Fire Engines Photos

I think it is more like an AEC/Merryeather Turntable Ladder

Added by Barrie Green on 24 October 2009.

The wheel ring's give it away as an AEC.
Andrew.

Added by Andrew Wright on 24 October 2009.

Is this the same one that corgi modelled some years ago??

Added by Paul on 25 October 2009.

This is a 1976 AEC TGM/Merryweather 100ft Turntable Ladder of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in Western Australia and was stationed at Brigade Headquarters in Perth.
See also Pav's photo's(picture 5015 and picture 5016)of this now preserved appliance.

Added by Pete Matten on 25 October 2009.

I remember one Corgi model, but not the same as this, I think the model might have been a water tender, I stand corrected of course.
Andrew.

Added by Andrew Wright on 25 October 2009.

definitley a tl
I have one in storage

Added by Paul on 26 October 2009.

There were actually two of these AEC TGM/Merryweather 100ft Turntable Ladders delivered to the Western Australia Fire Brigade. I remember at the time there was a heck of an outcry that they were out-dated even before they went into service. The second one is thankfully still alive and well and in the hands of a private collector in Esperance in the far south-east of Western Australia.

I believe both Corgi and Matchbox produced models of this simular ladder some years ago. If you check out Transport Model Photos at the foot of this page, photos #37 #313 #315 you will see some examples.

And in fact Corgi also produced a run of 1,600 of the actual ladder pictured by Greg Wood above in their "nine-Double-nine" series release. The model is quite exceptional and keenly sought after by collectors world-wide. Regards from Perth,,





Added by Pav on 26 October 2009.

Corgi done several liveries of this turntable ladder many years ago,including a version of this vehicle in its later livery showing it with the red&white striping which was'nt originally as the vehicle was through the 1970's and into the mid 1980's.Corgi also done a very good version of one that was used in New Zealand in the orange&white livery of the New Zealand Fire Service.Both these models can still be seen at toy collectors fairs and are still available.

Added by Pete Matten on 26 October 2009.

I would like to know more about the audible warnings, they look like a 'Tannoy' type speaker? Are they like the modern day electronic audible alert?
Is there a reason why there is a pair of them (which seems a common practice in this area from other photo's) and are they as effective as they look?


Added by John D on 26 October 2009.

Pete, Andrew and those interested in the Corgi Model of this very ladder, go to "Transport Models" at the foot of this page (the little red jeep?) or if that window isn't there, try www.transport-models.com and with a flash of light and a puff of smoke, this identical machine has appeared as picture 532!!??

Added by Pav on 27 October 2009.

John D, with regard your query the 'Tannoy'type audible warning speakers, I'll attempt to answer. The Western Australian Fire Brigades (and other emergency services in the country) for some time used a motor driven mechanical siren manufactured by 'GRIFCO Australia.' However, with the age of electronics, a brilliant young man by the name of Poul Kirk migrated from Denmark to Perth, and set up his own buisness in 1975 and specialised in high quality sound reproduction and moved into the stereo hi-fi industry.
His main interests were in the recording studio and broadcasting industry, but he also developed a very superior audible warning signal, described of 'sonic quality' and 'high fidelity' for use of the Fire Brigade on their new fleet of modern fire engines.
To compliment his design, he incorporated the best available, 'TOA' commercial audio system loud speaker designed by the well known Japanese manufacturer since 1934. He found that by setting these speakers up on the roofs of appliances in stereo format (two) the signal was greatly amphified and carried forward away from the cabin area.
The end result became familiar to the motoring public throughout Australia as the two-tone warble of a responding Fire Brigade appliance.

As a footnote, 'GRIFCO Australia' still manufacture sirens but mainly two designs, a double-header dual low frequency 4hp 3 phase 8 kilometre audibile range (air raid type) and a single-head 4 kilometre range.
Poul Kirk went on to establish a well-known and successful world-wide electronics company 'Elan Audio' and recently retired in Perth to travel the world and follow his favorite pass time of model trains.
'TOA' of Kobe, Japan are still one of the biggest audio producers in the world specialising in security products and CCTV.

I hope that brief outline is of assistance to help explain the audio warning devices of that era. Regards from Perth, Western Australia,,,,

Added by Pav on 09 November 2009.

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