Page 5. SD Enthusiasts' Club Magazine - Autumn 2010.
Some of S&D's Main Competitors.
No. 4. Jack Allen.
In 1971 S&D faced a new competitor - the Seddon Allen Municipal (SAM) Colectomatic which used the American Heil intermittent loader system.
Jack Allen based at the time in Buckingham Street, Birmingham in the heart of the West Midlands were commercial vehicle body builders and repairers who in 1965 had been appointed Distributors for Dennis in the Midlands. Two years later Municipal Vehicle Hire Ltd. (MVH) was formed. This made vehicles available on hire to councils when their vehicles were off the road for any reason. The concept proved to be popular and John Allen, son of the firm's founder, and the Managing Director at the time, became aware that both the S&D and Dennis compression compaction vehicles required quite a considerable amount of maintenance of the compression mechanism. Seeking a solution to this problem he searched for information at the American Embassy in London and found the Heil Company. He then went to the Netherlands to witness the Heil Colectomatic in service. After this initial demonstration John was convinced that the Heil system was superior to the U.K. designs.
John Allen ordered a Heil body from the U.S.A. and mounted it on a Dennis chassis. The vehicle was loaned to Nottingham City Council with instructions to "try to break it." Nottingham were so impressed with the vehicle that after six months they placed an order for six.
Dennis were naturally unhappy with this development, and John Allen realised he had to find another chassis supplier. He turned to Seddon Motors and in 1971 ordered 100 Seddon 13 Four chassis. Jack Allen took delivery of all these in 1971. A Perkins 6354/2 diesel engine was specified.
In 1973 Heil set up their own body manufacturing plant in Hillend in Scotland, Hillend Environmental Industries Ltd., (HEIL) so that the bodies no longer had to be imported. This was in accordance with an agreement that when Jack Allen had sold 100 Heil units an assembly plant to supply Jack Allen and the rest of Europe would be set up.
Important changes were made in 1974 with the introduction of the 'Lowline' model. The rear axle was moved 14 ins. backwards to allow a two door cab in place of the previous awkward three door version. Accessibility was greatly improved. Headroom in the cab was increased by using a fibre glass roof. The Colectomatic was offered in four sizes:- 13 ton/52 cu.yd, 16 ton/64 cu.yd., 20 ton/80 cu.yd and the six wheeled 25 ton/100 cu.yd. The Colectomatic had a rave height of 3 ft. 10 ins.
Colectomatics most successful year was in 1979/80 when 358 units were sold.
The launch of the Big Bite at Torbay in 1974.
In 1974 Jack Allen introduced the 'Big Bite.' This consisted of a hoist system so that a complete skip could be emptied into the vehicle's hopper, removing the need to transport the skip to a tip. Initially it was manufactured in America but later at Heil's Scottish plant.
In 1974 Jack Allen introduced the 'Big Bite.' This consisted of a hoist system so that a complete skip could be emptied into the vehicle's hopper, removing the need to transport the skip to a tip. Initially it was manufactured in America but later at Heil's Scottish plant. The next development was a Front End Loader which came in 1980.
A 1996 Front End Loader.
In 1984 the all new Britannia range of trucks was launched as a 24 ton six-wheeler or a 16 ton four-wheeler with the added option of a narrow form. The tilt cab was of moulded glass fibre/carbon fibre and the crew's door had jack-knife type folding doors. During its first production run almost 1,000 Britannia vehicles were produced. Jack Allen also developed bin lifting equipment under the Waste Hoists Ltd.'s banner to complement the JA Eurohoist range.
In 1997, 70 years after Jack Allen formed the company, Jack Allen announced the 'Leader' in conjunction with Seddon Atkinson. This incorporated a centre steer cab/chassis with the driver at a low level in the centre of the cab for improved all round visibility. The Managing Director at that time was Jonathan Allen the grandson of the founder and his father, John, was Chairman of the Jack Allen Group. The company had come a long way since its early days as a body builder and repairer.
Eventually the agreement between Jack Allen and Heil was terminated and Jack Allen was bought by Dennis-Eagle in 2000. Heil units continue to be manufactured in Hillend.
Details and photos for this article taken from The History of Jack Allen (Sales and Service) 1927-1997 kindly loaned by Tim Byrne.
This Seddon Atkinson with a Jack Allen body was in service in Malta in 2009.
There's more about Jack Allen Municipals on the Classic Refuse Trucks Website. CLICK HERE.