Interesting cable-operated towed scraper, what what make/model?

[Gavin Phillips]

Usually on a yearly basis, I take a trip to the Isle of Wight to catch up with some friends in the local area (Gosport, Southampton, Portsmouth etc).

During the visit, I was informed of the existence of this cable-operated towed scraper which, according to its present owners, is designed to be towed by something in the size/HP range of a Cat D7.

Its future is uncertain really, so I was very lucky to come across it.

Having a good look at it, there's no indication of a make on it anywhere. So are we looking at a Caterpillar here or something entirely different?





Best regards

Gavin

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi Gavin,
Thats a Vickers Onions open bowl box circa 1960s.
Possibly a 12/15 which has a heaped cappacity of 15 cu. yds?
Other models I remember included the 15/21, 8/11 and the smaller 3/4.
I used a 15/21 behind a Terex 82-40 .
Fred

[Gavin Phillips]

Hi Gavin,
Thats a Vickers Onions open bowl box circa 1960s.
Possibly a 12/15 which has a heaped cappacity of 15 cu. yds?
Other models I remember included the 8/11 and the smaller 3/4.
Fred

Wow thanks!

I figured it looked different from the Cat 435 which is the only really close up contact that I've had with scrapers of the towed kind; and those were hydraulic.

Vickers Onion, I recall seeing one of those being towed behind a Cat D8 on Classic Plant; Road Builders. A short lived TV series narrated by the late John Peel.

Thank you for that information. Now the search goes on for brochures to see if I can confirm what model this is!

Best regards

Gavin

[bigkit]

Pull that with a D6C or a D or D65 by the looks of it. Not attractive as scrapers go IMO. Stick to CAT ones!

[Gavin Phillips]

I'm just hoping it doesn't get scrapped if the owner can't find a suitable tractor for it.

Best regards

Gavin

[yellowiron]

Yep, its a Vickers Onions 8/11 yd open bowl. Heres mine.

[Gavin Phillips]

Yep, its a Vickers Onions 8/11 yd open bowl. Heres mine.

Nice picture and scraper! I take it that you are using a Cat D6 tractor to pull it?

Well at least now I know what to look for a brochure on as I am quite curious about this scraper, plus I like to know at least a little about what I have taken a picture of.

Thanks again for all your assistance.

Best regards

Gavin

[bob finney]

the omions scraper listed i remember moulding bros of manchester purchasing 2 new onesi 1965 aprox they were attached to cat d7e tractors employed on sport ground construction

[nick lamb]

Hi Bob,Mouldings are still on the go in one form or another.No tractors and boxes anymore though.
Just a thought.......I worked with a Danny Finney during the 1990's mainley in Scotland on D8's and boxes.I last stripped a coalsite with him in about 94 with him on a D10 pushing us on 631's and 637's.He would be in his early 50's then.

[sapper john]

Hi, Yes an onions 8yard box. We had them in the army in the 70`s. We used to tow them with a Cat D6C or a Fowler Challenger Mk4 or a Vickers Vigor.