Pictured is a 1948 Model Wolseley 18/85 patrol car of the Traffic and Communications Division. This particular vehicle is shown at Scofton in February 1952 when it was stationed at Worksop and crewed by Pcs 172 Stan Beet and 12 John Holwell. Note the absence of a blue light and the police sign mounted just above the front and rear bumpers. Two tone horns could not be fitted at that time but there was a gong provided. There was not any heating or and demisting equipment in the vehicle but the windscreen could be opened in very foggy conditions. Greatcoats were worn in severe winter conditions. An interesting feature was the Jackall System in which hydraulic jacks were fixed to the front and rear axle beams. Either the front or rear two wheels or all four wheels could be raised off the ground by selecting the wheels to be lifted on a dial and pumping up the jacks with a handle from inside the car (handy when dealing with a puncture on a rainy day).

In two further views of the Wolseley 18/85 the engine compartment is shown with the 2 litre six cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors that gave the vehicle a top speed of 80 m.p.h. (providing the absence of front independent suspension enabled it to be held on the road at that speed). A specially fitted high output dynamo was needed to provide sufficient power to keep the battery charged when the radio was in use. The lower picture shows the Pye VHF valve radio in the boot of the vehicle. A motor and high voltage dynamo provided the high tension voltage (350 volts) for the valves and the constant hum advertised the presence of the vehicle. Running over a pot hole would cause valve failure and necessitate a visit to the Force Control Room, in the old lace factory known as Tatham’s Buildings next door to Shire Hall, to change the set. The ‘Police’ sign lit in red and when the rectangular panel below it was lit the words ‘Police Stop’ were shown.

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