Fire Engines Photos

Richard, this confuses it more for me! I would say this was an AFS crew from the picture! Just a suggestion, is it possible to access the Trustee records? Any expenditure on fire cover might be recorded if they still exist.

Added by John Stott on 29 May 2009.

That looks more like an ex NFS Fordson to me rather than a Dennis ??

Added by Barrie Green on 29 May 2009.

Richard,I do not doubt that at one time the Barnwood House Fire Brigade during there history had a Dennis fire engine,this photograph though shows an ex-NFS(National Fire Service)Fordson 7V Heavy Unit massed produced for the war effort around about 1942-43.Many of these NFS appliances then went into service with county brigades at the stand-down of the NFS in 1948,this was at the same time as the AFS(Auxilliary Fire Service) was formed.At its beginning,all AFS appliances were from the NFS period and this continued well into the 1950's.From 1948 also many of these NFS appliances may have found there way into private brigades.From the mid-1950's onwards,brigades were getting back to some normality and much of the equipment that had been in use was slowly being replaced by new appliances,though many would still see operational duty into the 1960's.
I actually think this photograph would be from the very late 1950's,but more certain from the early 1960's period.
Richard,check out the NFS Fordson pictures on this very site,my picture actually shows the Fordson 7V Heavy Unit like in your picture.

Added by Pete Matten on 29 May 2009.

Pete I agree this is a Fordson. Thanks for the link
An update, I am in conversation with the son of one of the men in this picture and he has his father's logbook of the fire team's activities.
We currently think the other picture is of the crew in the NFS station round the corner at Barnwood in front of the Gloucester NFS' Dennis (confirmed by registration number NYR 790)
The Logbook talks of a "Dennis Pump" which was pulled behind a van. We, the uninitiated, now realise that they never had a Dennis Fire engine. I have been told that they did have a "Salser" or "Saltser" and this could be another name for a Fordson HU. The dates however, are a bit of a mystery as this 'Salser'appears to have been purchased in 1937 and comments posted indicate that the Fordson was after that time.
I can also confirm they were AFS and we think my friend still has his father's cap badge.
Hopefully more to follow but due to holidays it may be a few weeks hence.
Thanks to all for their input, this thread has been most facinating to follow.

Added by Richard Auckland on 03 June 2009.

As per my response in the 'other' photograph....the pump will be a Sulzer stationary pump mounted on the deck of the Fordson

Added by Barrie Green on 04 June 2009.

Richard,Saltzer is the name given to the pump for delivering water,not an actual fire engine.This old photo shows a Fordson(Ford)Heavy Unit but also there was the EHU-Extra Heavy Unit,the difference in the two was the HU had four deliveries at the pump,and the EHU had 6.In this picture behind the 2 fireman on the left is what appears to be a fixed mounted Saltzer pump.
For more detailed info,put in Salzer water pumps,or Saltzer Firefighting Pumps on your search engine,realise though before the war Saltzer was well known for its production of water pumping machinery,but before and during the war it was all hands to the pump.Many companies massed produced trailor pumps and major pumps for the war effort,and Saltzer was just one of these companies,so yes they may have had a trailor pump.
Good luck with your continuous research,Pete.

Added by Pete Matten on 04 June 2009.

Sulzer pumps are still a very respected pump manufacturer today based in Switzerland. The Dennis numbers which Richard quoted are for a Dennis trailer pump. Although fire engine production and delivery was recorded in detail by Dennis, I do not think the trailer pump records are so comprehensive. Has anyone enquired at the Surrey History Service for Dennis trailer pump history?

Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 04 June 2009.

Based on the chassis number of T.A.8 a Trailer Pump of this type was supplied by Dennis Bros. to Barnwood House on 22nd. June 1937 for the princely sum of £636. It was probably 500gpm.
The number D(2)1235 is a bit more confusing as this would suggest a Trailer Pump issued to the AFS as part of the Air Raid Precautions. In theory a privately purchased Trailer Pump wouldn't have carried an AFS issued number. Incidentally the number D21235 relates to a Beresford-Stork TrP so are we talking about two separate pumps here?

Added by Dusty on 14 July 2009.

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