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Fire Engine Photos
Wallsend Fire Station - Dennis F12
Outside the Town Hall to attract the passing people into the exhibition inside was parked this magnificent Dennis F12. In service from 1952 to 1973 it of course features the powerful but thirsty Rolls Royce B80 8 cylinder engine.
Outside the Town Hall to attract the passing people into the exhibition inside was parked this magnificent Dennis F12. In service from 1952 to 1973 it of course features the powerful but thirsty Rolls Royce B80 8 cylinder engine.
Pavel, yes behind the fire sign are two amber lamps. You have to remember that when these appliances were built the normal turn signal was a 'trafficator' which was a mechanical arm which popped out ouf the side of the machine containg a small (3 watt) bulb in an amber plastic case. Flasher units had not been invented then. When flasher units became available, many machines like the F12 above had their trafficators were replaced by flashing turn signal lamps.
Now, to the point of the story... the amber lamps behind the fire sign never flashed or wig-wagged (what a lovely North American description) but just stayed constantly illuminated, so by putting a 'fire' sign in front of them hardly detracted from their attention atracting capabilities. In later years when flasher units were available they were often inserted into the circuit to makes the lamps flash.
Added by Barry on 20 September 2008.
Now, to the point of the story... the amber lamps behind the fire sign never flashed or wig-wagged (what a lovely North American description) but just stayed constantly illuminated, so by putting a 'fire' sign in front of them hardly detracted from their attention atracting capabilities. In later years when flasher units were available they were often inserted into the circuit to makes the lamps flash.
Added by Barry on 20 September 2008.
Barry, once again I learn something from this site. I had just assumed that the amber lights had always been designed to flash. I have a pair fitted with blue lenses which I suspect were changed in the 1960s.
Added by Chris Wood on 21 September 2008.
Added by Chris Wood on 21 September 2008.
That's right Chris, some brigades did have the lenses amended to blue in the early 1960s, as an interim until such time as beacons were installed.
Added by Ian Moore on 22 September 2008.
Added by Ian Moore on 22 September 2008.
It has the "elephant ear" add-on turn signals which detract from its original look, but it does have a station officer's white Cromwell hanging on the bulkhead, which is a nice touch!
By the way, weren't these bulkheads usually not painted cream instead of white?
Speaking of beacons, Darlington bought one of the first appliances to have them fitted as original equipment when their Leyland Firemaster Magirus ladder was delivered in July 1960. They then switched the flashers on their F12 and the rest of the fleet to blue until they bought and installed beacons on them all.
Added by Rob Johnson on 07 December 2017.
By the way, weren't these bulkheads usually not painted cream instead of white?
Speaking of beacons, Darlington bought one of the first appliances to have them fitted as original equipment when their Leyland Firemaster Magirus ladder was delivered in July 1960. They then switched the flashers on their F12 and the rest of the fleet to blue until they bought and installed beacons on them all.
Added by Rob Johnson on 07 December 2017.
They are wing mirrors not indicators and they are fitted in the correct position, so they do not detract from the original. If you look at the near side one the ball joint & clamp arrangement can be seen.
Added by Michael G on 10 December 2017.
Added by Michael G on 10 December 2017.
Michael - I was referring to the orange plastic appendages on the sides just below the window line, where the semaphore indicators used to be...
Added by Rob Johnson on 12 December 2017.
Added by Rob Johnson on 12 December 2017.
Rob, I think you may have been a fisherman in your past life, , , ,
Added by Pav on 14 December 2017.
Added by Pav on 14 December 2017.
Patience is its own reward.
Merry Christmas, or if you do not do Christmas, Happy New Year pal.
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 December 2017.
Merry Christmas, or if you do not do Christmas, Happy New Year pal.
Added by Rob Johnson on 15 December 2017.
Dennis
Added by Pavel on 20 September 2008.