Shelvoke & Drewry was a British manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles. Founded in 1922 to produce the SD Freighter Shelvoke & Drewry ceased trading in 1991. It was best known for its innovative waste collection vehicles, which were once the preferred choice of municipal authorities in the UK. It also manufactured fire engines, buses and fork-lift trucks.

The company ceased trading in 1991, however a large number of S&D vehicles remain either in operational service or are in preservation in museums or by private individuals. Below is a listing of known preserved Shelvoke and Drewry vehicles.

Year Reg. No. Cab/Chassis Body Type1925No Reg. No.FreighterSpecial for Works use1927KP 7670FreighterSide Loader1929MI 2721Freighter1920/30No Reg. No.FreighterChassis only1920/30No Reg. No.FreighterChassis only1934BPL 73FreighterChelsea1935DPF 432FreighterChelsea1936RD 8178FreighterGully EmptierBP 9822FreighterReplica Tramocar1937JL 4881Freighter MK IIGully Emptier1947No Reg. No.Freighter MK IIChassis/cab onlyNo Reg. No.Freighter1947JDE 512FreighterChelsea type body1946ENJ 661'W' Type1950/51217159'W' TypeCrash tender1951ZL 7761'W' TypeChelsea1954RVO 157'W' TypeNow flat bed lorry195878 DNK'W' TypeNow with Derby body1958701 DUR'W' TypeCesspool Emptier1959HFA 908'W' TypeYRE 367'W' TypeCesspool Emptier1952FVH 619'W' TypeTanker1962892 BWX'T' SeriesFormer Pakamatic1963VTW 601E'T' SeriesPakamatic1964251 BJD'T’Series Recovery vehicle 1967HYD 719D'T' SeriesTanker1967GKT 122D'T' SeriesCesspool Emptier1968 (Scrapped 2007)LXE 51 E'T' SeriesPakamatic1971GWJ 667J'T' SeriesF&A1971JNN 463K'T' Series1971JLY 162K'T' SeriesTanker1972FBU 227K'T' SeriesPakamatic1972OFT 983K'T' SeriesNow flat bed lorry1972KLK 464K'T' SeriesGully Emptier1974RDM 639M'T' SeriesCesspool EmptierScrapped 2007507 ENV'T' SeriesF&A1975GJD 121N'N' SeriesDerby type1974GGV 547N'N' SeriesRevopak1979FCD 935V'P' SeriesRevopak1980EGZ 9390'P' SeriesNorba1982SCY 786X'P' SeriesRevopak1984A325 OMJ'P' SeriesMaxipakScrapped 2018No Reg.'P' SeriesNorba1986D93 DAJ'P' SeriesRevopak1991OJI 2936'P' SeriesFlat bed body1991H680 BHS'P' Seriesex RCV Chassis Cab1976RAB 498PSPVCarmichael Fire Tender1979YHV 186TSPVPump Escape1979YHV 187TSPVPump Escape1981GYW 614WSPVPump ladder1981GYW 628WSPVPump ladder1981GYW 631WSPVPump ladder1981EBB 847WSPVFoam Tender1981ETN 909WSPVEmergency Tender1982ANO 169XSPVTurntable ladder

Chassis Designations From the start of production of the W Type each Vehicle was given a letter prefix at the start of their chassis number. The table below shows the know prefixes used and where known, the meaning. Some letters seem to have dropped once that item had become standard E.g. Air brakes

+PrefixTypeDescriptionGVWW(1946–61)W typeSteering Wheel8.000 GVWTWW typeT type cabTNT typeNarrow track6.720 GVWTBNT typeNarrow Track -Air Brakes6.720 GVWTZT type12.500 GVWTBZT typeAir Brakes12.500 GVWTXT type13.760 GVWTYT type16.260 GVWTBYT typeAir Brakes16.260 GVWTYRT typePower steering16.260 GWVNNN typeT type cab11.500 GVWNNRN typeT type cab-Power steering11.500 GVWNXN type14.000 GVWNYN type16.000 GVWNYRN typePower steering16.000 GVWNTN typeDouble drive22.000 GVWPNP typeNarrow track11.920 GVWPNRP typePower steering11.920 GVWPNLP typeNarrow – Long12.500 GVWPNL+P type Narrow- Long13.500 GVWPXP type14.230 GVWPXRP typePower steering14.230 GVWPYP type16.000 GVWPYRP typePower steering16.000 GVWPTP TypeDouble Drive22.000 GVW

SD Freighters The SD Freighter was in production from the formation of Shelvoke & Drewry Ltd. in 1922 until the last Freighter was manufactured in 1955.Kaleidoscope of Shelvoke and Drewry, Nick Baldwin & William Negus (1980) Caption 80. This definitive history of the Company from its foundation in 1922 was published whilst the Company still existed. Conceived as a light lorry the SD Freighter soon proved to be popular for refuse collection with its low loading height, small turning circle and simple control utilising two handles, known as "Tillers".

No Reg. No. SD Freighter. Year of Manufacture: 1925 Original Owner: WH Allen, Bedford. Owner: Present Owner unknown. Location: Bedfordshire.

This Freighter was produced for WH Allen Sons & Co. of Bedford, manufacturers of marine and aero engines in 1925 who also operated a standard SD Freighter at this time. Modified to carry an amazing ten ton load the altered gear ratios restricted the Freighter to just 3 m.p.h. The front wheels were built up with wooden felloes and steel tyres whilst the oversize rear wheels were steel castings. The Freighter returned to Letchworth in the mid-1970s for retirement. A worthy working life of some 50 years.

KP 7670

SD Freighter. Year of Manufacture: 1927 Original Owner: Borough of Folkestone.

Custodian: Malcolm Bates. Location: Bedfordshire.

Started as a demonstrator in June 1927, sold in 1929 to Folkestone, used by them until 1946, then used as a sewer maintenance vehicle until 1966. Restored to 1922Kaleidoscope of Shelvoke and Drewry, Nick Baldwin & William Negus (1980) condition by SD apprentices in 1968. (That year the 40 Club was formed for employees with 40 or more years service at the company). Became property of Dennis when S&D closed. With the Shuttleworth collection at Old Warden Bedfordshire, then Coventry Museum of Motor Transport until Malcolm Bates became custodian in the summer of 2003.

KP 7670 has appeared more than once on the HCVS Annual London to Brighton run.

The SD Freighter is driven using two tillers located to the left and right of the driver – one to control steering the other the gearbox – and two foot pedals – an accelerator and a brake.Vintage Lorry Annual. Edited by Nick Baldwin (1979.) This Annual contains an article by Nick Baldwin about the 1927 S & D Freighter restored by apprentices in 1968 to the 1922 specification. Nick is taught how to drive the vehicle by Jack Hubbard the company's chief demonstration driver for forty years from 1936.

MI 2721 SD Freighter with flat bed body. Year of Manufacture: 1929 Original Owner: Pierce & Co., Co. Wexford, Ireland.

Owner: David Johnston. Location: Co. Cavan, Ireland.

This Freighter was used by Pierce & Co. for the transport of raw materials and finished farm machinery to and from the docks and railway station and was in use up to the 1960s. Then for a time it was owned by brewers Smithwick's of Kilkenny. It was then acquired by the An Dun Transport & Heritage Museum, near Athlone in Co. West Meath, Ireland. In October 2010 it was purchased by David Johnston and has been fully restored and re-painted in the livery of McCreath Taylor – Tar Importers.

No. Reg. No.

SD Freighter. Year of Manufacture: Believed to be 1920/30 Chassis Number: 012751 Original Owner: Possibly Kendal U.D.C. Owner: Present Owner Aled/Matt Rees (BRVC). Location: Bristol, UK

This Freighter chassis was purchased by its former owner in 2011 with the aim of restoration. Since around 1982 it had been in private hands in North East England. That owner had purchased it after it had been used for internal transport by Associated Lead Ltd of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 2016 it changed ownership again and as of 2020 is still awaiting restoration.

No. Reg. No.

SD Freighter. Year of Manufacture: Believed to be 1920/30 Original Owner: Possibly Whickham Council near Gateshead. Owner: Amberley Working Museum Location: Sussex, UK

This Freighter chassis was purchased by its present owner in 2011 for use as spares for the replica Tramocar Reg. No. BP 9822 at the Amberley Museum. Since around 1982 it had been in private hands in North East England. That owner had purchased it after it had been used for internal transport by Associated Lead Ltd of Newcastle upon Tyne.

BPL 73

SD Freighter with Chelsea type body. Year of Manufacture: 1934 Original Owner: Epsom & Ewell

Custodian: Southern Counties Historic Vehicles Preservation Trust (SCHVPT) Location: Sussex, UK When BPL 73 and her sister Freighter DPF 432 were withdrawn from service with Epsom & Ewell Council instead of making a final trip to the scrapyard they were stored by the council. Eventually the building they were stored in was to be demolished and one of the Freighters was offered to a group of enthusiasts from Worthing in the 1960s. This was long before the concept of preserving commercial vehicles had become established. The group is now known as the Southern Counties Historic Vehicle Preservation Trust who continue to care for this vehicle.

The Freighter has pneumatic tyres, accommodation for loaders including a fold down seat in the front compartment, and an electric headlamp. The Chelsea body is equipped with steel sliding shutters. BPL 73 has taken part in several HCVS London to Brighton runs and is regularly rallied. The Freighter appeared in the film version of Dad's Army. A photo of BPL 73 appears on the front cover of Barrie Woods book on Municipal Refuse Collection Vehicles.Municipal Refuse Collection Vehicles, Barrie C. Woods (2002) Barrie Woods is a former employee of Shelvoke & Drewry.

DPF 432 SD Freighter with Chelsea type body. Year of Manufacture: 1935 Original Owner: Epsom & Ewell

Owner: Russell Cook Location: Shropshire.

DPF 432 along with her sister Freighter BPL 73 was withdrawn from service with Epsom & Ewell Council but instead of making a final trip to the scrapyard was stored by the council. Eventually the building they were stored in was to be demolished. DPF 432 was in poorer condition than BPL 73 and passed into the hands of a private enthusiast. When restoration of the Freighter proved to be beyond this individual's resources he donated the vehicle to the East Anglia Transport Museum near Lowestoft with the intention that the Museum should undertake the restoration. There it remained in storage for many years un-restored and since the Museum is primarily interested in buses and trolleybuses in 2009 the decision was taken to dispose of the Freighter. In that year it passed into the hands of Russell Cook who intends to restore the Freighter to full working order.

RD 8178

SD Freighter Gully Emptier. Year of Manufacture: 1936 Original Owner: Reading Urban District Council.

Owner: Present Owner unknown. Until 2009: Michael Bicknell, Berkshire Location: Unknown.

Over the years many Councils purchased their gully emptiers and cesspool emptiers from Shelvoke & Drewry along with their refuse collection vehicles. This example from 1936 has pneumatic tyres and a windscreen but still very primitive weather protection for the driver.

In the July 2010 issue of Vintage Roadscene Magazine an article describes the vehicles designed for the disposal of liquid waste.Vintage Roadscene Issue 128 July 2010 ISSN 0266-8947

This was one of Mr. Bicknell's fleet of four SD's that moved on to a new owner in 2009.

BP 9822 SD Freighter re-built as replica Tramocar. Year of Manufacture: 19?? Original Owner: City of Truro

Custodian: Amberley Working Museum Location: Sussex, UK

Around 50 SD Freighter chassis were fitted with bus type bodies and used at seaside resorts in the summer season. The largest operator was W.R. Gates who named the vehicles Tramocars and operated a fleet in Worthing from 1924 until the business was taken over by Southdown in 1938 who continued to run Tramocars until 1940. The Amberley Working Museum utilised an ex-City of Truro SD Freighter chassis to build a replica Tramocar which regularly carries visitors to the museum, and commemorates the Worthing Tramocar service. Contrary to an earlier entry the control pedals have NOT been moved and the accelerator is still in the middle with footbrake on the right and the gong on the left. David Kaye gives a full account of SD Freighters as buses in Buses Extra October–November 1987.Buses Extra No. 49 October–November 1987 ISSN 0141-9927 The Southdown Enthusiasts' Club published an account of the Worthing Tramocars in 2002.An Anthology of the Worthing Tramocars The Southdown Enthusiasts' Club July 2002

JL 4881