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We have launched a new format Facebook site for 1948 Original Equipment.
We place on this pictures and stories about the people and friends we meet and most importantly post pictures of great vehicles. Please come and see us by clicking on the Facebook link on our home page of this website. If you like what you see, please click on "Liked".
We want to get our "LIKES" rating as high as possible - so please tell your friends!
2012 Show Update
Please find below the shows we hope to be attending. We still have to finalise some arrangements but we thought it time we published our proposed calendar. You will see that for the first time we will be exhibiting at the 2012 Bushcraft Show held at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire.
Date
2nd to 4th June. The Bushcraft Show at Elvaston Castle, for more information see www.thebushcraftshow.co.uk
23rd & 24th June. The Bristol and West Land Rover Show at the Bath & West Show ground in Shepton Mallet.This is a new event but promises to be a good regional show. For more information see www.bristolandwestlandrovershow.com
27th to 29th July. The Billing Land Rover Show – the oldest and best known Land Rover Show in Europe. Despite its critics still a great gathering of Land Rover enthusiasts. The location at Billing Aquadrome has a Marmite effect on most people. It certainly works for families with lots to do and see www.billing.lroshow.com
25th & 26th August. The Eastnor Land Rover Show – Land Rovers return to their spiritual home for the first time in a number of years. It offers fantastic scenery with a good off road driving course. We are really looking forward to this event. For more information see www.eastnorlandrovershow.com
8th & 9th September. The LRO Show Peterborough at the East of England Show Ground. This is the last big show of the season and there are lots of promises that this will be much better than last year. For more information see www.peterborough.lroshow.com
30th September. The 4x4 Land Rover Spares and Vintage Rally at Newbury Showground. This is a great end to the year and the perfect time to get all your parts for the winter builds or restoration. It is probably the biggest Land Rover auto jumble in the world and attracts visitors from across Europe and beyond. For more information see www.newbury4x4andvintagesparesday.co.uk
One out one in
We have just heard that the Land Rover Max Show is cancelled but there is a new show at the Shepton Mallet Show Ground called the Bristol & West Land Rover Show. It is being organised by Mark Woodward of Newbury 4x4 Spares Day fame, hot on the heels of his relaunch of the Eastnor Show (see below). Take a look at www.bristolandwestlandrovershow.com
Coming Soon
We have new stock from our friends Frost River. These are some of the best outdoor packs in the world and all are hand crafted in Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior. Watch our web site around the end of March to see some exciting new products.
One bag in particular we think will be a big success is the Isle Royale Jr which is specifically designed with Bushcraft in mind. Its signature twin vertical pockets are ideal for water bottles and a central sleeve will carry our woodsman axe. If you see us at a show ask to see this exceptional pack. You will be tempted!
A Land Rover Show returns to Eastnor Castle
As it is on our door step we are delighted to note that Mark Woodward has worked with the Eastnor Castle Estate and Land Rover Experience to bring a Land Rover show back to its spiritual home. The dates are Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of August. It is in the heart of the Malvern Hills set in a stunning location and I am guaranteed by Mark that local ales and cider will be on sale.
Mark is committed to making this a family show to remember. Full details of everything on offer as well as Advanced Tickets can be found on www.eastnorlandrovershow.com. His web site is easy to follow and with plenty of information, so this is definitely a date for your diary.
If you read our blog you could decide to make a short holiday break in Herefordshire. Think of visiting The Weston’s Cider museum, canoeing on the Wye or visiting Hereford Cathedral to see the Mappa Mundi.
We look forward to seeing all our customers and friends at the Eastnor Land Rover Show and perhaps sharing with you a glass of Wye Valley Brewery’s finest!
Power cuts - no problem
Another great item we have recently introduced is a classic storm lantern made by FEUERHAND in Germany. They first developed this lantern in 1902 and have been making them ever since. It is what we now consider an old fashioned oil lamp but it is one of the best forms of lighting you can buy. Ideal for camping or late night barbecues it offers 20 hours of light on one tank of fuel. The flame is fully adjustable and burns without noise. You are bathed in ambient yellow light and not dazzled as some lamps do.
Beware of imitations now made all over the Far East! The FEUERHAND lanterns have a specially constructed leak proof cell for the fuel and is equipped with a thermal heat resistant SUPRAX Globe. This stops cracking through thermal shock when exposed to rain or snow. The burner element has also evolved to stop flickering and shooting from the flame and burns very cleanly. They are lightweight to transport (always transport with the fuel tank empty is a tip we have been given) weighing in at only 530gms
They are also an excellent standby for power cuts and much safer than candles.
When Technology meets Traditional Style
We found Kupilka® items being used by a Bushcraft friend and were immediately impressed by the products design and looks. When we got back to the office we immediately researched the manufacturer in Finland and realised these were ideal products for our store.
Kupilka® products are made from Biomaterial. It is a Thermoplastic Natural Fibre Composites material. (50% wood and 50% Polypropene) It is completely recyclable and all its packaging is made from recycled cardboard.
Natural Fibre Composites are better than plastic as they have better heat endurance and its stiff structure makes it more durable. Compared to wood alone it needs no maintenance and does not absorb smells or liquid and is insensitive to humidity changes making it dish washer safe. Usage temperatures are from -30⁰C to +100⁰C.
It looks like a natural pine trunk product and many customers ask what type of wood it is made from. The attention to detail and quality shines through; each item is inspired by those essential pieces of gear used by the trappers and reindeer herdsmen who have roamed northern Europe for nearly two thousand years.
See all our Kupilka products in our Personal Gear section under Home & Travel
Winter is on the way!
Do not get caught out this winter! Our snow shovels are already selling fast!
We also have a great offer for three winter survival aids priced together at a specially reduced price
We never know when snow might hit so there is no better time to stow all the necessary gear in the back of your Land Rover.
Travel Notebooks used by the greats.
We have added two cracking leather note book covers to our collection. They are teamed up with legendary Moleskine® soft cover books to make ideal travelling or business companions. The leather is carefully crafted and finished to make them look old right from the start. They are soft and a joy to hold. The small version is great for exhibitions and shows where you might want to jot down a few notes but don’t wish to carry anything heavy. This notebook will fit in just about any pocket.
We have had these two beauties on test for some time and think they have proved to be a great success admired by all. Yes we know current trend is for some electronic device but the humble note book has so many advantages and is great to keep and cherish and then share with your grandkids.
If note books were good enough for Ernest Hemingway and Vincent van Gogh they are good enough for us.
Make someone you love very happy with this perfect gift!
Clothing from the Home of Safari
Over twelve months ago we set about sourcing a new bush shirt and shorts from Africa. Why Africa you might ask, when most of the world's clothing comes from the Far East. Well, we thought they might know a thing or two about what works. Historically practical use has always driven design and evolution. This was certainly true in the first half of the last century. The African continent drew explorers from all over the world and it's many climates demanded new products especially in the clothing arena. As a result they developed a real expertise in what was practical and needed. Large trading posts abounded equipping engineers, tourists and explorers alike. Factories established themselves meeting the local demands and eventually exporting around the globe.
Sadly the second half of the twentieth century saw a continent strewn with civil war, apartheid and famine. Politics, trade embargos and corruption in certain areas virtually saw an end to any exports of these great original products.
However one or two facilities remained in moth balls and some kept the skills alive producing items for domestic consumption. After working with our friends Carol and Pete we have now once again established links with one of the old factories and we have just received our first consignment of shirts and shorts.
Now as you might imagine we were not expecting these just at the start of winter but having jumped through hoops to get this first shipment we are not labouring the fact they are five months late. We have taken the positive spin that they are in good time for next spring!
The garments are everything we hoped for and we know they will prove a hit with our customers. They are made just like the originals, great quality fabrics, honestly made and designed for the minimum of fuss and maximum performance when being used on safari. This idea of finding Original Equipment is our reason for being and we hope you share our passion and enjoyment.
2011
Well the Show season has finished and we head towards winter. Very many thanks to all our supporters and customers, because of you we have had a good and enjoyable year. We hope you also enjoyed our Tipis at Billing and Peterborough plus seeing Monty who made his first show appearance this year.
Looking back on the year we think the Show scene has lost something. We live in a commercial world but organisers seem to keep paring back and not investing. We think this reflects in the attendance and the general feeling of not as good as the old days. Talk comes cheap and without getting on a political soap box we want to see some changes. Traders need to see a profit opportunity or they will not keep supporting shows. Visitors are the lifeblood so entrance fees must be realistic and above all shows must offer value for money and present something new.
My challenge to Live Promotions who seem to have quite a monopoly on Land Rover shows is let’s have new entertainment that has never been seen before and give something back to the visitors. We need better arena events taking place all day and into the evenings. We need much more vitality and involvement. This need not cost a fortune it just requires lateral thought and drive. Please can we have, as a matter of course, clean and well maintained showers and toilets kept at their best all weekend? I go to many different types of shows all over the UK and you can see so many good ideas that would be simple to translate into the Land Rover arena. I just wonder if the organisers of all our shows could consider a clean sheet of paper rather than what they did last year.
We have a whole new range of products going on the web for Christmas including, for the first time, our Treadwear Clothing. You will find a great range of T Shirts and Sweats for Children as well as for Men and Women.
Our leather goods with our 48OE logo will make great gifts for family and friends and you do not have to worry about correct sizing.
For that special present what about one of our great watches using light weight titanium and latest technologies they offer great value for a gift that will never be forgotten.
Please remember we are always receptive to product ideas and are still waiting for any pictures of our products in use anywhere in the world.
We are gathering together our show dates for 2012 and will be publishing these early in the New Year.
Treadwear Clothing
For those of you who have shopped with us at shows you will be familiar with our range of Treadwear items.
Always producing a smile, Treadwear likes to look at a more humorous and easy going way of life. Treadwear will also be known to all Land Rover show enthusiasts for the equally easy going nature of its Irish founders. Their hospitality was legend.
When the baton was passed to us we knew Treadwear would fit superbly well with 1948 Original Equipment. We were not wrong and we have steadily increased the number of clothing items in the range.
We have now launched Treadwear Clothing on this website. You will find a fantastic range of Kids' T Shirts and Sweats at sensible prices. These make perfect presents for your own family as well as those of friends. It is well worth taking time for a quick look.
We also have a Ladies' and a Men's section that will appeal to anyone with a love of Land Rovers. If you really want to ensure a perfect Christmas why not give a Mother Knows Best T-shirt. Enjoy looking around the Treadwear selection and we feel certain you will find at least one present to cross from your list.
Tommy, Monty & Winston
For those of you who are not regular Show visitors we thought you might like to see the three icons that inspired our business. These Series 1 Land Rovers always draw a crowd when we have any one of them in front of our Tipi at major events.
'Tommy' is a very early 1948 Land Rover with canvas top and in the pale green colour of all such early vehicles. All his original parts are fully restored, with matching numbers on chassis, engine etc.
Drives as well as any 1948 Land Rover but would not be recommended for any long journey. He is comfortable at 30 to 35 mph!
Our rare 1950 Tickford Station Wagon is 'Monty', and he is in original condition.
We love driving him and he is very much used and a part of the family.
There is much to suggest that this was the very first development that ended up with the classic Range Rover. A split tailgate and more luxury and comfort were the cornerstones of both models Tickford and Range Rover alike.
We have spoken with the family that had him from new and used him for family holidays all over Europe in the 1950s and early 1960s It passed from them and we purchased 'Monty' from Nick Baldwin the acclaimed motoring journalist.
'Winston' is part of the Civil Defence SXF series of Land Rovers.
He is a 1958 88inch Series 1 Station Wagon that was originally kitted out as a Radio Vehicle.
He was also our very first Series 1 nut and bolt restoration from the ground up.
Driving him by contrast to early Series 1s is a joy with much better brakes and steering.