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Fire Engine Photos
1912 John Morris&Sons'Belsize'Pump Escape.
This 1912 vehicle(reg-CR 1500)was built by John Morris&Sons of Manchester on a six cylinder Belsize chassis and was new to the Southampton Fire Brigade.The Morris'Belsize'pump escape was named'Madeleine'after the wife of the Mayor.Having been driven from the John Morris Works in Manchester under its own power,on its arrival in Southampton it required a new set of rubber tyres for its wooden wheels.
The vehicle was sold by the Southampton Fire brigade in 1926 to Dennis of Guildford in exchange for a new appliance and was then sold onto Billings of Guildford,Surrey and after new pneumatic tyres fitted was used by their works fire brigade until the late 1950's.
Equipped with a 50ft John Morris wheeled escape,it was powered by a 6 cylinder Belsize 14-litre petrol engine with 5 3/4-inch stroke,4 forward gears and a seperate lever for reverse,and open chain final drive.
In 1961 it was found in a scrapyard and bought by The Enfield and District Veteran Vehicle Society for £50 and that same year was entered into the very first London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle run.The vehicle is today beleaved to be just one of 2 known to still exist today.
This photograph was taken at the half-way point at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley,West Sussex on the 50th London to Brighton run on Sunday,1st May,2011.
Shame it wasn't carrying its 50ft Morris wheeled escape.
This 1912 vehicle(reg-CR 1500)was built by John Morris&Sons of Manchester on a six cylinder Belsize chassis and was new to the Southampton Fire Brigade.The Morris'Belsize'pump escape was named'Madeleine'after the wife of the Mayor.Having been driven from the John Morris Works in Manchester under its own power,on its arrival in Southampton it required a new set of rubber tyres for its wooden wheels.
The vehicle was sold by the Southampton Fire brigade in 1926 to Dennis of Guildford in exchange for a new appliance and was then sold onto Billings of Guildford,Surrey and after new pneumatic tyres fitted was used by their works fire brigade until the late 1950's.
Equipped with a 50ft John Morris wheeled escape,it was powered by a 6 cylinder Belsize 14-litre petrol engine with 5 3/4-inch stroke,4 forward gears and a seperate lever for reverse,and open chain final drive.
In 1961 it was found in a scrapyard and bought by The Enfield and District Veteran Vehicle Society for £50 and that same year was entered into the very first London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle run.The vehicle is today beleaved to be just one of 2 known to still exist today.
This photograph was taken at the half-way point at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley,West Sussex on the 50th London to Brighton run on Sunday,1st May,2011.
Shame it wasn't carrying its 50ft Morris wheeled escape.
I have just come across a very/very old picture of this Belsize while on the run at Southampton during its early years.But, what would be the copyright now on such an old photo dating back nearly 100 years???????.Anyone know?.
Added by Pete Matten on 02 August 2011.
Added by Pete Matten on 02 August 2011.
Hi Pete,
Re copyright - I spoke with the museum image editor and she says "To be out of copyright 70 years must have passed since the death of the maker or author of the picture."
Added by Bob James on 19 September 2011.
Re copyright - I spoke with the museum image editor and she says "To be out of copyright 70 years must have passed since the death of the maker or author of the picture."
Added by Bob James on 19 September 2011.
Hello Bob,
Thankyou for that information, its really most helpful.I understood though if a picture was more then 70 years old it would no longer have a copyright on it, but should the photograph copyright owner still be alive it would out of courtesy be nice to ask if the picture could be copied and maybe used.
Recently looking through old pictures in a photo gallery shop in Brighton, I asked the owner about the copyright on old photo's/postcards, etc that he'd actually copied and was selling and thats what I was informed.
I really would like to send the old picture I've come across of the above Morris into the site, but I don't think it would be used even though it dates back so many years.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 19 September 2011.
Thankyou for that information, its really most helpful.I understood though if a picture was more then 70 years old it would no longer have a copyright on it, but should the photograph copyright owner still be alive it would out of courtesy be nice to ask if the picture could be copied and maybe used.
Recently looking through old pictures in a photo gallery shop in Brighton, I asked the owner about the copyright on old photo's/postcards, etc that he'd actually copied and was selling and thats what I was informed.
I really would like to send the old picture I've come across of the above Morris into the site, but I don't think it would be used even though it dates back so many years.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 19 September 2011.
I was loaned this machine as transport to my wedding in september 1963, now 50 years latter our children hired a modern fire engine to take us to a hotel for dinner for our anniversary, this was in Brisbane, Australia where we now live. Our nice made a lovely cake of the Morris engine, will post a pic if anyone interested.
Added by Brian Elliott on 29 May 2014.
Added by Brian Elliott on 29 May 2014.
I would love to see it! We had ken a fire engine cake made for his 100th. Unfortunately he passed away this year, 3 days after this 101th birthday!
Added by Abbie king on 29 May 2014.
Added by Abbie king on 29 May 2014.
This engine is permanantly on display at the whitewebbs Museum in Enfield north London, with its escape. The museum is open on Tuesdays.
Added by D.Voller on 25 January 2015.
Added by D.Voller on 25 January 2015.
As an update for you, Madeleine recently completed the 2018 HCVS London to Brighton Run, without fault. The only downside was 1.7mpg! I was honoured to accompany her on this adventure.
Added by Robert Haydock on 13 June 2018.
Added by Robert Haydock on 13 June 2018.
Robert:
Congratulations!
I don't think there can be many - or perhaps any - other fire engines which have completed the run after 106 years "on the run"!
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 June 2018.
Congratulations!
I don't think there can be many - or perhaps any - other fire engines which have completed the run after 106 years "on the run"!
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 June 2018.
Morris
Added by Abbie King on 02 August 2011.