Here is a small Morris-Commercial lorry with rather a large load! Actually it is a 'T-type' or 'Tonner' made in Birmingham.
Being somewhat of an expert on Morris Commercial vehicles (I am on the committee of the Morris Commercial Club and own two pre-war lorries)
I can tell that it is an early version with the cast aluminium radiator made from 1924 to 1929. Later models had a pressed steel, nickel plated radiator cowl.
The registration number is clearly visible, ML 9357, the 'ML' denotes that the vehicle was registered in Middlesex, that series of numbers ran from September 1926 to August 1927.
I estimate that 9357 would have been issued in July or August 1927 as it is quite near the end of the sequence - 9999.
As you can see from the picture the lorry is in excellent condition, shiny paintwork without and knocks or dents.
The very heavy duty trestles on the back supporting the poles were purpose made for that particular job.
Where was the photo taken? Was it in or around Crewe?
If it was taken 'down South' near Middlesex then why is the photo with other Crewe pictures? There are no 'electricity' markings on the vehicle.
Could it belong to a local haulage contractor who was employed by the electric company to deliver poles to outlying jobs?
I have no idea of the answers to these questions but it would be unlikely that a lorry in that good a condition would have been sold 'second-hand' so early in its life. Why would the electric company in Crewe or South Cheshire buy a lorry from near to London? I don't think 'Plod' would be too happy with the 'load' just tied on with rope as there were no ratchet straps in those days!
Many thanks to Gerald Newbrook for photo and background.
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