Briggs Motor Bodies

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Just a point of curiosity, but does anyone know how Briggs produced the Bradford wooden frames? I guess most of us have had a go at repairing frames and they are horribly complicated. Restoring one or two is challenging, producing on average 100 a week would seem to be a daunting task. Original frame sections are well finished - not just rough sawn - even on a utility where they are covered up. What sort of machinery was used? anyone got any photos etc?

[Tony Fearn]

An interesting point. Perhaps the same general query in the next copy of the Jowetteer might bring up a few answers. Not all Jowett employees will be on the Web, or even on this site.
Tony.

P.S. Why haven'y you posted your Avatar yet?

[John Wolf]

Having spent untold hours salavging enough old frames for reasonable patterns I would suggest that the various frame parts were originally roughly cut out on a band saw, assembled using finger joints and then profiled using a spindle moulder / planner or other similar profiling machine. There are a lot of angles and rebates on the various body frame components and from my experiance Briggs or their contractors must have used some form of jig or pattern in the production of the body frame parts to ensure consistancy of the finished product.

The dimensions and profiles on the old frame parts I have salvaged have have all been the same for similar components, which tends to rule out any hand finishing of these parts.

I am building some new door frames at the moment and believe me if it isn't the correct shape it won't fit.

I would be interested to know what patterns or frame parts for Bradfords are held in the UK.

[Keith Clements]

This is a common request. Can we try to find a set of drawings to put in JowettGAllery?

[Keith Andrews]

Graphed profile Template drawings...
Pics/ Diagrams of any jiggs ppl have made.

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Thanks to John for his comments. I still find it mind boggling that Briggs could produce the number of frames necessary by such a labour intensive manner (40K Bradfords - OK not all were boddied- over the years 1946-1953 works out at 100 a week) surely production was more sophistocated???
Thanks Keith, Like John I have spent hours doing the same thing and the better part of the last 25 years trying to unearth drawing, even as far as approaching David Burgess-Wise the one time (maybe still) Ford archivist, in case anything was kept from Briggs. NOTHING! I do have a few floor frame drawings that were produced a few years ago, but otherwise I have never found either drawing or reference to them. Like John says, some dimensions repeat regularly and almost every part has a right angle corner somewhere - which leads me to ponder, were the frames copy milled or similar from carpentered patterns and drawings never produced????? If anyone knows please tell us as there appears to be at least 3 of us intrigued!!!