This is a useful diagram, came in handy when working out the connections needed for wiring a Lucas SS47 which is similar to the later SS49 with a Lucas MDB or MDB1 magdyno.
And here’s the 1929 Lucas MDB running instructions, uploaded earlier but worth repeating.
Here is a little story from the nonagenarian legend that is Archie Beggs that gives a little insight into life on the Wirral between the wars.
Tales of Old Tom Ainscough
Tom was born in Wigan and originally intended to become a dentist, but a change in legislation requiring extra qualifications made this too expensive. Due to the depression of the early 1920s, the family moved across the Mersey to Moreton, where land was cheap. They bought a wooden bungalow. Moreton was underdeveloped, with no surfaced roads, electricity, or sewerage — hence the name “Bucket Town” (or Debtors’ Retreat).
Most people lived in caravans, some in DIY wooden shanties, and the more affluent in ex–World War Army huts. It was not unusual to see furtive handcarts being pushed by those unable to pay rent deciding to “do a flitting.”
Tom managed to learn how to drive a steam wagon by helping a neighbour, Billy Bontoft, who had a Foden. He had started off with a Mann’s wagon and then a Yorkshire wagon with a transverse boiler, which he said “you had to run down a ginnel to fire.”
Starting the Haulage Business
Tom and his brother Jack decided to go into the haulage business and set up the firm Walter Ainscough & Sons (Old Walter was a sleeping partner — literally). Their first wagon was a Foden from around 1913, registration M2632, bought from a scrapyard in Birkenhead. It was completely worn out. Tom steamed it home even though nothing worked, and it demolished a neighbour’s fence. The neighbour shouted, “You should be ashamed of yourself!”
The gearwheels were worn to razor-sharp teeth, and Tom’s father helped by chiselling the tops off and remeshing them.
The Sandstone Wall Job
Tom and Jack had some loads to deliver to a large builder’s yard at Heswall. Exiting the gateway, they accidentally swiped an ancient sandstone wall, which collapsed into the dry ditch. Tom assured the builder that the damage would be repaired, and as they drove away said to Jack, “Let him fix it himself — there are only a few more loads to do.”
To their surprise, the job went on and on. The builder kept asking about the wall repair.
“We are just waiting for the man,” Tom said. Then he had a bright idea and approached one of the neighbours who was out of work.
“Do you want to earn a bit of cash?” “What’s the job?” “Building up a sandstone wall.” “But I’m not a brickie, and I’ve no idea about it.” “No,” said Tom. “You only have to look like you’re doing it while we are getting work in. I’ll take you up in the morning and bring you back at night.”
Much to Tom’s surprise, the loads kept coming, and the stonemason gradually rebuilt the wall, finally finishing it. When it was done, the builder came to Tom and said:
“Will you give your man this seven and six out of my own pocket? He is so painstaking and careful. I’ve watched him from my office and seen him pick up a stone, study it for ten minutes before deciding where to place it.”
“Yes,” replied Tom. “He is a real expert. We had to wait a bit to get his services — he was working on the Liverpool Cathedral.”