1. A quiet day for a 10hp Morris at a polling station.
The first Morris 10 Series M photo on this page is dated 23rd February 1950, and a stamp on the back suggests that it was printed by the Air Ministry, or at least on their paper..
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In the background is a sign for a local Polling Station, where the locals would go to place their vote in an election. A little research has shown that February 23rd 1950 was General Election day in the UK, an election that saw Labour returned to power. Of more interest though is the little Morris Ten shown in the photograph, with an electoral slogan in the rear window saying, I think, "Vote Martell". Unless I am much mistaken, I think it is a Morris 10M, or to give it its full name, a Morris 10 Series M. The 10M had a chassis-less construction, and was fitted with the overhead valve XPAG engine, similar to that found under the rakish bonnet of the MG TC. The Series M first came out in 1938, with the final cars rolling off the line in 1948.
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2. A Morris 10 M and a roadside picnic.
The next pair of old photos show a Series 10 M parked at a quiet roadside, with a tasty picnic in full swing. The car appears to be registered OXU 13, a London number, so perhaps the family were enjoying a day away from London's smog in these images? An ingenious table appears to be hanging on the back of the Morris, complete with tablecloth and a selection of cutlery and utensils in view. Three bottles of pop are on the ground, with a small stove and kettle sat in the grass, a safe distance from the car.
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3. Another Morris seen during a holiday.
The following photos came with the above set, but show a different Morris 10, registration ENR 443 (a Leicester numberplate). The people in the photos look similar too. The Morris was captured on film during a caravanning holiday. My guess is that the caravans were parked long-term on this site, as the Morris has no towbar, and neither it nor the E493A Prefect would have been able to tow very well either. Note the traditional lines of the caravan, and proper old-style deckchairs!
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4. A 10hp Morris plus four-legged horsepower.
This next photo shows a filthy Morris Series M parked on a muddy track, accompanied by a couple of equine enthusiasts with their trusty steeds. The Morris must have had some in-car wireless setup, judging by the length of the car's aerial.
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5. Morris Ten Series M plus caravan.
One of our own family's photos now, taken in mid-Wales during the 1950s. In it, a standard Morris Ten Series M sits patiently, awaiting to make a leisurely journey with a 1950's caravan attached to it's towball and a full complement of passengers on board. Various family members are in view, namely my Great Grandfather, Mum, Uncle William, Gran, Great Gran, and one of my Grandfathers - George Thompson, who, during the war, flew (amongst other machines) De Havilland Mosquitos in a Pathfinder squadron. Apart from an RAC badge and a dent to the offside front wing, the compact Morris is pretty much as it left the factory in '46.
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The Morris appears to be registered HNC 358, or RNC 358. HNC was a Manchester series introduced in October 1946, while RNC dated to 1955 which is too late for a 10M, hence it must be HNC 358 (see all *NC registrations here). Cars built after WW2 featured a revised, more curved radiator grille of the type shown above, compared to those that were built in the latter years of the 1930s.
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The location of this photo is also known, the B4355 North West of Knighton, in a tiny hamlet called Dutlas, located in mid-Wales. The property in the background was built by my Great Grandparents, and continued to be family occupied until the early 2010s by my last Great Uncle, on mum's side of the family. The house has featured, looking somewhat overgrown, on the site before, as it appeared in a magazine article some years ago, that I chanced upon by strange coincidence - that particular story can be seen here).
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The location for this photo can be seen on the following Streetview image. Last time we drove by, the site had been tidied up and it looked like the building was to be renovated. In the garden behind the house, which slopes down to the River Teme, there still survived an original Victorian summerhouse, that was mounted on a rotating turntable that could be moved to follow the path of the sun. Hopefully that too will be preserved.
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Return to Old Vehicle Photos Page 6.
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