Upload a Picture
About this Site | Links | Random Pic | Advanced Search
Home | Latest Additions | Contributors
| Visitors
Fire Engine Photos
1936 Dennis (Prototype) Ace Pump
1936 Dennis(Prototype)Ace Pump.
This 1936 Dennis Ace Pump(reg-FPC 448)has been the works appliance at Dennis since it was first built,the appliance being a prototype fire appliance which utilised the Dennis Ace chassis which was previously used on buses and commercial vehicles.It was powered by a Dennis 3770cc side valve petrol engine and fitted with a Dennis No2 fire pump capable of delivering 500 gpm.
Built and retained as the Dennis Works Fire Tender since it was built in 1936,it is still looked after by the young technicians at the factory and is still operational today-actually its had more stripdowns then birthdays-its now 73 years old and is still affectionately known as'The Flying Pig'.
This photo was taken back in 1993 at what was sadly I think the last fire show to be held at the Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley in the New Forest in Hampshire.
1936 Dennis(Prototype)Ace Pump.
This 1936 Dennis Ace Pump(reg-FPC 448)has been the works appliance at Dennis since it was first built,the appliance being a prototype fire appliance which utilised the Dennis Ace chassis which was previously used on buses and commercial vehicles.It was powered by a Dennis 3770cc side valve petrol engine and fitted with a Dennis No2 fire pump capable of delivering 500 gpm.
Built and retained as the Dennis Works Fire Tender since it was built in 1936,it is still looked after by the young technicians at the factory and is still operational today-actually its had more stripdowns then birthdays-its now 73 years old and is still affectionately known as'The Flying Pig'.
This photo was taken back in 1993 at what was sadly I think the last fire show to be held at the Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley in the New Forest in Hampshire.
Pavel me old mate,I thinks its used as the filler length,top-up from hydrant to water tank.
But on the other hand it could be for the little young technicians because they can't handle the big firemens hose.I'll get back to you on that.
Added by Pete Matten on 15 May 2009.
But on the other hand it could be for the little young technicians because they can't handle the big firemens hose.I'll get back to you on that.
Added by Pete Matten on 15 May 2009.
Seen to remember standpipes with outlets that big so I think you were correct Pete...remember the terms hard and soft suction ?
Added by Barrie Green on 17 May 2009.
Added by Barrie Green on 17 May 2009.
If you think about it, you would need to be very precise with your reversing if you were to use this short length to couple your machine up to hydrant. In actual fact I think it has nothing to do with the appliance at all! This machine often pulled a trailer pump and I think this short length of suction was used with the trailer pump when pumping from a dam. It was carried on the locker box top just for convenience. Incidentally the factory manufactured a special cowl for the radiator on the inside so that the air was ducted more effectively by the fan blades to improve cooling. All Light fours ad Aces have always tended to run on the hot side.
The factory Ace is a jet, (I know it is all comparative) but it really does fly!
Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 17 May 2009.
The factory Ace is a jet, (I know it is all comparative) but it really does fly!
Added by Dr. B.A. Hutchinson on 17 May 2009.
Barry,thanks for your comments on this old Dennis works appliance,it really is a classic.It would really be something if Yat-Ming in there model fire engine production would re-produce this in model form.It would be a classic like the recent three they produced on British appliances.
Have you heard whether they are likely to add to the collection more British appliances?...Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 23 May 2009.
Have you heard whether they are likely to add to the collection more British appliances?...Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 23 May 2009.
I recall such fittings being referred as "Elephant trunk" suctions and used to go between the eye of the pump and the outlet of the standpipe in areas with poor water pressure
Added by John Walker on 24 May 2009.
Added by John Walker on 24 May 2009.
Anybody now where the flying pig is today as my girlfriends uncle used to own it and would really like for her to see it again
Added by Mathew golby on 02 October 2015.
Added by Mathew golby on 02 October 2015.
The 'Flying Big' is still retained at the Dennis's Factory in Surrey and actually I took a very nice photograph of her again back in 2012 at the Milestones Emergency Services Show.In 2014 I caught up with her again on the London to Brighton run where I actually took some rear shot pictures of the old girl for a proposed modelling project.
Added by Pete Matten on 07 October 2015.
Added by Pete Matten on 07 October 2015.
Great picture, I used to help to maintain that and a 1914 wooden wheeler back in the 1970’s. Recently found some archive footage from Guildford 1977 silver jubilee showing both machines.
Added by Charlie Heater on 19 September 2022.
Added by Charlie Heater on 19 September 2022.
Russian firefighters often connect a small diameter suction hose to a fire hydrant as a standard procedure, along with a regular delivery hose, to ensure that water is still flowing if the hydrant pressure falls to a low level. If you look at Russian pumps on this site - especially their older ones - you can see both fat and skinny suction hose tubular containers on the roof of their pumpers.
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 January 2023.
Added by Rob Johnson on 23 January 2023.
Dennis
Added by Pav - Perth, Western Australia on 15 May 2009.