United Dairies Wales and Edwards Milk Float XMT 422

United Dairies was a big organisation. Its dairy interests were mainly centred on Greater London but it also had depots in the West Midlands. Over 100 companies were involved when United Dairies joined forces with Cow & Gate in 1959 to form Unigate Dairies which acquired Midland Counties Dairy around 1962.

United Dairies prepared its own electric vehicle specification to replace its huge number of horse-drawn drays. It favoured a single front wheel to assist turning in tight spaces but the two main electric vehicle manufacturers were not interested. United Dairies turned to Wales & Edwards, a Shrewsbury based company that had no vehicle building experience. The prototype commenced trials in late 1950. Early problems were solved and the design entered production, initially solely for United Dairies with an order for 1250, increased to 1500. A modified version was soon offered on the open market and was an instant success around the UK.

The prototype chassis was returned to Wales & Edwards after a few years. It was used as a works runabout but its significance was not forgotten and in the early 1980s it was reunited with a United Dairies body and repainted for promotional work. In May 1993, not long after Wales & Edwards was acquired by Smiths Electric Vehicles, it was relocated to Wythall.

Preservation

This three-wheel prototype is one of our most significant exhibits. It was fully refurbished in 1993-5 and now looks as it did in 1951. Unfortunately its actual registration number has not been established but XMT 422 was carried by one of United Dairies' huge fleet.