Fire Engines Photos

My father Tony Carey helped restore this machine in the early 70s whilst serving with Berkshire and reading fire brigade

Added by Andy Carey on 14 February 2015.

Andy, I served with your dad at Stn 1 caversham rd when he transferred from lark field, kent. There are now four Stn, s in reading, banbury( oxon) was the last I heard of him! Sonning no5 is apparently at the national fire museum, Weedon northants awaiting restoration.

Added by Alan jones (brancher !) on 17 February 2015.

Thanks for the updates, and nice to hear your father worked on her, my grandfather was tom edwards

Added by Gordon on 03 May 2015.

The bodywork was by markhams, be lovely to see her again

Added by Gordon on 03 May 2015.

Hi
I was part of the restoration team from Maidenhead Fire Station with Tony Carey, Pete Brown, Dave Platt. We took it to the Commercial Vehicle Rally in 1974 and got a highly commended. Last I saw it was at Caversham Road Fire Station looking in a sorry state. shame as we put hours of work into it.Tom Edwards who designed it saw it in her finest state. We even found the original 30ft Ladder still in its packaging in FB Stores at Dee Road. Happy Days

Added by Fraser Gunn on 16 July 2016.

I have the original trace drawings to this fine fire engine signed by Tom Edwards himself

Added by Derek Neave on 22 April 2017.

I can confirm it is in the FSNMT collection where it has been partially restored. It starts and runs well on either ignition system. The only sticking point of the restoration is what colour it should be. At the moment it is maroon but it is thought that its original colour was red. Does anyone know which it should be ?
In the next week or so it will be moving to the new museum site in Hampshire.

Added by A G FOSTER on 09 September 2017.

It should be red. I only ever knew it as red. Would love to see her.

Added by John G Houchen on 12 September 2017.

Hi
When we restored it in the 70's it was what I call "Fire Engine Red" this was the original colour when it was on the run in Reading. We stripped it right back to the base before painting. I remember stripping all the brass using a concoction of Brasso/Harpic?Water, it cleaned all the grime and when polished looked amazing.
I have some photos of it at Brighton in 1970's at the Commercial Vehicle Rally

Added by Fraser Gunn on 12 September 2017.

Could you tell me please, is that the solent sky museum?
Sadly I couldnt keep all the photographs that had amassed. I do still have the lamps, leather bucket and horses bell collar from a previous Sonning fire engine.

Added by Gordon on 13 September 2017.

On a slightly different topic, I uploaded a photograph of Tom Edwards at cemetery junction Reading, towing a pump with his 3 wheeler, his father Archibald is walking alongside. It's titled "at cemetery junction"

Added by Gordon on 14 September 2017.

I took a photo of it today in its maroon livery. Can't get the pic onto this page so you will need to search for Dennis Ace Sonning

Added by Tony Foster on 14 September 2017.

If anyone knows her approximate weight I would be interested to know, as it needs relocating on a loader. Thanks

Added by John G Houchen on 14 September 2017.

Without equipment, about 3 1/2 tons, certainly not more than 4 (going by my Light 4). Safe journey.

Added by Peter McCombie on 15 September 2017.

See photo 40721 to see her as she is today

Added by Tony Foster on 20 September 2017.

Photo 40716 shows Tom Edwards 3 wheeler towing a pump. Thank you Gordon

Added by Tony Foster on 20 September 2017.

Peter McCombie thank you

Added by Gordon on 28 September 2017.

picture 40773
An award sonning fire brigade recieved in 1926. Quite interesting, I wish I had asked about it when I had the chance. I got the value of the note wrong. Thankfully someone was kind enough to point that out.

Added by Gordon on 13 October 2017.

Gordon Houchen please can you contact me [email protected]

Added by Derek Neave on 14 April 2018.

BBL872 for searching - Dennis Ace - Sonning

Added by Petros on 09 July 2023.

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