1927 Morris Commercial 1-Ton Van
Launched in May 1924, the Morris Commercial T-Type 1-Ton was the first commercial vehicle produced by William Morris after he established Morris Commercial Cars Ltd. in Birmingham.
For a working van of its period, it was notable for sharing its mechanical foundation with Morris passenger cars, using the Hotchkiss-type four-cylinder side-valve engine produced in both 1,548 cc (rated at 11.9 taxable hp) and a larger 1,802 cc (rated at 13.9 taxable hp) form.
The van’s upright, utilitarian body reflects standard British commercial practice of the mid-1920s, with half-doors being typical rather than full-length protection for the driver. Lighting was kept to a minimum, with two large side lamps and a single tail lamp standard.
The factory offered a range of body configurations, while operators with specific requirements could commission purpose-built coachwork to suit their needs.
Mechanically, braking was handled by the rear wheels only, conventional for commercial vehicles of the time. The T-Type found wide adoption across British industry and public organizations, including railway operators such as the LNER, who often finished their examples in Crimson Lake and black livery.
Source
