapped for a 1928 model ”T”. the first with wirespoked wheels A very amusing incident occured involving Billy. although at the time it was far front amusing In those days it was the custom to carry out any messages or shopping when taking locals to market Bitty. unfortunately suffered f rem a bone complaint and had to wear an iron on his leg. This particular Saturday he stopped outside a chemist’s in Llanidloes , leaving the engine running. The brake lever situated to the righthand side of the driver when on put the transmission into neutral. when “off” it engaged top gear (of 2 speeds,. As Billy went to get into the car, his leg iron accidently knocked the handbrake forwards The can took off and headed for the °lc. market hall in the centre of Llaradloes Billy chased after it hopping rather than running Fortunately the mechanic from Central Garage was in the street and Jumped into the slowmoving vehicle drove it around the market hall and back down Longbridge Street to a very out of breath Billy Another old car in the area was a 1920 Fiat limousine (a massive vehicle) owned by Dick Jones. The Fron. Llawryglyn In Dick’s words the only trouble with it was the • ‘Shock-abosters” Other cars which were privately owned were 1919 Overland. 1926 Humber tourer. 1926 Clyno. Boll nosed Morrises. 1925 Renault. belt-drive Raleigh motor-cycles being in abundance I. myselt. was the proud owner ol a 1924 Scott 2speed motorcycle It was quite common in those days to see a Model “T“ Ford going up Paris Castle hill or Gellilefraith hill in reverse The reason was that due to the petrol outlet position from the tank there was insufficient petrol to feed the engine going forward (Gravity-feed supply, Repairs where often carried out in unusual places On one occasion I was taking a party of farmers to an agricultural show near Llandudno in a 14-seater Chevrolet charabanc (a replacement for the SuperFord following total collapse of the transmission,. On the trip there the engine ran a big-end (Rabbit-bearings, Lubrication was 4 lb psi While the larmers eraoyed the show I dropped the sump, scraped out the remainder of the white metal with a pen knife, cut off the leather door-checks and cut them to fit the crank tournal and con-rod, replaced the sump, over-filled it with oil (over the troughs) and safely returned home to Trefeglwys with a contented bunch of people having spent more time in the Beer-tent than looking at the show

Yes, those were very happy motoring days.

Welshpool. Powys. G L WILLIAMS •