Foden, just one example of British Engineering at it's best, just love the sound of those two stroke diesels and the look of the S21 cabs. Long gone, but not forgotten! The current vehicle manufactures just can't/don't see beyond the sale and that's where it's gone wrong?
My father, Bill Greenwood, worked there all his life. He spent much of that time in the drawing office. My grandfather Ralph Broad worked there all his life too. I even worked there myself compiling parts catalogues from 1978-1980 when it was closed down.
My first truck back in 1970 was a foden ,8 wheeler 180 Gardner and 6 speed David brown box. If the British makers had listened to the needs of drivers at the time as to comfort and sleepers the foreign trucks would not have got their foot in the door.
Great film, brought back many memories even spotted some familiar faces although after so many years the names escape me. Worked there from 1966 to close of play 1980.
+ROPESITE I'm so pleased you have seen this, that's what it's all about for me ! and you would have been there when my own S95 was built (1978). There are a few more Foden produced video's on my channel as well as my own stuff, just click on video's on my home page and take a trip back in time.
What I can't understand is that all these manufacturers disappeared and it was blamed on the downturn in the market amongst other things, but how come other foreign manufacturers seemed to keep going and are going today, ie DAF, MERCEDES ETC. baffles me. Something went wrong somewhere. Same as the manufacturer of Diesel Trains, none left now.
The demise of British Industry might be due to the intended dependence on the EU, so I consider there may well have been collusion between politicians, (well compensated) industry chiefs and the Union Leaders...
With this company, the vehicles were not cheap but I bet you got what you paid for. It appears these trucks were built to last for decades with proper maintenance.
Brilliant video. Pity the quality is lacking towards the end but I spotted a Tarmac Routeman and a Foden S20. Wonder if there's better editions of the footage knocking about?
I agree the quality lacking a little, but believe it or not this is a vast improvement on the original that I had given to me, old cine` reel film is always a pain with noisy reels and jumping film. Someone will have the original, maybe Brian Lomas of the Foden Society who gave me this copy.
Is there any chance of getting in touch with Brian? Would love to see the original as this one is superb. Many thanks for posting btw. If you have any other quarry related videos please post them.
I will e-mail Brian and ask the question. Rest assured as soon as any more come to light they will be on here. Maybe you have been through the fifty or so video's on my channel, some have quarry content, Foden dumpers, Port Rashid, Coal Board trials are a few that spring to mind, link to videos below. th-cam.com/users/SMayleificationvideos
Smashing stuff. :) I'm eternally grateful to you for uploading these videos as I'm interested in anything quarry and lorry related from the Derbyshire area from back in the day.
Fun fact 1. Foden is a rude word in Portuguese. Hasty rebranding required in Brazil! Fun fact 2. ERF trucks are so-named after Edwin Richard Foden, the founder's son.
What the hell happened to all the british trucks like these? what a shame, I have driven many a foreign truck they are sooo over rated give me a foden or erf any day
I admire the vintage lorries. I own some continental vintage lorries, but I wish I could drive a Borderer with a Gardner straight eight and a DB gearbox, one day. Would you please be so kind as to remark why the new lorries are so overrated? I'd appreciate your answer. sincerely
Carl Napp Well Carl I'm doing a Atki with a straight eight next, so watch this space.As for new lorries being overrated, all I can say is to me they all look the same, like modern car do, and they virtually drive them selves no longer requiring the old skills. I never thought the day would come when I had no interest in the haulage industry, but guess what, that day has come and gone, thank goodness for the vintage scene !
The Fodens are Legendary . With cause . Last I saw of the Breed was a thing called an E R F . Badged Western Star . Western Star make Great Trucks too . The current BEST . They do NOT however design a Cabover . Chose the Foden to carry their badge . Caterpillar powered unfortunately . Problematic installation . V-8 or even V-12 Detroit Two-stroke would have fit MUCH easier . Was a Great Truck that ERF . VERY well thought out . Kinda Ugly but................. Ah Well . Comfortable , Fast , Handled SUPERBLY great Ergonomics , Quiet without being TOO quiet , Easy to get in and out of , even though it didn't look like it should be (Cabover issue ,that) Etc..............
Classic British engineering supremacy, all gone through corporate ambition and sell off to another company ie Paccar.. Very sad. I would never have sold off Foden at all or accepted a takeover by another company. I would however have moved with the times and updated the products to include driver passenger airbags, electronic climate controlled air-conditioning, high quality stereos, anti whiplash seat head restraints, seatbelt pre-tensioners, pedals that collapse in a front impact to protect legs ankles thighs in a frontal impact, and included the possibility of running on alternative fuels i.e. hydrogen biodiesel LPG Liquified Natural Gas etc.
Fodens were mainly a fleet vehicle and not really spec'd with the end user in mind. Your "great" ideas would mean that you would not have had to sell the company - it would have been available really cheap from the liquidators.
Foden, just one example of British Engineering at it's best, just love the sound of those two stroke diesels and the look of the S21 cabs. Long gone, but not forgotten! The current vehicle manufactures just can't/don't see beyond the sale and that's where it's gone wrong?
Nice film , thanks for sharing. First lorry I ever drove was a foden and probably the best one I ever drove too .
My father, Bill Greenwood, worked there all his life. He spent much of that time in the drawing office. My grandfather Ralph Broad worked there all his life too. I even worked there myself compiling parts catalogues from 1978-1980 when it was closed down.
Fantastic could watch these programs all day
My first truck back in 1970 was a foden ,8 wheeler 180 Gardner and 6 speed David brown box. If the British makers had listened to the needs of drivers at the time as to comfort and sleepers the foreign trucks would not have got their foot in the door.
Great film, brought back many memories even spotted some familiar faces although after so many years the names escape me. Worked there from 1966 to close of play 1980.
+ROPESITE I'm so pleased you have seen this, that's what it's all about for me ! and you would have been there when my own S95 was built (1978).
There are a few more Foden produced video's on my channel as well as my own stuff, just click on video's on my home page and take a trip back in time.
ROPESITE I was? 0000
Wonderful film. Thank you for putting it up 👍
Such a shame it no longer exists, I miss the place even though I only worked there under Paccar management.
I worked for Fodens at their Knottingley depot from 1968 to 1978 great place to work with my manager who came from Fodens Sandbach Harry Kettle.
Good old days Bro, when everyone was working, Everybody bought Great Britain, Things
Foden 6 and 8 wheel tippers......Next to bomb 💣 proof!!
Great video Steve , watching the dumpers reminds of the one/s at the now flat Stanton iron works , they used them for bringing the stock heaps in .
Outstandingly outstanding.
can't believe we don't have a single British vehicle on the road now :-(
Yes its a traversty
What I can't understand is that all these manufacturers disappeared and it was blamed on the downturn in the market amongst other things, but how come other foreign manufacturers seemed to keep going and are going today, ie DAF, MERCEDES ETC. baffles me. Something went wrong somewhere. Same as the manufacturer of Diesel Trains, none left now.
The demise of British Industry might be due to the intended dependence on the EU, so I consider there may well have been collusion between politicians, (well compensated) industry chiefs and the Union Leaders...
Some of those components left to harden for a year!!
Very interesting and inspiring video.
With this company, the vehicles were not cheap but I bet you got what you paid for. It appears these trucks were built to last for decades with proper maintenance.
lovely
Brilliant video. Pity the quality is lacking towards the end but I spotted a Tarmac Routeman and a Foden S20.
Wonder if there's better editions of the footage knocking about?
I agree the quality lacking a little, but believe it or not this is a vast improvement on the original that I had given to me, old cine` reel film is always a pain with noisy reels and jumping film.
Someone will have the original, maybe Brian Lomas of the Foden Society who gave me this copy.
Is there any chance of getting in touch with Brian? Would love to see the original as this one is superb. Many thanks for posting btw.
If you have any other quarry related videos please post them.
I will e-mail Brian and ask the question.
Rest assured as soon as any more come to light they will be on here.
Maybe you have been through the fifty or so video's on my channel, some have quarry content, Foden dumpers, Port Rashid, Coal Board trials are a few that spring to mind, link to videos below.
th-cam.com/users/SMayleificationvideos
Smashing stuff. :) I'm eternally grateful to you for uploading these videos as I'm interested in anything quarry and lorry related from the Derbyshire area from back in the day.
I think i seen the first truck i drove. 6 wheel tipper OHK194M (lol)
Fun fact 1. Foden is a rude word in Portuguese. Hasty rebranding required in Brazil!
Fun fact 2. ERF trucks are so-named after Edwin Richard Foden, the founder's son.
The Portugese word is Fodus, not Foden.
It was close enough to have Foden's change the name to Poden in that market.
They were good for a bygone days the brakes were sh.te And handled like a shopping trolley
What the hell happened to all the british trucks like these? what a shame, I have driven many a foreign truck they are sooo over rated give me a foden or erf any day
I admire the vintage lorries. I own some continental vintage lorries, but I wish I could drive a Borderer with a Gardner straight eight and a DB gearbox, one day.
Would you please be so kind as to remark why the new lorries are so overrated?
I'd appreciate your answer.
sincerely
Carl Napp Well Carl I'm doing a Atki with a straight eight next, so watch this space.As for new lorries being overrated, all I can say is to me they all look the same, like modern car do, and they virtually drive them selves no longer requiring the old skills.
I never thought the day would come when I had no interest in the haulage industry, but guess what, that day has come and gone, thank goodness for the vintage scene !
The Fodens are Legendary . With cause . Last I saw of the Breed was a thing called an E R F . Badged Western Star .
Western Star make Great Trucks too . The current BEST . They do NOT however design a Cabover .
Chose the Foden to carry their badge . Caterpillar powered unfortunately . Problematic installation .
V-8 or even V-12 Detroit Two-stroke would have fit MUCH easier . Was a Great Truck that ERF .
VERY well thought out . Kinda Ugly but................. Ah Well . Comfortable , Fast , Handled SUPERBLY great Ergonomics , Quiet without being TOO quiet , Easy to get in and out of , even though it didn't look like it should be (Cabover issue ,that) Etc..............
Mate you are talking sh## Erf was nothing to do with Foden, fitting the unryliabu 3208 cat or big thirsty 12/71 would have lost more sales
Classic British engineering supremacy, all gone through corporate ambition and sell off to another company ie Paccar.. Very sad. I would never have sold off Foden at all or accepted a takeover by another company. I would however have moved with the times and updated the products to include driver passenger airbags, electronic climate controlled air-conditioning, high quality stereos, anti whiplash seat head restraints, seatbelt pre-tensioners, pedals that collapse in a front impact to protect legs ankles thighs in a frontal impact, and included the possibility of running on alternative fuels i.e. hydrogen biodiesel LPG Liquified Natural Gas etc.
Fodens were mainly a fleet vehicle and not really spec'd with the end user in mind.
Your "great" ideas would mean that you would not have had to sell the company - it would have been available really cheap from the liquidators.
uk trucks were so ugly