Transporting Vintage Technology 1955

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Transporting: Vintage Technology (1956 - 1960)
All those radios, televisions and radiograms had to be moved around the country, so what better way to advertise your wares on the road than to spruce up the old delivery van. Here are some great reminders of vintage technology vans.

The vans of A. T. Stromberg, Ltd., of Stoke-on-Trent, pictured on the right are seen carrying ITA posters advertising the Midland Band III service, in an effort to urge the public to have their TV receivers converted. ITA was the first UK independent TV station which was slowly gathering coverage in the UK at that time. [January 1956]
This picture is from a advert by the famous aerial manufacturer, Belling- & Lee Ltd of Enfield. The "Belling-Lee" Mobile Research Unit provided speedy answers to technical queries about reception difficulties "in the field". It was also frequently employed on investigations into the design and performance of new aerials. At one time it was also engaged in mapping the field strengths of sound and vision in television fringe areas. [June 1956]
Goodman's demonstration vehicle arriving at the premises of Rae Macintosh & Co. Ltd., at Edinburgh, for demonstrations during the Festival. Goodman's was famous for its test gear and multi-meters. [September 1956]
More sophisticated pictorial images were beginning to appear by the time we get to 1956. I can imagine this had quite an impact when first seen whizzing down the small town streets. One of the new Alba delivery vans with their theme in colour on the side. "More and more Homes are happy with Alba Radio & Television" [December 1956]
Left is a picture of the Morrison Electricar , an electric van used for deliveries and service transport by a London Suburban wireless and electrical trader. Topical at a time when petrol was in short supply and rationed this was one of 15,000 electric vehicles on the roads at the time. Driven with two pedals, these vehicles had up to 36 battery cells giving 280AH capacity. Although more expensive than the petrol equivalents (up to £300 for the batteries and another £100 for the charger) the running costs of 2.395d were about one-third lower. [December 1956]