Fire Engines Photos

Hi Mike, is this a wreck for the kiddies to play in? I wonder what the bracket on the front of the roof was for?

Added by Pavel on 24 September 2012.

Would like to know what its doing there, as a former owner. The bracket is a guard for two tone horns.

Added by Paul Stevens on 24 September 2012.

1964 Karrier chassis (manufactured by Commer) bodied by Carmichael, with a custom crew cab. Identical water tenders and a few pump escapes were built by Carmichael on Albion, Bedford and Ford chassis as well as both Karrier and Commer. They all looked alike, apart from a badge identifying the chassis manufacturer. Only a few were ever built, because they offered no advantages compared to a body and crew cab built on to a standard chassis manufacturer's lorry cab.

Added by Rob Johnson on 05 August 2014.

Actually there were several advantages, visibility is one which is obvious looking at the cab, others of the same time didnt have nearly as much glass and we sat facing rearwards in the dodge hcb angus we rode in with a tiny window, it was easier to converse with the oic and it was possible to hear any radio converdsations as well, ba cylinders were stored in front of you which was handy and to my eyes it looked ult ra modern compared to others with factory cabs, it was cost that stopped them being used more prevelently.

Added by Jay on 09 August 2014.

Jay - Carmichael actually did also build water tenders on Commer and Karrier chassis/cowls during this period as well. These had the factory cowl and just as much glass and accommodations as this custom cab, but - as you mention - were less costly. A few examples can be seen on this site.

Some brigades requested rear facing crew seats on their new appliances for a few years, because they were (mistakenly) thought by some CFOs to be safer - but I do not think any bodybuilder made them Hobson's choice.

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 March 2018.

The bracket on the front of the cab is indeed to protect the two tones. The one on the roof was actually to house a bell, something which this appliance was fitted with in 1964 when stationed at Mortimer. My father owned this vehicle for many years and it is a shame to see it in such a poor condition, it having been maintained to a high standard for the duration which I remember it. It is indeed a Commer Karrier, with a Perkins diesel engine. When I last saw this vehicle in person it was fitted with a side exhaust stack, not period correct, nor are the blue lights currently shown, as these would have been of the "acorn" type common in that period.
I'm aware this is an old photograph now, but if this vehicle is still situated where this was taken, I can only implore someone to save her! There are very few left and this is the only SWB version I personally have ever seen.

Added by John on 18 April 2022.

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