Fire Engines Photos

Is this the type the dutch bought?

Added by John Gibson on 02 March 2017.

Yes. Traders were quite popular in both Belgium and the Netherlands, but never caught on in the UK. The London Salvage Corps had a few, but with a completely coach built body, which looked quite different.

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 March 2017.

Looking at the registration number, I think this unit was probably a lot earlier than 1966. By 1966 the D series was available.

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 March 2017.

Rob - 1966 was the year of the photo, not the appliance manufacture.

Added by Royce Treacher on 09 March 2017.

Thanks Rob, i think they look very smart.

Added by John Gibson on 09 March 2017.

This was delivered new in 1963 to the City of Oxford and stationed at Rewley Road, Oxford and served there until going OOS in 1978.

Added by Peter Matten on 10 March 2017.

If you look up Traders on the search box on this site you will see a handful of examples, including a few from Australia and New Zealand.

Added by Rob Johnson on 10 March 2017.

Only one built by HCB Angus 1965 body number S826

Added by Alan Ramsay on 16 March 2017.

Only trader chassis built on by HCB Angus 1963 job no S826.



Added by Alan Ramsay on 17 March 2017.

The only other Trader ET was built by Alfred Miles and had the same front cowl as their Bedford chassis units, which made it a lot less distinctive looking. There was also a pump appliance bought by Ford as a factory appliance, but none were supplied to public brigades.

Odd Traders on standard truck chassis also showed up in a variety of special and support roles, usually with local bodywork.

Added by Rob Johnson on 13 December 2018.

Wonder if it was not popular as an appliance because the cab was so high off the ground .The good ground clearance made them very popular for tipper work but not so easy to get in and out of.

Added by Craigw on 15 December 2018.

Craig: I think the engines being offered at the time were also less powerful than the contemporary Bedford and Commers, which added to it being less attractive.

Added by Rob Johnson on 20 December 2018.

Craig:

Well, I got that wrong!

The six cylinder Trader had a 115 BHP engine, which was coincidentally identical to both the Bedford and Commer fire engine chassis' power units' output at the time.

So, the cab access problem might indeed have been an issue, although the Bedfords which preceded the TK series required quite a climb too.

I think an additional issue might have been that - until the introduction of the D series in 1966 - Ford had no specialist truck dealers, while both Bedford and Commer had specialists, and did not rely on car dealers to sell their products...

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 January 2019.

Thanks, guys, some great information.

Added by John Gibson on 08 January 2019.

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