Fire Engines Photos

sister appliance EWR749C suffered a tragic accident - story here



Added by Petros on 16 January 2023.

After the merger with Leyland in 1962 AEC transitioned to the Ergomatic tilt cab, so it seems this must have been one of the last built with the older traditional fixed cab. Like the slightly earlier series built for London, this example had the shorter wheelbase chassis and four door cab. However, most of the numerous Merryweather AEC TLs built between 1959 and 1065, had a two door cab - usually with sliding doors. Almost all of these were crew cabs, although manning with three or more firefighters was already a rarity in most British fire brigades.

Added by Rob Johnson on 16 January 2023.

Looking at examples on this site, it seems the Ergomatic cab AEC Merryweather ladders first appeared in 1967, while quite a few of this design were still supplied in 1966. While many of these had the two door cab, all of the tilt can Ergomatic were of course four door.

Ed: ergo cabs could be two door too - see debate here




Added by Rob Johnson on 16 January 2023.

Thanks, that makes so much sense! Why pay to have the bodybuilder add a crew cab which nobody is going to sit in it? Modern ladders have quite a big equipment locker behind the cab, which is quite handy too….

Added by Rob Johnson on 16 January 2023.

Its a shame AEC were taken over by Leyland, and it was a take over not a merger. It was all downhill for AEC from that point.

Added by CraigW on 17 January 2023.

The old story I’m afraid Craig. Too little R&D, old manufacturing technology, outdated engines, too much focus on the overcrowded UK market and very little business in Europe, except for the Lisbon bus fleet in Portugal. There was a huge demand for lorries and buses in Britain in the 1050s and early 60s, and AEC took full advantage, especially when it came to London Transport. But there were massive opportunities too in most of Europe, but most British firms simply ignored it. Ford actually pulled out of France and then Germany, and only Bedford had any meaningful sales, but were limited to Scandinavia and the Benelux region.

So Mercedes, MAN, Scania and Volvo went from strength to strength, while Renault and the brands which combined into Iveco were the only other survivors.

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 January 2023.

Sorry for the finger fumble! AEC was NOT in business sixteen years before the Norman conquest. As far as I know….

Added by Rob Johnson on 17 January 2023.

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