 |  | | | My First set of Wheels! | There are 6 messages in this section. |
Ed Thomson from Glamis, Angus. Posted 26 Apr 2005.
I left School in April 1944 to start work as an Apprentice with the SMT at 39 Fountainbridge.I soon got into the swing of motor engineering and it was great to work with the guys who came back from the Military to hear how they repaired vehicles under combat conditions. | | |
|  | Ed Thomson from Glamis, Angus. Posted 29 Apr 2005.
I worked in the General Accident Rpair Shop on the first floor at Fountainbridge working on cars like Armstrong Siddeley,Talbot and Swift, to name but a few.My foreman also had the responsibility of driving the "wrecker" and I attended many road accidents with him as we were called out at all hours by the Police.
Another workmate was Jim McNeill who stayed at Canonmills, one day he asked me if I wanted a car. There was to be a sale of Government surplus vehicles at Powderhall Stadium (in 1946)and I went with him and bought a 1944 ex National Fire Service Austin Utility in grey finish with "NFS" on each door. It only had a few thousand miles on the clock,no battery no fuel and was covered in moss! All for £12 !!!.
A couple of days later the foreman and I towed it to my Uncle's empty garage a few streets away at Inverleith Terrace Lane. We had a second hand 6v battery from the SMT garage and a gallon of the then rationed petrol. We connected the battery, filled up with fuel and "Bingo" it started on about the fourth attempt.
Of course a lot of time had to be spent getting it roadworthy. It was already registered as GXU 583 a London Provincial number so it was soon on the road. Well, I had that vehicle until 1950 and hardly spent a penny on it. I went to Bristol, Land's End, Cape Wrath and was in daily use until I went Dublin in 1950. I was up in the Wicklow Mountains when the engine was smashed by a seized piston. End of story was I sold it to a farmer--for £25 Irish pounds the equivalent of my fare home!!
|
|
| | E.Robertson from East Lothian. Posted 14 Nov 2005.
I read with interest your memory about Inverleith Terrace Lane. I am trying to source any photographs from the lane or the terrace where my aunt owned a Dressmaker's shop, now a piano premises. If you could help I would be really appreciative.
Thank you, Elizabeth Robertson.
|
|
| | nisbet dalgleish from penicuik. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
Istarted at15 and done about 9mths. on the lub.bay with jimmy riddel and 3mths. in the stores,ialso was on the bus to vauxhall motors that year,a great time all the best. Nisbet.
|
|
| | Ed Thomson from Glamis, Angus. Posted 10 Feb 2006.
Sorry, read as Elizabeth Robertson!!
|
|
| | Ed Thomson from Glamis, Angus. Posted 7 Mar 2006.
Elizabeth Duncan please contact me on my Email
Thank you
Ed T.
|
|
|  |
|
|
