The Classic Machinery Network

Great photos John. I have seen one or two before were they Chaseside publicity shots?

Yes they were some from the sales manager at chaseside
Here is a few more

Thanks as ever John, some great photos there. The LM 500 was the first larger machine that Dad allowed me loose on. The Bucket arrangement was not as good or as fast as the 12H that we had but it was actually nicer to drive in some ways.

Thanks John some superb publicity shots there.

Jeremy

I wonder what the date was for the LM500 shots. Looks like a regular works driver and I wonder if any of the overcoats were senior management. I guess we'll never know.

Great photos , whats the difference between a LM 500 and a 700 ?

Craig

XS650 wrote:Great photos , whats the difference between a LM 500 and a 700 ?

Craig

The 700 was a later model although they overlapped and both based on various evolutions of the Fordson Diesel Major. The 700 had a better side arm design with greater tearout and roll back (crowd) on the bucket.
You could not roll back the bucket on the 500 when right down but it was set up so as you lifted in a spoil heap the bucket automatically rolled back.
The early 500s had the twin hydraulic controls on levers by the right of the steering wheel. The centre brake pedal was wide so you could transfer right or left foot. Gear lever on left. The 700 had the hydraulic levers alongside the drivers left leg and close to the gear lever. Actually made access on that side more difficult but must have been considered more ergonomic I guess. The 700 was also available with a Brockhouse torque convertor from about 1959, 2 fwd speeds and one reverse. I would think very few if any of those model have survived in working order as they were unrepairable years ago. Some were converted to manual by sourcing a gearbox from a Fordson Major. The later model could also have power assisted steering.

A line up of front wheel drive 600s. I have never seen one of these in the iron although a 50s handbook for a 500 covered this model as well. A few got exported to Scandinavia as did Wetherill's early front wheel drive 8H. Perhaps this was due to that region having a preference for front wheel drive including the early Volvo shovels?