The History of The Fork Lift Truck
Episode 13: 1948 - New Trucks, New Companies
By the end of 1948, there were many new models of forklift trucks appearing on the market. The majority had lifting capacities of 1,000lbs to 2,000lbs, and most were American. Alongside the well-known makes of Baker, Hyster and Lewis-Shepard were the Transitier, with a tiny 4-cylinder Crossley Cobra petrol engine and stylish bodywork. Among the 2,000lb capacity trucks was the Buda-Chore Boy forklift truck, on three pneumatic tyred wheels. A twin vertically opposed engine mounted over the rear steering wheel supplied power for the hydraulics and transmission. The drive was relayed through a steel to steel friction cone clutch, which was connected to a four speed gearbox and then by chain to the front axle.
 The Baker Company also launched an interesting battery powered articulated truck around this time. This truck, model type AIMH, was developed before the 1939-45 conflict, and three were tested under actual operating conditions during 1940. Seven more were dispatched to American companies during 1941, and on completion of the trials fifteen were shipped to Britain by the War Production Board allocations in 1942. On instructions from the same agency, production was then suspended until the emergency was over. The first of these revived models, built post war, were distributed in Britain by Lansing Bagnall under their distributorship agreement.
During March 1949 the now rapidly growing company of Lansing Bagnall moved into their new factory buildings in Basingstoke. By August the first four of the new model "P" motorised pedestrian operated pallet trucks were ready for delivery. At the year-end a total of 51 would be delivered to customers.
About the same time the designs of the Coventry Climax Models "FTD" and FTF" were altered to take in more improvements. This included the complete removal of the front bulkhead and the consequential repositioning of the fuel tank to the rear of the driver. An overhead guard was offered as an option, and a flameproof model was now made available. The company also made the decision to move away from supplying the automobile market with engines and concentrate on manufacturing forklift trucks, marine applications and fire pumps.
 The Swedish company BT, based in Ulvsunda, Sweden, now started to make itself known in the European materials handling market. Registered in 1946, they began by manufacturing mechanical pallet trucks during 1947, and followed this with a hydraulic version in 1948. As if to celebrate its third year in business, BT then also put forward the idea of a standardised pallet for Europe. The idea was developed in a joint venture with Swedish State Railways, and in December the same year the EUR pallet was introduced. This pallet was a success from the start, and is still going strong today.
There were also stirrings in the market place in Germany. Jungheinrich, with their newly acquired trademark of Ameise, produced a battery-powered platform lift truck, and Still launched its first forklift truck, the EGS 1000. The Still Company entered materials handling during 1947, when it won a contract for its model EK 2000 battery operated platform truck with German Railways.
Steinbock of Moosburg, although a well-established business in lifting equipment for cars and lorries, also made this the time for their debut into materials handling with a series of electric forklift trucks.
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If you would like to support the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre please contact:
James Brindley
07801 954 167
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