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Fire Engine Photos
AEC Regal M'weather TL KOM798 Birmingham
served in Birmingham until 1965. Original reg was KOM798 but seen here in Stirling 1980 when used by MacKay Steeplejacks of Glasgow and re-registered 639KVA.
In late 1949 Merryweather delivered the first of ten 100 ft turntable ladders. These were configured for normal control on the AEC Regal coach chassis with a 9.5-liter Meadows petrol engine. The first was delivered to Surrey Fire Brigade and over the next two years a second AEC Regal Merryweather TL went to Surrey, with other going to Lancashire (2 pcs). Central Area Scotland, Lanarkshire, Kingston-upon-Hull, Birmingham, Glamorgan and Somerset. These 4 sections ladders still used mechanical power for extension, elevation and rotation to a design almost identical to that of the company's pre-war TLs.
Geoff Pritchard collection acquired via the Fire Brigade Society. (Copyright may lie with Ken Reid.)
served in Birmingham until 1965. Original reg was KOM798 but seen here in Stirling 1980 when used by MacKay Steeplejacks of Glasgow and re-registered 639KVA.
In late 1949 Merryweather delivered the first of ten 100 ft turntable ladders. These were configured for normal control on the AEC Regal coach chassis with a 9.5-liter Meadows petrol engine. The first was delivered to Surrey Fire Brigade and over the next two years a second AEC Regal Merryweather TL went to Surrey, with other going to Lancashire (2 pcs). Central Area Scotland, Lanarkshire, Kingston-upon-Hull, Birmingham, Glamorgan and Somerset. These 4 sections ladders still used mechanical power for extension, elevation and rotation to a design almost identical to that of the company's pre-war TLs.
Geoff Pritchard collection acquired via the Fire Brigade Society. (Copyright may lie with Ken Reid.)
AEC
Both Magirus and Metz introduced their hydraulic ladders at almost the same time, although initially their numbers sold in Britain were quite small. Dennis imported the Metz but some later ladders were on ERF chassis. Magirus was imported by David Haydon and appeared on Bedford, Commer and Leyland Firemaster chassis, while almost all of the Merryweather ladders were on AEC chassis along with a few Bedfords, then much later Shelvoke.
TL sales in general tended to drop off after the Snorkel craze of the late 1960s ands 70s, with many brigades buying them instead, but then had something of a resurgence later - by which time Merryweather had lost traction.
Added by Rob Johnson on 18 January 2023.