Fire Engines Photos

This machine was designed by my father Deryck Waters, who was Technical Director at that time.

Added by John Waters on 06 August 2008.

John, nice to read your comments of a personal nature on this site. The streamlined design was something else when you consider the year, so no doubt your father was a smart lad. Now, down to business - I'm wondering if per chance you may have lots of his old photos lying around that you may like to scan and share with us like-minded souls? And, are you able to advise if your father's design was the very one "DINKY TOYS" used to produce two very popular fire engine models/toys back then in the 50's, , , , ??

Added by Pavel Zaremba - Perth, Western Australia on 07 August 2008.

Father is still alive (93 yrs old) and has an album with photos and drawings from that period. His memory of the 1950's is also still very good. I will talk to him and see what he has got. With regards to the Dinky toy, I think it was a Carmichael fire engine but I will also check with Father

Added by John Waters on 07 August 2008.

Yes indeed, the Dinky toy was indeed a representation of a Commer/Carmichael.

AS regards the Miles bodied version of the F8 that was designed by your father, a total of 30 examples were built, Northumberland being the biggest single customer with ten of them.

Added by Ian Moore on 08 August 2008.

Pavel, the Dinky model you enquire about was indeed a Miles bodied fire engine but on a Bedford chassis. Same triangle front grill and same style of bidy as the Dennis. There were two versions, a standard water tender from Oldham and a ficticious airport fire engine.

Have a good day

Added by Ron Henderson on 08 August 2008.

John Waters, that is fabulous news that your father is still with us, no doubt you will pass on our very best wishes and our compliments on his outstanding work, , don't forget the photos and things, when you visit next!
Ian and Ron, thanks for your informative comments, I never cease to be amazed at the incredible feedback of information that comes from this site! Well done guys!!

Added by Pavel on 09 August 2008.

you can see my take on the Dinky Bedford Miles as a WrE on Marcel's transport models site at picture 1015 and picture 20484 on this site is of interest too though that is a Commer. I have a soft spot for Miles bodywork.

Added by Peter Williams on 07 May 2011.

The Dinky Commer was based on a Carmichael water tender type B supplied to the City of York - and subsequently operated by Rowntrees of York as a factory works appliance. As an urban unit, it had no provision for a portable pump.




Darlington had a similar unit, but with a slightly different locker arrangement. This started out as a type B, but had a Dennis 500 gpm PTO driven pump from an NFS trailer installed later. It found its way to Teeside Airport after leaving Darlington. RHN 999.

Added by Rob Johnson on 28 April 2020.

Rob if I can correct you RHN 999 was supplied as a Wrt Type 'B' and also went onto serve at Tees-side Airport it was the earlier Commer Whitson that was originally a type 'A' NHN 999 and later received the 700 GPM Gwynne pump from a Brigade Austin K2 HP possibly replaced by RHN when new

Added by Brett Clayton on 27 May 2020.

Brett

Thanks I was told about the conversion by a sub officer of the brigade in 1956 I guess he must have been wrong!

Added by Rob Johnson on 27 May 2020.

Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade had one of these Dennis/Miles F7 machines in the 60s. Their station is in the town centre, our full time station is in a northerly part of town, we were unlikely to beat them to jobs in southern parts of town during the day, they were then all business men working very near to their King's Street station and very keen. They formed their Brigade in 1884 to protect their properties owing to poor fire cover in the town. They produced a very interesting book ('Ready & Willing) for their centenary in 1984.

Added by Howard Godsland on 03 April 2024.

Howard: Such a pity volunteer fire brigades in the UK almost all disappeared after WWII. In many countries they are the backbone of fire services, especially outside cities and large towns. As only one example, Germany has over 23,000 volunteer fire companies, compared to only 114 paid full time fire brigades, with 97% of all firefighters being unpaid volunteers. Berlin, with 3.5 million population has 35 full time paid fire stations, but these are backed up by another 84 staffed by unpaid volunteers, while Chile is 100% volunteer - including the capital city Santiago with over five million people, so its not only a small town phenomenon. Most European countries have around 70% unpaid volunteers, which is the same as here in the USA.

Added by Rob Johnson on 03 April 2024.

Rob. Thanks for those interesting figures relating to volunteers. You may have noticed that my fat fingers referred to the F8 as F7. The PVFB one was registered locally as is most usually done unless the machine is registered at the factory possibly as a demonstrator. This one was FEG 603 with the B60 as standard, what happened to it I do not know. They replaced it with a Dennis F48 water tender in 1970, YEG 729J with the B81, we were very envious as we had an F28 PE with a B61. They bought the F48 themselves and have kept in preservation at their new station which was built by one of their number who ran a building company and later had a spell as their CFO.It had later been fitted wit a 45ft Lacon type ladder.

Added by Howard Godsland on 04 April 2024.

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