Ipswich Transport Museum’s ‘Co-Op’ restoration team are at it again. Hot on the heels of completing the Newmarket Co-Op horse drawn bread van, museum volunteers are now planning to finish the restoration of a 1951 Morrison Electric Coal Lorry.
The lorry, which looks like a large milk float without a roof, was used by Ipswich Co-Op for over 30 years, and has been owned by the museum since it was withdrawn from service. Originally a cosmetic restoration to its bright red livery was planned, but Leo Brome and his team have secured a £7,000 grant from the Association of Industrial Archaeology, which will enable the vehicle to be made operational.
Leo said ‘we are thrilled with the news that the AIA have decided to support our project. We’ve already completed a good deal of the restoration work, but there are several expensive jobs left to do, including overhauling the motor and control equipment, and fitting a new set of batteries’.
Co-op battery lorries were an everyday sight in Ipswich for decades. We tend to think of electric vehicles as modern ‘environmentally friendly’ technology, but floats like this have been around for well over half a century. They were used to deliver coal, milk, butchery and greengrocery door-to-door. Locally, Ransomes were pioneers in developing battery-electric lorries a hundred years ago.
Tasks already completed include renewal of the wooden ‘flat bed’ where the coal sacks were loaded, repairs and repainting of the chassis, and refurbishment of the cab area.
The electric lorries operated from the Co-Op coal yard in Derby Road. They were the largest electric vehicles in the fleet, with 25 horse power motors. To carry the heavy coal loads, two pairs of wheels were fitted to the rear axle. The museum is keen to hear from anyone who worked on them or remembers them visiting their streets. ‘We’d love to include a display of stories and tales about the Co-Op and their vehicles’ said museum chairman Bob Mellor.
‘We’ve already got a 1948 milk float and a 1966 greengrocery cart on display. The coal lorry will make a marvellous exhibit'.
Visitors will be able to keep tabs on the work as it progresses as the vehicle is displayed in the museum’s restoration zone, which is accessible to the public on museum open days.
The coal lorry is one of a number of restoration projects currently being undertaken by museum volunteers. Nearing completion are a 1939 Dennis Ace bus, a 1965 Scammell Scarab mechanical horse, and an 1880 Starbuck horse tram.
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