A Van Built For Europe: Patrick Oman's 1968 Pantechnicon Removals Van | Season 5 - Episode 9

Описание: In 1968 Patrick Oman identified a gap in the Irish marketplace for long-distance household removals, challenging the then CIÉ monopoly.

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In the late 1960s as Patrick Oman's removals business grew, he needed a larger van to stay competitive. However, obtaining a license was challenging because the government only granted them to companies established before 1922 to protect the CIÉ monopoly. This restricted long-distance moves (over 30 miles) exclusively to CIÉ.

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GAP IN THE MARKET
In 1968, B&I Line launched the MV Munster ferry between Dublin and Liverpool, carrying 1,000 passengers and 220 cars. Patrick took this opportunity and loaded his vans onto the ferry, bypassing CIÉ’s 30-mile restriction and allowing him to focus on international relocations despite needing a larger van. He explained, “I couldn’t buy or import one because the government banned vehicles competing with CIÉ. But you could import a bus.”

VOLVO B58 CHASSIS
The Volvo B58, manufactured in Sweden from 1966 to 1982, was Volvo’s first mid-engine bus chassis outside its heavy goods range. Early models featured an Alexander Y body, a K19 five-speed gearbox and 49 seats.

ACTIONING HIS IDEA
Dennison Trailers, at that time owners of Irish Commercials (Volvo agents in Northern Ireland), imported a Volvo B58 chassis for Patrick. He then donned warm clothes, a crash helmet, and added plywood wind protection before driving the bare chassis onto the ferry. In Liverpool, he continued to Warrington’s Marsden Coach Builders, who built him an impressive Pantechnicon—he named "Izabella".

⬇️ ++ Help Needed: Only one drawing exists of 'Izabella', Ireland’s largest Pantechnicon moving van, and no known photographs have been found. If you have a photo of this historic vehicle, please share it with us ++ ⬇️

Volvo B58 Pantechnicon Specifications:
Make: Volvo
Model: B58
Year: 1968
Engine: 9.6-litre horizontally mid-mounted I-6 Volvo HD100
Transmission: Wilson semi-automatic K19
Suspension: air-ride
Coach builder: Marsden/ Vanplan
Length: 11m
Load space: 60m³

IZABELLA THE PANTECHNICON
Pantechnicon, from the Greek for "all art," was a large London establishment opened in 1831 that featured galleries, furniture, and carriage sales. Its specialised wagons became known as 'Pantechnicon vans.'

In 1969, Patrick Oman’s van was termed a Pantechnicon because the cab was integrated into the van’s overall size. The Oman Pantechnicon boasted an 11-meter length entirely dedicated to cargo, accommodating up to 60m³ of goods. Patrick remarked, “this was the biggest amount of goods anybody could take.”

The van had five side loading doors, designed for Irish Sea trips where full loads were essential. Typically carrying households of 10m³ to 20m³, these doors enabled flexible loading and easy access to goods during transit through England and onto the continent.

JOIN US FOR PART 2 - “The Swansong of Izabella - Ireland's Biggest Pantechnicon Removals Van”. Our story continues with Izabella plying her trade across Europe, until the services of Mr. Fiasco were called upon to salvage a disastrous run to Rome. Later, in the early 1990s Izabella was recovered from the Italian Alps and recommissioned for humanitarian efforts.

Our thanks to Patrick Oman for his assistance with this story.

Special thanks go to Dennison Trailers, as well as Stephen Thorp and Paul Fox of the British Association of Removers, for their invaluable contributions.

If you have enjoyed the story of Izabella, please support our work in preserving Ireland’s rich transport heritage. Click the blue button on our Facebook page   / subscribe   or the red button on our website https://irelandmade.ie/

Thank you for your support!

If you have an idea for a story, please email Kevin Reid [email protected]

Sources of Information and Photo Credits:
British Association of Removers
Canvey Island Website
CIÉ
Coach & Bus Weekly - Richard Sharman
Irish Ships website
Pantechnicon: A History of Removals and Storage Through the Evolution of it's Vehicles - British Association of Removers (B.A.R.)
Wiki

#irelandmade #ad #ireandmadestoriesofirishtransport #pantechnicon #omanremovals #patrickoman #movinghouse #marsden #vanplan #coachbuilding #bandiline #mvmunster #bar #britishassociationofremovers

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