Model A Ford Truck
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| Ford truck undergoing restoration at Templestowe Technical (now Secondary) College. DP0891 |
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| Schramm's Cottage Fingers Barn and Shed with Ford Truck just visible inside. VHD-22413 |
The sheds at Schramms Cottage have been re-organised and the displays improved.
In the vehicle shed the Model 'A' Ford truck has been replaced, after being taken out for Wurundjeri and the carts arranged around it.
In the equipment shed, while the floor was spread with crushed rock, the equipment had to be removed and re-placed. The men with the extra muscle now, are Beatty Beavis, Bruse Watts, Eric Collyer, Ken Smith, Claude Symons and Irvine Green.
Source: 1984-09 DTHS Newsletter
The "A" model Ford Truck
In 1976 George (Beatty) Beavis found an old orchard truck in an orchard at Glen Waverley. It was an "A” model Ford Truck from 1929. Beatty offered to buy the truck but the orchardist was at first unwilling to sell. Then when he found that it was to go to an orchard museum, he donated it to Schramms Cottage.
After its life as an orchard truck with makeshift repairs then years of standing unused, the truck was in a bad way so Beatty spent two years cleaning it up, restoring the engine and repainting.
In 1979 the Ford Truck was brought into Schramms Cottage. The engine worked and it could be driven, it even had its old expired number plates.
Ford had been making their "T" model for many years but its simple gear system of one pedal for low gear and clutch and another for reverse with a basic construction, could no longer compete with the development of conventional motors. The ”A” model was a change to a conventional gear system. There were still differences, the accelerator replaced the reverse pedal between the clutch and the foot brake. The windscreen wiper was operated by hand.
At Schramms, John Tully maintained the truck, running the engine at regular times and keeping it clean, when John left the district the engine was no longer run although other members cleaned the truck. It was kept in the vehicle shed under cover but the shed was open at the front allowing the damp air and wind to blow into the shed. By the 1990s the truck had deteriorated.
In 1992, Jim Gray suggested that Templestowe Technical School might restore the vehicle as a class project and approached Ken Peitch, the automotive instructor. At that time the new VCA program had started. The program was aimed to give students an opportunity to learn actual working experience so the school accepted the project. The boys were to make a thorough study of the truck, assess the work required, estimate the costs then carry out the work. The boys set about restoring the engine with great enthusiasm, pulling It down and remaking parts that were needed. The Idea was to get the experience of making all parts that needed replacing rather than buying reclaimed parts. This work had to be carried out inbetween normal school classes and engineering studied, so restoring the engine took a long time. The next year, ideas changed and the school no longer allowed the boys to work on the project during school hours.
Work has been continuing slowly, a little bit at a time when it could be could be fitted in, mostly by the instructor himself. When it came to the cabin, they found that the woodwork was in a bad condition. All the timber had to be replaced and there were difficulties measuring the original shape from rotted broken timber. Some of the joints were difficult and took several attempts to perfect. Most of the metal body parts were damaged. These have now been repaired and remade and the cabin is completed.
The truck is now In very good condition although being either unpainted or undercoated with different types of paint, at first sight the truck appears to be a long way from finished.
At present the upholstery has to be rebuilt, parts have to be reassembled and then the whole painted. The good news is that next year work on the truck will again become a school project, so we can look forward to the "A” model Ford truck being placed in the garage, alongside the jinker, at Schramms Cottage.
Source: Irvine Green writing in 1996-12 DTHS Newsletter
1928 Model A Ford Truck
The 1928 model A Ford Truck from Schramm's is being renovated and restored at the Templestowe Technical School (Yarra Secondary College).Jim Gray arranged with the Rotary Club of Doncaster to have the truck restored as a school project by students of the school.
The Rotary Club and the Historical Society are sharing the cost of materials. The engine has been taken apart, cleaned and reassembled, it now runs beautifully.
The cabin is being rebuilt and worn parts replaced. Work on the body still has to be done. There are various trades involved in the work covering several departments, such as engineering, body building, panel beating, spray painting and upholstery.
The process takes time as students can only work during school periods between other subjects. When completed this old orchard truck, looking in perfect condition, will go into its new home where there is protection from the elements.
Source: 1993-09 DTHS Newsletter
Historical Society's Ford truck undergoing restoration at Templestowe Technical (now Secondary) College. Photographs of Schramm's Cottage during the making of a Heinz tomato soup advertisement in April 1992. DP0891 AND DP0755.
An envelope containing eight other photographs of the Ford truck undergoing restoration is in an archive box marked "photographs". | Templestowe Technical College, Cyprus Avenue, Lower Templestowe
1928 ford model a pickup truck Mottemuseum
Fordson Thames Truck found in Chrysties Museum, Tocumwal, NSW.
A Fordson Thames Truck (almost certianly the Fordson Thames ET 1954-1957) resides in Chrysties Museum, Tocumwal, NSW. The labels and truck door text confirm that it was owned by Serpells Orchards
Source: Tony Panther, email communication 2026
Source: https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/1950-Ford-Thames-Trucks-AUS.pdf Download May2026
Fordson Thames ET
In 1949, Ford of Britain presented its new post-war truck range, this time under the Fordson Thames brand only (instead of offering a vehicle by both brands separately), replacing the previous Fordson 7V models while still retaining the same chassis and Ford V8 flathead engine. ET stood for English Truck. In addition to the Commonwealth of Nations, it was also offered in continental Europe, but not in Germany (where it was seen as unnecessary as the similar Rhein and Ruhr models were sold there). The model series was available not only as a truck and chassis, but also as a panel van and bus.
A version with a Perkins engine was also offered. The conventional cab with a hood muzzle and split windscreen had more space than its predecessor. It was built by coachbuilder Briggs Motor Bodies and was supplied in almost the same form for the Dodge 100 and the Leyland Comet. The chassis had semi-elliptical leaf springs and now hydraulically operated brakes with vacuum brake booster. Payloads of up to eight tons and optional all-wheel drive were now also possible.
A four-wheel drive 3-ton variant (ETF6) with the Canadian V8 engine with vertical valves and a cab-over-engine cab from British Light Steel Pressings was also built. This was also used by Commer.
Because of the high fuel consumption of the outdated V8 engine, Ford launched the newly developed "Cost Cutter" in 1953 for payload variants up to three tons, a 3.6-liter four-cylinder engine with overhead valves. This engine was also the basis for Ford's first self-developed diesel engine with 3.61 liters of displacement and 70 hp (55 kW) of power. This was offered from 1954 as 4D or 6D. Production in Dagenham ended in 1957 and its successor was the Ford Thames Trader. Ebro built the Fordson-Thames ET models under license from 1956 to 1963 as the Ebro B series.
Source: Wikipedia as at May2026
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