Classic Refuse Trucks SHELVOKE & DREWRY

Advances in the Design of Refuse Collection Vehicles.
An Assessment of the Contribution made by Shelvoke & Drewry Ltd (1922-1991)

By BRIAN CARPENTER
and ERIC VOYTKO

INTRODUCTION: THE SHELVOKE & DREWRY FREIGHTER

When Harry Shelvoke and James Drewry set up S&D to manufacture their unique design of small lorry, they thought of it as a general purpose vehicle. But very soon it gained popularity with municipal authorities for refuse collection, and this became the major use for the company's vehicles. Unlike many of their competitors S&D manufactured both the chassis and the body. In many cases the Freighter of 1922, which is often referred to as "The Tiller", replaced horse-drawn wagons for refuse collection.

Borough of Watford Freighter No. 7
Its advantages were:

1. Its simplicity of control. Two levers, or tillers, controlled the vehicle situated to the right and left of the driver. One controlled the steering, the other the epicyclic gear box, which eliminated the need of a clutch pedal. The driver also had an accelerator and a brake pedal.

2. The diminutive 20 inch diameter solid rubber tyred wheels permitted a low loading height, and eliminated punctures from landfill sites.

3. Hydraulic tipping was provided, where most competitors relied on manual means of tipping the body.

4. Automatic lubrication was provided to all moving parts, eliminating the need for regular greasing.

5. Canvas or steel shutters were fitted, to lessen the amount of dust discharged into the atmosphere from the previous open lorries.

In practice the vehicles were found to be more economical than the use of horse-drawn vehicles.

Among the Freighters that remain in preservation is this ex-Folkestone example which was restored to 1922 condition by S&D's apprentices in 1968

The ex-Epsom & Ewell Freighter dates from 1934. It runs on pneumatic tyres and has an electric headlight. The cab includes space for loaders

LATER DEVELOPMENTS: Mk II FREIGHTER

From 1931 pneumatic tyres became standard, as by now improvements in technology made these more robust. Treadle operated "dustless shutters" were offered from 1927, hydraulic operation of the shutters was introduced in 1929. In the same year a fully enclosed cab with a compartment for loaders appeared.

In 1949 S&D fitted a Fore & Aft tipper body to the Freighter. Based on the German Faun design the body could be regularly tipped forwards to compact the refuse. This basic design was to become a popular specification for SD vehicles for over a decade.

This 1937 Mk II Freighter Gully Emptier remains in preservation.

10/1/04 (Revised 1/17/10)