Fire Engines Photos

I'm sure this lovely appliance will look absolutely smashing when she's finshed her restoration. there has to be something about these old pumps, don't know what it is but they just seem right in looks. or is it just me?. ( just jealous that his station is no longer getting a new appliance! )

Added by Stevie Murray on 27 October 2008.

Richard Aston/Steve Murray, what always blows me away is the number of instances when these machines turn up with their original ladders!! Can anyone explain??

Added by Pavel - Western Australia on 04 November 2008.

Hi Pavel,
I am afraid the ladder that came with it is not the original. It came with a 50 foot wooden wheeled escape (in bits) but the 'experts' are sure it is not a Bristol fire brigade ladder. So far nobody seems to know where the ladder came from. The appliance was delivered from Leyland in 1937 with no ladder (I have a photo of it as new) and an old fireman who drove this appliance in the 1950's says Bristol Fire Brigade made their own 35 foot ladders in the 1930's and 1940's which is what this was equipped with until about 1950 when it became a pump escape. He says it had a metal 50 foot escape for most of the 1950's. However, in the last photo I have of it attending a fire in about 1961 it is back to a pump ladder.
Richard Aston

Added by Richard Aston on 04 November 2008.

I am not so sure that it is not the correct ladder, it often carried the escape from the appliance it was replacing as a reserve in the early 60's however when the Junior Firemen were using it in the mid 60's it carried the reserve escape which was an Ajax, it might be correct.
Had quite a few ladders in it's time, 35' ajax at Bridewell, Ajax escape at Brislington, 35'aluminium upon its return to Bridewell as the 2nd. pump, then reserve then Junior Firemen's PE and a short time back to Brislington as a PE when they overturned their Bedford

Added by Avonmouth on 07 June 2011.

The ladder there is a 50ft John Morris wheeled escape, without the wheels and back fly/lever arms. You can just see part of the sliding carriage at the back.

Added by Ron Henderson on 08 June 2011.

That's why I am reasonably sure it may be carrying the correct escape. Ajax escapes were the trade name of those manufactured by John Morris. When I last saw it in Cornwall, the escape had been dismantled and attempts had been made to repair one of the carriage wheels.We might never know but apart from turning it into a CARP pretty well any ladder would be authentic

Added by Avonmouth on 08 June 2011.

Thanks for the very useful comments. After much hard work the restoration is nearing completion and the old girl should be back on the road for trials by the end of the summer. At first she will run with a 35 foot Ajax ladder as I still have to restore the wheeled escape. The carriage wheel that you mention has indeed been to a wheel wright in Dorset who has repaired it and re banded it. Now all I have to do is paint it.
I think the only thing I am now missing is a hook ladder. If anyone knows where I could find one please let me know.
Any more history about DHY would be very much appreciated. Fred Hooper helped with some information before he sadly passed away and he came to see progress on the restoration a couple of times.
Regards
Richard Aston

Added by Richard Aston on 12 June 2011.

Richard,
Fred was a very good friend both personally and to the Brigade, he is sadly missed by those that still care. If I can be of help please contact me.

Added by Avonmouth on 13 June 2011.

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