36b and 896 Tracteur Willeme Covered Truck (1958-1971)

Hi all, I'm in the process of a thorough catalogue update for all additions in the past five years which - due to lack of time - have only been registered in a basic way. Many model-related references will have to be added and essays will have to be written or considerably improved. Now I have arrived at the newly acquiredtimber carrier, the no. 36a Willme tracteur et semi-remorque fardier. Reading the 2nd edition of Roulet has the fortunate spin-off that my French is gradually improving. Still, I meet texts that I'm not sure of understanding them fully. There is a paragraph about the wooden and metal prototypes for the tractors, for thefardier and the one with cattle semi-trailer, no. 36b. It says that the metal one for the cattle truck tractor is unusual because it has the smooth inside cab ceiling. I understand that this is early, certainly before the regular production of the cattle truck, which always has the checkered ceiling structure inside, in my opinion. Now, analysing and describing my no. 36a Willme timber truck better, I discovered that this one has the smooth ceiling. Of course this issue is two years older than the cattle truck. However, in the four variants Roulet describes there is no word (if I read it well) about a smooth or checkered cabin ceiling at all. I do not have a big French Dinky collection but all my larger commercials are rather early, but still have checkered ceilings without exception. Now my simple question: Is the smooth ceiling for no. 36a unusual and when did this change-over from smooth to checkered inside roofs take place, both in general for the whole range, and in particular for the fardier? I presume my friends Richard and Jacques will be the most knowlegeable candidates for an answer ... See some photos below, thanks in advance, kind regards, Jan

Jan----I just looked at my 36A, which I bought directly from H. Hudson Dobson as soon as it was issued here in the states, and it has the checkered inside roof ceiling. It is early enough to have the trailer with the open spaces in the long beam running under it. Hard to date these as the French did not date their boxes like their English cousins did. It will be interesting to see what others have.... Regards, Terry

Hello Jan. You understood well. don't trust all is written in the Roulet's bible ! I have 2 Willme 36 A (see the topic in the old forum) The one with convex hubs at the front has a smooth ceiling. The other with concav hubs at the front has a checkered inside roof ceiling. I have also a Willme 36 B and it has a checkered inside roof ceiling. As far as I know the 36 A was produced in 1956 (until 1965) and the 36 B in 1958 Friendly yours Richard

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Hi Richard, thank you for your comment. Indeed, no one is perfect, and so is Roulet, but still I dig a lot of interesting and verifyable information from that book! I know that 36A's with concave hubs always have the chequered inside roof, but I am anxious to know if there are indications at what moment this change took place during the production of the ones with convex hubs, or perhaps in relation to the squared off and pointed coupling rails of the truck. Kind regards Jan

Hi Jan, All I can say on the dates is : Willme 36A : 1956 ; it has the squared off coupling rail, the trailer with holes, and round section striated tyres. Willme 897a : 1959 : same as 36A but with rectangular section striated tyres and box printed 897-36A. It received convex and concave hubs Willme 897b : 1960 : same as 897a but with pointed coupling rails and concave hubs Willme 897c : 1961 : same as 897b but with anodised base plate and box printed 897 Willme 897d : 1965 : same as 897c but with no holes in the trailer That's all I know friendly yours Richard