French

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LDK
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French

Post #1 by LDK » Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:31 am

Anyone got any memories or pictures relating to French? They had so much work going on in the 60's and 70's that I am surprised that they have not been mentioned.


Dowsett Boy
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Re: French

Post #2 by Dowsett Boy » Sat Nov 06, 2010 4:36 pm

I remember their Black and white striped cranes.Ithink they had a yard in Wisbech.


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Re: French

Post #3 by LDK » Sat Nov 06, 2010 5:04 pm

Their main yard was at Harlow, Essex, I am nearly sure.


Martyn Henley
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Re: French

Post #4 by Martyn Henley » Sat Nov 06, 2010 5:26 pm

Hi Russ ... is this the French plant hire you knew ?
http://www.frenchplant.co.uk/

Martyn


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Re: French

Post #5 by LDK » Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:41 pm

[quote="Martyn Henley"]Hi Russ ... is this the French plant hire you knew ?
http://www.frenchplant.co.uk/

Hello Martyn,

No the company I am talking about is W C French, They where a big company, all their cranes and navies where generally painted in black and white vertical stripes. The 3W in the picture I am going to "try" and post was an exception, It worked on the Datchet reservoir in the early 70's, it was double shifted, my father on one shift and Ron Barker on the other. They also did a lot of motorway and bypass work.


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Re: French

Post #6 by Nick Drew » Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:42 pm

Yeh Black and White cranes ...they were called W.C. French I recall

I am sure they have been mentioned on CMN before ??

Nick


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Re: French

Post #7 by LDK » Sat Nov 06, 2010 7:51 pm

Well, the picture didn't work so I'll try one more time.
No, it's not going to go. Ah well, I can see it!

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Re: French

Post #8 by modelman093 » Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:23 pm

LDK wrote:Anyone got any memories or pictures relating to French? They had so much work going on in the 60's and 70's that I am surprised that they have not been mentioned.


Think that they were the main contractor for the Brentwood by-pass - 1963ish .
Attached are a couple of pics of new 657s being delivered for French - see the name board on the swan neck - but I failed to note when or where!
Also a Le Tourneau "electric digger" being demonstrated on the Brentwood by-pass site.
Angus
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FOWLER MAN
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Re: French

Post #9 by FOWLER MAN » Sat Nov 06, 2010 8:58 pm

HI All,
The company was W & C French established in Essex in 1850. They later evolved into the Kier Group. (See post below).
img 100148.jpg

As a boy in the 1950's I remember seeing lots of publicity photos of Euclid scrapers,( possibly SS18s) and Vickers tractors and boxes in blue livery like the Kier's gear I remember in the 1970's.
Fred
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Re: French

Post #10 by Nick Drew » Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:17 pm

FOWLER MAN wrote:HI All,
The company was W & C French established in Essex in 1850. They later evolved into the Kier Group. (See post below).
img 100148.jpg

As a boy in the 1950's I remember seeing lots of publicity photos of Euclid scrapers,( possibly SS18s) and Vickers tractors and boxes in blue livery like the Kier's gear I remember in the 1970's.
Fred


Great stuff Fred,

You are a true font of knowledge !! :thumbup: :bow: :bow:

Nick :)


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