the lorries

The lorries were without a doubt the stars of the business. Motorised road haulage was a still a very young industry in the 1920s and 1930s and this is reflected in the fairly rapid change in the types of vehicle used. Melia’s Transport decided to adopt ERFs as standard after 1935, and later elected to place all other types into a new company, HFW, named after the finance director, Herbert Frederick Ward. They also bought Fodens after WW2, but other vehicles, mostly Leylands, had been acquired through the purchase of smaller businesses.  

An AEC ‘Y’ type with a Tyler engine parked outside 682 Tonge Moor Road in Bolton, circa 1925. This was the ‘solid tyred horror’ referred to in the book. Although almost impossible to see, Thomas and Edward are actually sitting in the cab.

A WW1 Maudslay. It is not entirely clear whether it was one of these, or the AEC below that was the first vehicle acquired. The clip is from a test drive uploaded to Youtube.

A new Saurer acquired by Melia’s around 1933.

Armstrong-Saurers were produced in Tyneside by Armstrong Whitworth from 1931 until 1937. The company wanted to diversify away from armaments and obtained a licence from a Swiss based operation, Adolph Saurer AG.   

An ‘eight-wheeler’ ERF carrying paper for Thames Board Paper. The photograph was taken outside the Middlebrook Mill, Gilnow Lane, Bolton just before Christmas 1936. Somewhat surprisingly, the building still stands.

The elderly gentleman in the centre is Austin Melia (Senior). To his right is Thomas Melia and left, Edward Melia. The other people standing are employees.   

A Leyland Beaver purchased from FW Lund (Bury). Five Leylands of different models, two Dyson trailers and a garage formed part of the acquisition.

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum based in Leyland, Lancashire has examples of this and other models from the period.  

Examples of a Leyland Bull and a Leyland Octopus. Both types were operated by Melia’s.  

An example of an Atkinson six-wheeler, a type also transferred into Melia’s subsidiary, H.F.W.

A Foden DG 6/15 in H.F.W. livery. This was reputedly the first Foden off the production line after the cessation of hostilities in WW2.

Family photo

Family photo

Family photo

Youtube share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSZ7qkCVNac

Old advert

Unknown, possibly commercial lorry rally

Unknown, possibly commercial lorry rally

Given  to Melias Transport during purchase process. Photo now held in a North East museum

Photo now held in British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland