DICK BECKETTS MACK TRUCK COLLECTION! 1 of the biggest & most unique in the world

[@davidmonro3270]

When I was a kid after the war L.J.Gleeson of Wingham N.S.W. owned, operated and sold N.R.Mack trucks that were American army surplus. [ It was always thought that he would be the agent for Mack. They gave that to somebody else and that would have to be one of the worst decisions ever made by Mack.] They were the backbone of long distance trucking on the east coast. They loaded timber on the bed of the semi and then put 100 empty petrol drums on top of that. They took timber down and 20 tons of fuel back up the coast almost to the QLD border. They were called 100 drummers. In those days Wingham was considered the home of Mack in Aust.. The Eclipse Garage, owned by Gleeson, had heavy jacks that could lift a loaded truck so all the Macks with damage had to make it to Wingham for repairs. Those drivers were the toughest of the tough. There were no log books in those days and they just drove until they dropped. The roof of the cab was fabric so they froze in winter and roasted in summer. Those Macks were used in the timber industry, coal mining and earth moving. They were driven into the ground and the last one I saw was heavily laden coming over Long Range on her last. Worn out. The stony faced drivers also. Going through town they always waved to the kid on the corner. That kid was me. I'm sorry to tell Dick without an N.R10 he has missed the boat.

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Thanks heaps for that little bit of history mate! Really appreciate it 💪🏼

[@dplant8961]

Hi, Folks. I have had a personal guided tour of this collection back in January, 2024 and saw it again yesterday, February 17, as part of the vintage truck show at Exeter, Tasmania, Australia. One of the remarkable things about this collection is that Dick has restored trucks that he didn't previously own in the paint schemes and decals of their original owners - - - yer don't see that very often. GREAT STUFF. Just my 0.02. You all have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Fantastic mate! Glad to hear that you've been able to experience it all yourself

[@dplant8961]

Hi, @@TonesTruckinStories. When I first arrived at Dick's yard on my first visit there, he said, "Come on in. I've got a job for you." I replied, "What? No interview, no discussion of pay, just get to work?" We first met a vintage earth moving machinery show at a ranch in California where I worked for 4 years and he wanted to know what I knew about a collection of photos that he had from over that side of the puddle. Great bloke. I may even have put a small job his way doing some clearing and dam sinking for a lady on a small block at Beaconsfield. Time will tell. Just my 0.02. You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

[@georgefraserjr1329]

Wow I absolutely love his collection of Macks,especially the right hand drives and the old B series with the sleeper on it

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Yeah it's a bloody fantastic collection he has there isn't it 👌🏼

[@georgefraserjr1329]

@@TonesTruckinStories yes it sure is,love those old Macks

[@evolveausevolveaus]

Great collection Tone

[@DVJVLOGS]

old is gold.....

[@jameshand7912]

Awsome!!

[@simonknowles4267]

Bloody impressive doesn’t do it justice.

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Absolutely agree with you there mate

[@canuckaussie7092]

Thanks for the upload! What a collection, must be awesome to see in person. 💯 What's up with the Superliner at about 9.05, looks like it had a V8 Cat from factory?? Possibly a 3408? I didn't know they built them like that from the factory, that's a rare truck. 😶

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Yeah it's an absolutely remarkable collection he has there! Yes you would be correct that particular Mac did come with a cat from factory. But it was very rare and only for a short period of time

[@HamiltonFamily2023]

Nice old trucks! We still have and use an 86 R688ST

[@TonesTruckinStories]

You bloody beauty mate! Yes some rippers all-round

[@samgiacca8408]

I remember Western and or Weston transport in Stanthorpe Queensland with Mack trucks when I was a kid They were yellow Love and Blessings to Everyone

[@davidmonro3270]

Those Macks were owned by Great Western Transport and I saw them often going through Newcastle I thought they were B51'S but was later told they were B62's. One day walking with my wife I heard a GWT stopping at the lights. I stood still waiting to hear him gunning her with a big load on."Who are you looking at"? She thought I was looking at some young screamer. She has long gone but I have named the house i built for her "VILLA HARRIET". So long HARRIET.

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Fantastic to hear mate! Yeah a little bit before my time I think ha ha

[@TheBostonTrucker]

Amazing collection of iron!

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Yeah not wrong there, bloody amazing as you say

[@damienwilloughby]

Love it buddy 😏

[@TonesTruckinStories]

Fantastic to hear mate

[@cantwellron11]

Bloody oath good deal

[@samgiacca8408]

❤

[@DerekIngram-b1f]

Just curious have you ever seen Tony Champions collection,, this one isn't bad but a pee in the ocean compared to Tony's,,

[@TonesTruckinStories]

I'm afraid that I haven't seen it as yet. But I would bloody love to get the opportunity

[@davidyoder-rh4wf]

Photos

[@davidmonro3270]

Dick sorry to add a little more bad news to you. You don't have an E.H. Mack. They were the baby N. R.'s and although they were rarely seen on long haul they did their fair share of hard work all those years ago.I saw a few logging but the ones I saw on a daily basis were at the steelworks. Mainly I think because they were petrol They went under a ten ton grab hauling ore to a stockpile. That went on until it must have cost Brambles to keep them running. They were replaced by six or eight tri axle Whites . Imagine highway trucks in those conditions. The last I saw of those E.H.'s I was in a train down around Hawkesbury I looked over at the road bridge. At least two were being towed and how they ever let those trucks on the road is beyond me. They should have been going to a scrapyard but it would not surprise me if they were going to work in the Port Kembla steelworks That's the way it was in those days. I can tell you also there weren't any milk bar cowboys amongst the drivers either.

[@returnofthenative]

The milky bar kid was big & strong, & he couldn't be wrong either, apparently.

[@elbertpratt3441]

'promosm'