The Classic Machinery Network

Does anyone have any recollections of UMO Plant?

They were the importers of a range of Russian plant & equipment including Belaz dump trucks, Kamaz on road trucks and the four wheel drive UAZ Trekmaster and possibly tractors as well.

They did sell a few of the Belaz dump trucks as well as the Trekmaster which was a bit of a competitor for the forward control Land Rover (with about the same level of reliability)!!

There were stories at the time that the operation was a KGB front to allow easier access for Russian personnel to visit & travel around the UK, sounds a bit far fetched but who knows?

Can anyone remember buying or operating any of the gear, is there any still about?

Cheers
Mark

Hello Mark, Yes I remember the plant at Letchworth.
I used to live near the area, do have a few pics of the dumper trucks and a Russian Hellicopter brought over for demo Crop spraying and ambulance work if my memory serves me right.
The pics were not brill, but I will try to find them.

Regards, Gordon Wilson

Thanks Gordon, be interested to see those pics.

Cheers Mark

Came accross this one Mark,pretty sure the trailer's a Crane Fruehauf Tim

Thanks Tim,

That old girl would have been kept busy delivering the kit countrywide.

Cheers
Mark

Was about to post asking for Dick Hampton memories/ pics when I saw your posting re UMO. You were not far off the mark with the KGB thing. I can't remember the year but GB had a major diplomatic row with the USSR over activities of their embassy and commercial personnel that were "not in keeping with their diplomatic status" - amongst other things a considerable number of UMO staff were given the boot!
Somewhere I have some pictures of their Soviet built dump trucks and a dozer that looks more like a tank with a blade working on the Wraysbury Reservoir site not far from Levertons old Windsor HQ. That was '65/66 ish so the UMO thing must have been later than that - I would guess early 70s. Friend of mine when stuck with the Saturday crossword tends to turn to me and say " you know a lot of useless information" - perhaps he's right!
Angus

Just found this on Google
September 24 Events in History
[b]September 24, 1971 90 Russian diplomats expelled from Britain for spying ... September 24, 1970 Soviet Luna 16 lands on earth after 1st unmanned round trip ...
www.brainyhistory.com/days/september_24.html - 41k - Cached - Similar pages
Think that the timing is about right for the UMO affair!
Angus

I worked for UMO plant at the DONCASTER Depot in 1969/70 .... One of the ... Jobs they undertook was moving sand banks at Southport beach.... I was driving a dozer at United Glass in Harlow new town on hire to George Dews .... It wasn't a bad firm to work for .... They also had crawler cranes over here too .. But they were said to be too fast so they sent them all back .... The tank like Dozers were diesel / electric machines ... I remember at least one of them working beside BIG GEORDIE .... on Derek Crouch's open cast coal site .... I just cant remember the blokes name who brought them over here .... But he used to be with Star excavations .... And he lived at Brotherton in West Yorks

tim wrote:Came accross this one Mark,pretty sure the trailer's a Crane Fruehauf Tim

UMO1.jpg

Got a picture of that same AEC with a load on it in one of my books about trucks, I will try and look it out and see if I can get it scanned in.

Jeremy

Are UMO still in business selling Belaruss tractors?