Upload a Picture
About this Site | Links | Random Pic | Advanced Search
Home | Latest Additions | Contributors
| Visitors
Fire Engine Photos
JD3659 Dennis Big 4 rescue tender West Ham
Bus body from Dennis commissioned as an emergency tender by West ham.
1933 “Motor rescue and special service tender” based on a Dennis single deck bus chassis. This carried heavy cutting equipment and lighting, reflecting the diverse risks in the borough. It also included canteen facilities, as the welfare of the men at the fireground was an increasingly important issue. The fire service was well unionised, unlike the police. In practice the canteen facilities were rarely if ever used as brigade orders said men had to be firefighting more than 4 hours before they could have a cup of tea. The radiator had an electric immersion heater and fresh water inlet. The vehicle cost £1500. The Brigade now had 12 Proto breathing apparatus sets and three smoke helmets. Over the years more rescue equipment was added to the vehicle. Not red, blue and cream - sold for £85 in 1959.
Official delivery photo taken at Dennis Woodbridge works, Guilford. Photo via Roy Goodey.
Bus body from Dennis commissioned as an emergency tender by West ham.
1933 “Motor rescue and special service tender” based on a Dennis single deck bus chassis. This carried heavy cutting equipment and lighting, reflecting the diverse risks in the borough. It also included canteen facilities, as the welfare of the men at the fireground was an increasingly important issue. The fire service was well unionised, unlike the police. In practice the canteen facilities were rarely if ever used as brigade orders said men had to be firefighting more than 4 hours before they could have a cup of tea. The radiator had an electric immersion heater and fresh water inlet. The vehicle cost £1500. The Brigade now had 12 Proto breathing apparatus sets and three smoke helmets. Over the years more rescue equipment was added to the vehicle. Not red, blue and cream - sold for £85 in 1959.
Official delivery photo taken at Dennis Woodbridge works, Guilford. Photo via Roy Goodey.
Dennis
Did your exhaustive studies of the history of the West Ham Fire Brigade ever discover why this unit was blue and cream instead of the traditional fire engine red?
Added by Rob Johnson on 25 February 2021.