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Foden

Edwin Foden designed his first steam tractor in 1882 using an efficient design of compound engine and it came into regular production from about 1887. Within 10 years load-carrying steam lorries were on the market and in 1902 production of the famous 5ton lorry commenced which ran until 1923. The superiority of the petrol and later oil engine, plus the heavy legislation placed on steam vehicles sounded their death knell and so in 1931 the company turned its attentions to diesel powered lorries using the Gardner engine, but later using several different makes of oil engine

In the eight years up to the outbreak of World War 2 a large number of commercial vehicles were produced ranging from 4 ton to 15 ton payload and all featuring the same distinctive but conventional design of radiator grill. During the war the company was engaged on supplying 6x4 army lorries and parts for Centaur and Crusader tanks as well as munitions of various types.

Civilian production commenced as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities using the prewar types but the cab design was soon modernised with a curved front with the radiator grill blending into the new outlne

In 1964 the Steel Company of Wales placed an order for a large capacity tip lorry, as a result of which the first of many dump trucks were manufactured. The particular model looks amall by comparison with those manufactured in later years, but at the time it was regarded as huge. In the same year the revolutionary Foden two-stroke diesel engine was produced and production continued until 1977. Further modernisation and development took place in 1956 when power assisted steering was introduced and two years later Foden unveiled its first vehicles fitted with a reinforced plastic cab, which in 1960 was modified to tilt forward and give complete unobstructed access to the engine and mechanical components. In 1968 a few half cabs with forward angled windscreens mounted low on the chassis were made for special orders cranes and the carriage of long girders etc.

A new factory was opened in 1974 for increased production, although later the company ran into financial difficulties, but a large Nato order effected a recovery. New Fleetmaster and Haulmaster models with steel tilt cabs (of Motor Panels manufacture) were introduced in 1977. The Fleetmaster was normally fitted with a Cummins or Rolls Royce 290bhp engine and the Haulmaster which had a slightly different radiator grille and a split windscreen, was fitted with a Cummins, Gardner or Roll Royce 180-265 bhp engine. These models were also available in 1979 with a glass-fibre and aluminium cab.

In 1980 following a year of financial dificulties the recievers were called in and after negotiations Paccar International USA truck builder took control. Later the company became known as Sandbach Engineering Co although the Foden name continued to appear on its vehicles.



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