From the earliest aerial ladders on for decades it was common practice in many countries which used hose carts to hang one on each ladder truck, even though these very rarely were equipped with a pump.
It was used not only to feed a line on the ladder - or a monitor if one was carried - but also as a general extra hose supply, if needed, to supplement what was already carried on responding pumpers.
This tended to gradually die out in the 1960s, with turntable ladders usually carrying only one length of hose for water tower operations.
It was used not only to feed a line on the ladder - or a monitor if one was carried - but also as a general extra hose supply, if needed, to supplement what was already carried on responding pumpers.
This tended to gradually die out in the 1960s, with turntable ladders usually carrying only one length of hose for water tower operations.
Added by Rob Johnson on 21 September 2019.