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Fire Engine Photos
Morris Motors works appliance
This appliance began life in 1953 as a prototype of the Morris Minor van and was converted for use by the works fire department at the Cowley factory; it was small enough to drive between the assembly lines and replaced a 20 year old vehicle in this role. It became a reserve appliance in 1983 and was finally retired in 1990, and is now on public display at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
This appliance began life in 1953 as a prototype of the Morris Minor van and was converted for use by the works fire department at the Cowley factory; it was small enough to drive between the assembly lines and replaced a 20 year old vehicle in this role. It became a reserve appliance in 1983 and was finally retired in 1990, and is now on public display at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
That's quite an array of fire extinguishers it's carrying! Back in the early 1950's, most, if not all UK made extinguishers had chrome or brass fittings, so plainly the blue (foam) extinguishers were not original when the vehicle was commissioned as a fire tender. The two smaller extinguishers (between the seats, and to the left of the passenger seat) were commonly fitted to Land Rovers and London Transport buses during the 1950's and 60's. They tended to be brass or chrome finish, contained the toxic extinguant carbon tetrachloride, and were operated by a simple pumping action of the anchor shaped handle at the top. Intended for tackling fires within the carrying vehicle, they fell foul of safety regulations, so are now a thing of the past. So also are multi coloured extinguishers. CO2 (black), water (red), bcf (green), foam (blue, or sometimes cream during the 1950's/60's) are now always red, regardless of type.
It's certainly a very pretty version of the car. Later (post 1955 or so) versions of the Minor lost the divided windscreen, the grille became an opening with horizontal slats, and the headlamps were raised onto the top of the front wings to satisfy vehicle lighting regulations. Visually, these changes were a retrograde step.
Added by RA Howell MCIBS on 03 November 2011.
It's certainly a very pretty version of the car. Later (post 1955 or so) versions of the Minor lost the divided windscreen, the grille became an opening with horizontal slats, and the headlamps were raised onto the top of the front wings to satisfy vehicle lighting regulations. Visually, these changes were a retrograde step.
Added by RA Howell MCIBS on 03 November 2011.
Blue denotes dry powder not foam. Foam is cream! Modern fire extinguishers are predominatley red, but not all red, a certain percentage of the surface area should still be coloured to denote the type of extinguisher - ie black for CO2, blue for dry powder etc...
Added by Michael G on 04 November 2011.
Added by Michael G on 04 November 2011.
What could be more appropriate than a Morris Minor for dealing with minor Morris fires?
Added by Rob Johnson on 07 January 2014.
Added by Rob Johnson on 07 January 2014.
Morris
Added by Lambert Arnaud on 28 May 2011.