Fire Engines Photos

Ah memories! A feature we loved was the fact that both sets of two tones could be used at once instead of the traditional changeover switch. This came in particularly useful at the junction of Clough Road and Beverley Road not especially for traffic, although it was hazardous but more for the local vicar who had complained about the 'unnecessary racket' we make when going to incidents! No, that was one set of two tones, THIS is a racket vicar!

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 13 November 2011.

Thinking on, I'm not sure if this was the appliance that was involved in the fatal crash in the early 80's which took the life of Sub O Ian Cameron, not sure?

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 13 November 2011.

And this time I agree Glen the 'twin twin' air horns were far more effective than the electronic efforts of later years !

Added by Rick Loudon on 13 November 2011.

Two-tones any day Gentlemen. I hate the American wail and yelp sirens and have trouble wondering which direction they're coming from. Two-tones I know.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 15 November 2011.

OK gent's I need your help. I'm researching the history of the Kingston-upon-Hull City and County Fire Brigade. Can anyone please tell me which NFS Region and number Hull came under?

Added by Andrew Middleton on 15 November 2011.

Just to add to this valediction for two-tones. My ET (see picture 1609 )was the last appliance in Tyne and Wear to have both twin two-tones and bells! To hear it go down Byker High Street in full flight with everything turned on was a spectacle that no-one would ever forget. As for clearing traffic nothing could be more effective.

Added by Barry on 15 November 2011.

I feel they still use two tones and similar in Europe is this true? Whilst I was with the F&RS a survey was carried out by siren manufacturers to find the most effective all round sound for warning devices... top of the list? The pitch, tone and noise of the traditional fire bell - or twin bells as they had in Hull - Happy days..

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 15 November 2011.

I've always wondered about the two sets of 2-tones. All the newer Dutch and German trucks have them, as does this Humberside. Do they blast in sync, so they're just louder than a single set? Or are the two sets tuned or timed differently?

Added by Michael Feldman on 16 November 2011.

Hull was in Fire Force 6. FF6 included York, Malton Bridlington, Selby & Goole, FFHQ was in Hessle. It was in No2 Region along with FF3, 4&5. Unfortunately I don't know the division letters. I would guess Hull Central's number would be 1Z I will try a bit more research.

Added by Neal Glover on 17 November 2011.

Regarding the two sets of two tones, on some of the appliances they were independent so each set could be used randomly either together or individually. However the later models (RS/SS etc) had a changeover switch which in the event of one set failing would allow the second set to be used (the boring version!) We used to use one set all of the time and then use the additional set at traffic lights junctions etc just the same as switching to yelp with the modern day sirens

Added by Glenn Ramsden on 18 November 2011.

South Eastern Fire Brigade had a Merryweather / AEC ET (4999 SC)in the 60's that was delivered with a set of Bosch 4 tone horns. All 4 flat lectric horns were behind the radiator grille. They cycled through the 4 different tones a couple of times each time the footswitch was pressed. The tones were of different lengths of sound. However, our ever vigilant Police objected to this strange Germanic sound and workshops rewired them to be straight forward two tones, with the horns sounding in pairs. Ran like that with it's long rolling siren too for the rest of it's service.

Added by Colin McFarlane Foster on 18 November 2011.

Thank you very much Neal. I'm going to Hull on 2nd December to view the KUHFB records.

Added by Andrew Middleton on 18 November 2011.

Andrew, Hull was A Divn FF6

Added by Neal Glover on 18 November 2011.

I was in that crash that took the life of my Sub Officer Ian Cameron. One minute we were playing table tennis ... 5 mine later he died. It was a terrible time for all of us.

Added by Michael OKeefe on 10 May 2016.

Glen it was 1979, the day of the Winestead tanker crash. Roy Fussey

Added by on 03 September 2021.

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