Post Office Telephones
Morris Eight - Overhead Linesman's Van
Morris Eight
The Morris 8, overhead linesman's van ELO 688, serial U17400 was used on telephone duties for Post Office Telephones.



Photos: © LSA April 2008, except where stated. 
| EXIT | The Morris Eight | GPO Types | CE Collection |
Introduction

This Morris 8 [ELO 688] was originally one of the vehicles in the Telecom Technology Showcase Historic Vehicle Collection. In 2006 it was relocated to the Connected Earth collection at Amberley Museum.

The GPO Types
ELO 688 at Amberley
ELO 688
Resident at Amberley Museum, a typical GPO scene of telephone kiosk, pillar box and period vehicles.

Note the circular windows in the rear doors of ELO 688.


Photo © Light Straw Archive April 2008.
Connected Earth Collection
ELO 688 Amberley Museum April 2010
"This type of vehicle was used in the Post Office Engineering Departments in the 1930s by one man on overhead line maintenance. The design featured a sloping green glass windscreen which enabled the operator to look up at the insulators and check the overhead line for breaks. This particular vehicle, U17400, was first registered in February 1938 and used in the Brighton Area until scrapped. It was bought by S M Tidy Ltd of Brighton and used as a maintenance van in the plant hire business."



Photographed at Amberley in 2010 it resides within BT's Connected Earth, partner collection. See further details below...  
"In October 1962 it was sold in Worthing to Mr B Johnson who had some work carried out prior to reselling it. The van was bought by Mr Shepherd who got it on the road in 1967. In 1977 it passed to Mr P A Scan of Exeter from whom Post Office Telecommunications repurchased it in 1979. U17400 has now been fully restored by British Telecom London Motor Transport Section at Yeading."

Morris 8 Overhead Linesman's Van Morris 8 Overhead Linesman's Van ELO 688
This Morris 8 was originally one of the vehicles in the Telecom Technology Showcase Historic Vehicle Collection. In 2002 it was relocated to the Connected Earth collection at Amberley Museum.


Photo: Light Straw Archive April 2008  

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