The Classic Machinery Network

Hi Nick, I have enjoy your knowledgeable comments throughout the CMN site. Re lifting the apron, I very nearly came to grief with that one night shift when I was with Costain. We had 24s on a long haul and to liven things up in the early hours we were racing, I was doing great untill the guy in fron...

The White Swan at Phiffs Elm, yes that was the place, as for a reception venue, there can be no doubt about it, you knew how to show a girl a good time! As you say there were a lot of Hampton men from around that area, goes back to the old M5 at Worcester I guess. I certainly remember Big Robo the p...

Great phito Duncan,but who are those old guys? Other names that come to mind from the Bentley workshop are Basil Gamgee and Bert Parish. There can be little doubt the those workshops were second to none, cerrtainly on a par with Bowmakers or Levertons. Whoops we wern't suppose to mention Levertons,a...

Hi Tony, A lot of names I well remember, it'sthe'late' bit that I find daunting, every time I go to a funeral I seem to be getting a bit nearer the front! On that Cheltenham section of the M5 Dick had a TTS14 on demonstration from Blackwood Hodge two bowls and three engines, didn't catch on, infact ...

The mention of moving motorscrapers on the road, which was common practice well into the 70's, reminded me of many hairy incidents that took place over the years. Hampton's 14s on route to M1Hendon via the A40,meeting some Shellibare Price machines travelling the other way in the middle of HighWycom...

THat's right, Harry was origanally with Dowsett on the Opencast before joining Dicks, that last time I saw him was about 1974 when they were doing the muck for Laings on the Morrison Bypass. I believe he joined Barry Gold at Tarmac after Trafalgar House sold Dick to Dick Seymore about 76 or so.

Dig deep for Dick! What a find, nostalgier up to the makers name. I started with Dick in 1962 on the Bellbroughton ByPass driving a 955 traxcavator. Ashton Reece had the shout with Barry Gold as Agent. After that it was Ross on Wye with Harry Wrath, Port Talbot with Chris Chaplin,and Monmouth before...

Re Dick Hamptons 637s, , they were delivered new to the M4 at Newbury in 71 if I recall rightly. They were in fact late, some problems State side, and Bowmakers loaned four 657s ex Frenches untill they arrived. They were the first in the country and ofcourse caosed a lot of intrest, particularly as ...