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Austin K4/Merryweather Turntable ladder
This is an Austin K4/Merryweather 60ft hand-operated Turntable Ladder (reg GXN 219) with front mounted American Barton pump.A total of fifty hand-operated Merryweather turntables were built and mounted on Austin K4 chassis for the Home Office between 1942/43 for the (NFS) National Fire Service.These appliances (TLs) were designed to be used by crews who were not necessarily qualified turntable ladder operators,and for many years after peace was declared in 1945,many of these trust worthy turntable ladders saw many more years service throughout the United Kingdom with some giving 30 years service.
Through bomb and flame,they stood their ground,with just an axe,or branch in hand.
No thought for themselves,just others around,they gave so much,protecting our land.
As bomb after bomb,fell to ground,that terrible noise,that terrible sound. The young and the old,they all did their bit,those very brave firemen,sadly now many dead.
Many have gone,but will not be forgot,for all that they did,and much they could not
They all did their best,in our hour of need,those hundreds of firemen,a very brave breed.
We'll never forget them,and all that they did,to make this world better,and life better to live.
God bless the many,that have sadly now gone,we shall remember them,freedom and peace cannot be wrong.
This is an Austin K4/Merryweather 60ft hand-operated Turntable Ladder (reg GXN 219) with front mounted American Barton pump.A total of fifty hand-operated Merryweather turntables were built and mounted on Austin K4 chassis for the Home Office between 1942/43 for the (NFS) National Fire Service.These appliances (TLs) were designed to be used by crews who were not necessarily qualified turntable ladder operators,and for many years after peace was declared in 1945,many of these trust worthy turntable ladders saw many more years service throughout the United Kingdom with some giving 30 years service.
Through bomb and flame,they stood their ground,with just an axe,or branch in hand.
No thought for themselves,just others around,they gave so much,protecting our land.
As bomb after bomb,fell to ground,that terrible noise,that terrible sound. The young and the old,they all did their bit,those very brave firemen,sadly now many dead.
Many have gone,but will not be forgot,for all that they did,and much they could not
They all did their best,in our hour of need,those hundreds of firemen,a very brave breed.
We'll never forget them,and all that they did,to make this world better,and life better to live.
God bless the many,that have sadly now gone,we shall remember them,freedom and peace cannot be wrong.
My family own a red one! GXN205. She was only grey for a short period. Was made Red in 1948 and when we originally restored her in 1975 we took a vote and decided to paint her red. When we work on her from time to time and we sand back the paint, the grey is still there underneath. It is nice to see an Austin TL in her original livery of Grey, but our "Martha" will always be red!
Added by Heather Wannell on 22 April 2008.
Added by Heather Wannell on 22 April 2008.
Heather, I passed a comment back on 27th September last year in regards to the
Austin K4/Merryweather you've mentioned, and said it was brilliant.The series
of pictures I have been sending in recently from the war period I just wanted
to show Home Office issued vehicles in grey-as they would have been delivered.
I will be next showing vehicles delivered just before the war, and actually just
after the war period.
Added by Pete Matten on 22 April 2008.
Austin K4/Merryweather you've mentioned, and said it was brilliant.The series
of pictures I have been sending in recently from the war period I just wanted
to show Home Office issued vehicles in grey-as they would have been delivered.
I will be next showing vehicles delivered just before the war, and actually just
after the war period.
Added by Pete Matten on 22 April 2008.
Ian, I understand that there is still alot of interest in this particular part of British fire appliance history, especially with so many appliances being in
restoration now up and down the country.Any chance of letting us see a picture
of your 1942 ???? K6 ???? please.When I first started sending pictures in from
the period alot of interest was shown, another picture would be good.
Added by Pete Matten on 13 August 2008.
restoration now up and down the country.Any chance of letting us see a picture
of your 1942 ???? K6 ???? please.When I first started sending pictures in from
the period alot of interest was shown, another picture would be good.
Added by Pete Matten on 13 August 2008.
Merseyside Fire Museum is presently displaying GXN211 and hope it will be appearing at a number of shows in 2009
Added by Dave Mullins on 20 October 2008.
Added by Dave Mullins on 20 October 2008.
Thanks for that information Dave, in actual fact it is believed that there are at least a dozen of these Austin K4 Merryweather 60ft TLs still around today in preservation, and considering only fifty were built, that's brilliant to know.
I look forward to maybe seeing GXN 211 in 2009.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 21 October 2008.
I look forward to maybe seeing GXN 211 in 2009.Pete.
Added by Pete Matten on 21 October 2008.
a bit more info on GXN211 :- started it`s working life at Colchester before being transferred to Merseyside Fire Force 26 It was sold `out of service to County of Flint Fire Service then, in 1974, sold to hat is now BAE on Deeside and was in service with them until acquired by Merseyside Fire Museum in 1986.It has now been repainted in wartime grey.
Added by Dave Mullins on 31 October 2008.
Added by Dave Mullins on 31 October 2008.
The information on GXN 211 is not quite correct. It was issued to the N.F.S. in 1943 and stationed at Colchester. In April 1948 it was transfered to Rhyl and passed to the County of Flint Fire Service. It was transfered to Deeside fire station in 1967 and was then sold to Hawker Siddeley at Broughton in about 1972 and used for maintenance work. When it was no longer required by them it was acquired by the Merseyside Museums later passing to the Merseyside Fire Museum.
Added by Dusty on 12 December 2008.
Added by Dusty on 12 December 2008.
I've only just discovered this interesting article,I have one of these few remaining TL's, mine is GXN 227 and is also now red(with Kesteven Fire service logos).It was restored around late 70's and I have many show plaques for the following few years.It was also bought and used by Sir Freddie Laker for his fleet at Gatwick. I attended a number of shows in 2008 including Bealieu (commercial vehicle club) and Odiham (FSPG). Sadly it may be on the market this year.
Added by Bob Nabney on 19 March 2009.
Added by Bob Nabney on 19 March 2009.
Bob Nabney,I was at Odiham last year and actually took a picture of your Austin K4 Turntable Ladder.
It was the only TL at the show in 2008 and its on this site now already,check out my wartime-period
photographs-or click on (picture 9780)to view.
Added by Pete Matten on 19 March 2009.
It was the only TL at the show in 2008 and its on this site now already,check out my wartime-period
photographs-or click on (picture 9780)to view.
Added by Pete Matten on 19 March 2009.
Thanks Pete, good photo,sorry to say I can't make Odiham this year as I've promised to take it to our local Fire station for their open day!
Added by Bob Nabney on 13 July 2009.
Added by Bob Nabney on 13 July 2009.
Hey Bob,its always good to support the local firie's and their Open Day to help raise funds for charities,especially the Ben-Fund.Looking forward to seeing you again maybe in 2010.
Added by Pete Matten on 13 July 2009.
Added by Pete Matten on 13 July 2009.
Sorry Pete,I may not have the K4 next year. I still have a few shows/fetes etc.booked in for the rest of this year but will then be offering it for sale(maybe you can help in that respect?)
I am hoping to enter it for the "Bonham Auction" at Beulieu Autojumble this September.
Added by Bob Nabney on 16 July 2009.
I am hoping to enter it for the "Bonham Auction" at Beulieu Autojumble this September.
Added by Bob Nabney on 16 July 2009.
GXN211 showed at Truckfest,Haydock Park last weekend. Has anyone taken a photo?
Dave Mullins @ Merseyside Fire Museum
Added by Dave Mullins on 15 September 2009.
Dave Mullins @ Merseyside Fire Museum
Added by Dave Mullins on 15 September 2009.
Dave,hope someone has taken a picture and will kindly share it with us.
Added by Pete Matten on 15 September 2009.
Added by Pete Matten on 15 September 2009.
Some Good news as you may know GXN 211 is now ownwed by Merseyside Fire Museum at Crosby Fire station. The site was due to close, I have now been informed that after a meeting the brigade has agreed to re-wirecthe building and the museum will remain at Crosby along with the appliances.
Added by Dave Price on 01 October 2010.
Added by Dave Price on 01 October 2010.
Dusty and I photographed GXN 211 earlier this year around the rear of Crosby. In fact, Dusty's photo is on here.
Added by Andrew Middleton on 01 October 2010.
Added by Andrew Middleton on 01 October 2010.
Reading the May edition of the Fire Brigade Society's Fire Cover, it mentioned that the Fire World Museum at Weedon was due to sell Margate Austin K4 TL GXN 202. Anyone know anything about this machine?
Added by John D on 06 October 2010.
Added by John D on 06 October 2010.
Latest news on Merseyside Fire Museum home of GXN211. I have heard that the appliances will be garaged at Brigade HQ Bridle road, The workshops at Crosby have been re-wire and will be used by the museum to renovate there appliances sure this will help as they should no longer be left outside in all weathers
Added by Dave Price on 01 December 2010.
Added by Dave Price on 01 December 2010.
Derbyshire had this type of TL operational at Glossop until the late 60's. I recall as a Junior Fireman in Derbyshire having a 'play' with this. It was described as semi-mechanical as traversing was done by hand!
Added by Denis Price on 29 July 2012.
Added by Denis Price on 29 July 2012.
Perth Tayside had one also in use up till 1959 then replaced by a AEC Mercury/Merryweather TL. Iv'e only seen B/W photos of it in action in Perth's museum and it looks like it was painted red.
Added by Grant Melville on 30 July 2012.
Added by Grant Melville on 30 July 2012.
My brothers and I bought GXN221 in 1964/65 for £120 from an Advert in the exchange and mart .it was red and in Hereford livery but was used initially in London and had less than 2k miles.Owing to be kept outside rot had set in and was donated to RAF apprentices for restoration I believe is now painted in their colours and maybe at Duxford.
Added by James Sinclair on 19 November 2019.
Added by James Sinclair on 19 November 2019.
Austin
Added by Pete Matten on 20 April 2008.