SCT '61 Photo Index
Harper Bros
Harper Brothers of Heath Hayes

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1. JVK654
JVK654, a Guy Arab III new in 1946 was acquired by Harper, Heath Hayes in July 1954 from Newcastle Corportion 54 as a chassis and a new Lawton C37F body fitted becoming number 31 in the fleet. It had been withdrawn in April 1963.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
2. NRE639
One of the older vehicles in Harper Bros., Heath Hayes fleet was this Guy Arab III with a Burlingham C33F body. 35, NRE639, was new in July 1947 and hd been withdrawn in October 1963.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
3. NRE489
Harpers 36, NRE489, a Leyland PS1/1 was new in 1948 with the operators own C33F bodywork. In 1957 it was re-bodied by Burlingham as FC33F and in that form, lasted until 1965 when it was sold to Williams, Gloucester.
Photo taken 1963
4. KOH80
Harper Brothers 5, KOH80, a Burlingham C33F bodied AEC 9621A Regal III which had been new to Winwood, Birmingham is seen at Ascot.
Photo taken Saturday 19 July 1958, Ascot
5. LDE340
With a most appropriate front, Harper Bros., Heath Hayes 14, LDE340, was acquired in June 1953 from Silcox, Pembroke Dock with a Silcox C35F body. In February 1959 it was fitted with a Harper B37F body and a Leyland 8.6 litre engine.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
6. LTF808
New to Jackson, Chorley in April 1950, LTF808 was a Leyland PS1/1 with a Harrington C33F body which was acquired by Harper Bros., Heath Hayes from Dunn & Hales, Brownhills along with seven other vehicles, and numbered 22 in April 1958.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
7. LTF808
Acquired with the Dunn and Hale business of Brownhills in 1958, Harper Bros 22, LTF808, was a 1950 Harrington C33F bodied PS1.
Photo taken early 1960s
8. OLD820
Former London Transport RTL1600, OLD820, in the colours of Harpers of Heath Hayes in 1974. Seen here in Northgate, Aldridge, just before Midland Red took over this old established Staffordshire independent.
Photo taken 1974, Northgate, Aldridge
9. BDJ807
Harper Brothers of Heath Hayes were a well known independent in South Staffordshire until selling out to Midland Red in 1974. This is BDJ807, bought from St Helens Corporation and fitted with platform doors, one of their RT type AEC Regent IIIs, seen here in Aldridge, with one of Harper's Fleetlines in the background in 1974.
Photo taken 1974, Aldridge
10. BDJ807
Two views of ex-St. Helens D7, BDJ807, an AEC Regent III new in 1951 with Park Royal H30/26R body. Later saw service with Harper Bros and now owned by Ensignbus.
Photo taken Saturday 7 December 2019, Thurrock Lakeside
11. VRF629
In 1961 Harper Brothers, Heath Hayes provided their own B44F body for Leyland PSU1/12 Royal Tiger VRF629 which carried fleet number 48 and had been new to them in 1951 with a Metalcraft B41F body.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964, Heath Hayes
12. XRE725
Harper, Heath Hayes XRE725 was a Leyland PSU1/11 Royal Tiger with a Burlingham Seagull C41C body new as number 50 in June 1952. In September 1967 it received its flat front, and was rebuilt to become C41F.
Photo taken early 1971, Bus Station, Cannock
13. 1032E
Harper Brothers, Heath Hayes 21, 1032E, a 1953 Leyland PSU1/11 Royal Tiger with Burlingham Seagull C41C body rebuilt by Harper to DP41F using bus seats and a flat front was seen at the garage at Heath Hayes.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964, Heath Hayes
14. 1032E
Harper, Heath Hayes 21, 1032E, a Leyland PSU1/11 Royal Tiger with a Burlingham Seagull C41C body new in 1953 at Ascot.
Photo taken Saturday 21 June 1958, Ascot
15. HWA714
Harper Bros., Heath Hayes 3, HWA714, had been acquired as a chassis in April 1954 from Duncan, Law. It was a Guy Arab I new in 1943 and was fitted with the Northern Coachbuilders L27/26R body from DH9344 before entry into service.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
16. 28RRF
Carrying a Burlingham Seagull C41C body, 28RRF was number 51 with Harper, Heath Hayes and was a Guy Arab LUF, one of two new in July 1957.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
17. 1294RE
Harper Brothers 60, 1294RE, a 1958 Guy Arab LUF with Burlingham Seagull body. Harper Brothers were taken over by Midland Red and soon after, 1294RE was sold.
Photo taken Sunday 8 July 2012, near AMRTM, Aldridge
18. 1294RE
Rear view of preserved Harper Brothers 60, 1294RE, a 1958 Guy Arab LUF with Burlingham Seagull C41F body.
Photo taken Tuesday 2 February 2010, Catton Park
19. 1292RE
In July 1959 Harper Bros., Heath Hayes bought four Guy Arab LUFs, two with Burlingham C41C bodies and two with Willowbrook C41F bodies. The second of the Willowbrook ones, numbered 58, 1292RE, is seen here at the garage at Heath Hayes.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964, Heath Hayes
20. 1293RE
Harper, Heath Hayes 59, 1293RE, was a Guy Arab LUF with a Burlingham C41F body new in July 1959.
Photo taken Saturday 22 August 1964
21. 1293RE
Seen at Gaydon is the latest Harper Bros, Heath Hayes, restoration. The Guy LUF Burlingham Seagull, 1293RE, was number 59 in the Harpers fleet.
Photo taken Sunday 19 August 2018, Gaydon
22. 1294RE
Harper, Heath Hayes 60, 1294RE, a Guy Arab LUF with a Burlingham Seagull C41F body was new in July 1959 and is seen at Ascot on what must have been one of its first journeys.
Photo taken Saturday 18 July 1959, Ascot
23. 1294RE
Harper, Heath Hayes 60, 1294RE, was a Guy Arab LUF with a Burlingham C41F body new in July 1959.
Photo taken Saturday 22 August 1964
24. LBF474
Four Duple Super Vega C41F bodied Bedford SB8s were new to Harper, Heath Hayes in 1961 and LBF474, the second of them, was number 65, entering service in June.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
25. 11EBF
New to Harper Bros., Heath Hayes in June 1962 and numbered 71, 11EBF was a Bedford SB8 with a Duple Super Vega C41F body which was seen at the garage at Heath Hayes.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
26. 9EBF
Number 70 in the Harper Bros., Heath Hayes fleet was this Bedford SB8, registered 9EBF, with a Duple Super Vega C41F body which had been new in June 1962.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
27. SBF233
SBF233, with a Northern Counties H36/28RD body, was new in January 1962 as Harper Brothers, Heath Hayes 25. It was a Leyland PD2/28 and was the only example of that particular model to be built. By the time of John's photograph the front had been altered from the Midland Red style of bonnet assembly to the St. Helens style but it retained the original bonnet lid which resulted in the nearside cutaway having to be filled in.
Photo taken Heath Hayes yard
28. SBF233
A nearside shot of SBF233, with a Northern Counties H36/28RD body, which was new in January 1962 as Harper Brothers, Heath Hayes 25. It was a Leyland PD2/28 and was the only example of that particular model to be built. By the time of John's photograph the front had been altered from the Midland Red style of bonnet assembly to the St. Helens style but it retained the original bonnet lid which resulted in the nearside cutaway having to be filled in.
Photo taken Heath Hayes yard
29. 529XBF
Bedford SB13, 529XBF, was number 74 in Harper, Heath Hayes fleet and was one of three new in June/July 1963. All carried Duple Bella Vega C41F bodies.
Photo taken Sunday 22 March 1964
30. LRF992F
Seen here in Carrs Lane, Birmingham, is an ex-Harpers PD3 with NCME body LRF992F, with a former Harpers Fleetline behind. After the take over by Midland Red in 1974 the former Harpers routes were renumbered and the newer vehicles given revised destination displays.
Photo taken 1975, Carrs Lane, Birmingham
31. LRF993F
Harper Brothers 26, LRF993F, a Leyland PD3A/1 with NCME H40/32RD body was less than 6 months old in this view in Birmingham City Centre loading up for Cannock.
Photo taken August 1968, Union Street, Birmingham
32. LRF993F
Leyland PD3A/1, LRF993F, with a Northern Counties H40/32RD body was number 26 in the Harper, Heath Hayes fleet and was the second of two new in March 1968.
Photo taken early 1971, Bus Station, Cannock
33. NRF349F
Seen at Brownhills Parade in 1974, two of Harpers half cab Leylands on their way to Birmingham from Cannock. In front is 23, NRF349F, a PD3A with NCME bodywork, said to be the last rear entrance body built by them. Behind stands 25, SBF233, a PD2 also with an NCME body.
Photo taken 1974, Brownhills
34. ORF458F
Harper, Heath Hayes 69, ORF458F, seen arriving at Wembley Stadium was a Leyland PSU3/3R Leopard with a Duple Northern Commander III C51F body.
Photo taken Saturday 16 May 1970, Wembley Stadium
35. JBF405H
Seen in the Bus Station in Cannock is JBF405H which was number 29 in the fleet of Harper, Heath Hayes and was one of two Daimler CRG6LX Fleetlines with Northern Counties H44/33F bodies new in May 1970.
Photo taken early 1971, Bus Station, Cannock
36. JBF406H
Midland Red 2230, JBF406H, a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX built in 1970 with Northern Counties H44/33F bodywork, formerly 30 in the fleet of Harper Bros, Heath Hayes.
Photo taken 1977, Delta Way Garage, Cannock
37. BRE311J
Midland Red 2231, BRE311J, a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX built in 1971 with Northern Counties H44/31F bodywork.
Photo taken c.1980, Cannock Depot
38. BRE312J
Harper Bros, Heath Hayes, BRE312J, a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX-30 built in 1971 with Northern Counties H44/31F bodywork.
Photo taken July 1974, Carrs Lane, Birmingham