Fire Engines Photos

Thanks for the photo - What ladder is this appliance carrying?

Added by Andy on 30 March 2012.

Albion Merryweather exhibition model.

Added by Ron Henderson on 30 March 2012.

Looks 15 years older?

Added by Peter McCombie on 30 March 2012.

What a lovely photo!
The registration number DV 62x was issued in 1930 by Devon County Council. Also it does not have a windscreen, as a rule I believe windscreens had to be fitted to all vehicles as a result of the 1930 Road Traffic Act although not retrospectively.
Was it new to Dawlish in 1930 or some other Devon Brigade?
I believe the ladder to be a 3 section Ajax style ladder. I have one of these with my 1921 Leyland pump.
Hope this helps

Added by Mike Hebard on 31 March 2012.

Dawlish Fire Brigade actually recieved their 1st motorized appliance in 1930, not 1935 as stated here so this photo may well have been actually taken at that time.

Added by Pete Matten on 31 March 2012.

I agree with Peter McCormbie! Several clues lead me to think this would have been nearer to 1915: the fireman's hats had peaks by 1935 and those wheels look shod in solid rubber. Finally, the numberplate seems to have two letters and three numbers, typical of vehicles well before 1930. (I once owned a Morris Cowley fromt he '20s, registration UL 212.

Added by Michael Bissett-Powell on 31 March 2012.

Sorry to disagree with you Michael, the registration number DV 62x was in a sequence from 1 to 3454 issued by Devon County Council in 1930. Two letter registrations were still issued in some parts of the UK right up to 1963, UL212 was a London County Council number from 1929.
The non peak caps (Royal Navy style) were used by the biggest UK fire brigade (London) right up to the NFS in 1941.
Solid tyred appliances were still available to brigades in the early 1930s, Coventry had a solid tyred TL in 1933.
I am quite sure the vehicle dates from 1929/1930 not 1915.
Hope this helps

Added by Mike Hebard on 31 March 2012.

I stand corrected! Thanks Mike.

Added by Michael Bissett-Powell on 01 April 2012.

More of a comment on the style of appliance. Quite conservative by late 1930s. Great picture though.

Added by Peter McCombie on 01 April 2012.

You are all wrong brothers. It was christened "Sir Redvers Buller" on 10th April 1929 by Mrs. King, of the Urban District Council. It has a 250gpm Hatfield pump, 30 gallons first aid tank and 45ft Merryweather Telescala ladder. Trust me!

Added by Ron Henderson on 02 April 2012.

Ron - I would hate to think what that wooden ladder weighed! Seems like that entire nine man crew would be needed to handle it...

Added by Rob Johnson on 08 December 2016.

Good on you Ron...I trust you implicitly ! As always you come up with the goods !

Added by Rick Loudon on 08 December 2016.

We have just found a ladder like this buried in the bushes behind Louth fire station. Apparently a gift from someone a long time ago, we are going to fit photos of past Louth appliances between the rungs and mount it in the station.

Added by Paul Bundy on 09 December 2016.

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