Fire Engines Photos

Would this have been purpose built from new or was this originally a pump that was converted at a later date? What age is this vehicle? fantastic to see something like this still in use today.

Added by Matt Ireland on 01 October 2010.

This vehicle dates from 1964 and is a Dennis F107 Breakdown Lorry.The vehicle clearly shows it was classed as Breakdown Lorry 14(BL14)and was actually originally based at Clapham.It was purpose built from new to replace a 1956 Dennis F23 breakdown lorry that broke its back when the jib failed to go under an RSJ when on towing duties.

Added by Pete Matten on 02 October 2010.

Matt, this is a purpose built Dennis F107 breakdown lorry. It was delivered to to the LFB in 1964 and spent all of it's operational life at B21 Clapham.
It was taken off the run in 1977.

Added by Kyle on 02 October 2010.

Its great that such an unusual appliance is preserved

Added by Barrie Green on 02 October 2010.

Pete, Kyle thanks for informing me about this great old vehicle. As it was withdrawn in 1977, I take it that its preserved these days?

Added by Matt Ireland on 02 October 2010.

Hi chaps, this lovely old machine has had a replacement jib fitted to it since it left the LFB. I spent a short time at Clapham in the early 1970s and rode this appliance on a couple of occassions. In those days it had a rotating jib made by a firm called Morris and which had previously been carried by the 1936 Big Six Breakdown Lorry BYV 317. We called this 'the overtime machine' because once you went out to a recovery job you could almost guarantee you would overrun the end of your duty shift!

Added by Murray Beale on 03 October 2010.

There's more to this one than meets the eye. It was the first F107 (chassis no. 101F107) and began life as a demonstrator Denis/Metz TL registration number 991 YPC under Dennis WPO No. 41592. It subsequently had its wheelbase shortened to 12' 0" and was built as the appliance subject of this picture, It was then issued with the new WPO No. 41770. A picture of it in its original TL guise can be found in the last Part II of the buff-coloured Manual of Firemanship.

Added by Ian Moore on 09 October 2010.

Glad to say am now owner of 314 FLM - purchased from E-bay only in January 2013. Have known of this unique vehicle since childhood and have realised a dream! Vehicle has AEC AV470 6 cylinder diesel with Dennis "U" type 5 speed gearbox. Presently fitted with Harvey Frost recovery crane and as stated previously was originally fitted with a 5 ton Herbert Morris slewing crane removed from the original 1936 Dennis recovery appliance. Spent a number of years with Wincanton Distribution after being sold out of service by the GLC in 1977.

Added by Steve Gray on 28 February 2013.

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