Handsworth Dairies Smiths Milk Float WOA 26

Handsworth Dairies was a well-known name throughout Birmingham although its business was much smaller than Birmingham Co-operative Society and Midland Counties Dairy. Handsworth Dairies grew considerably in 1960 with the purchase of the Birmingham Dairy Company.

The Handsworth Dairies fleet was very varied until the mid-1950s but later became more standardised. This neat design was the smallest 4-wheeler offered by Smiths and WOA 26 was one of 12 purchased by Handsworth Dairies in 1957. Lots of children had Smiths trucks like this but even smaller as they were produced in their thousands by Dinky Toys!

Preservation

WOA 26 was taken out of use and stored in the open due to accident damage and, to add insult to injury, it was later vandalised. Nevertheless it was the last with its original style of cab and was therefore acquired through kind donation by this museum in 1986. Not surprisingly, its restoration was quite extensive but completed to its original appearance in 1988.