Fire Engines Photos

Darlington had a 1938 ladder, which did not have a pump, but was otherwise identical - with one exception. It was badged “Morris Magirus “ for Salford based Magirus importer John Morris. Registration EHN 118.

Added by Rob Johnson on 04 May 2023.

WoW this photo has recently appeared on here and I estimate it was taken in the eighties or early nineties. I purchased ELL121 6th December 1999 at the Olympia auction. By this time the John Morris water tower monitor was missing as well as the original Zeiss searchlight and the original headlamps had also been removed. Total refurbishment is underway and I have original photographs taken at the works of John Morris in Salford in 1938 to guide my efforts. I post Hohhot on Flickr and will show more photographs there soon. Lockheed cum Clayton Dewandre brake servo overhauled both lockers rebuilt-one totally, radiator fully serviced, new stainless-steel exhaust system, new decking material. Meadows Engine still runs fine. My father was the last private owner of John Morrisand Sons before sale to Siebe Gorman in 1970.

Added by David Plant. on 07 June 2023.

David. I wish you good luck with your restoration, especially as there cannot be many of these still around.

I do have a question for you, though. When we look at these mechanical ladders fitted with pumps, I always wondered if the ladder could be moved or extended at the same time the pump was being run, as presumably the two power take offs were both being driven by the same throttle control on the single engine.

Added by Rob Johnson on 08 June 2023.

David, impressive task to look after one of these. Doubt if pump and ladder would tax that engine much : )

Added by Peter McCombie on 09 June 2023.

Peter, I was not thinking about whether the appliance had adequate power, but whether the throttle setting for both operations needed to be different if both were being operated at the same time, or was there are clutching mechanism designed to obviate co-ordination?

Added by Rob Johnson on 10 June 2023.

Hi Rob, a good point. I’m wondering if the pump pto was geared up to allow pumping without making the ladder too lively?

Added by Peter McCombie on 11 June 2023.

Hi Rob, the ladder controls are on the nearside rear of the turret and becomes operational after the pto drive is engaged from the cab. The pto drive runs along the chassis and is situated about a foot above the road engine driving propshaft and.control is effected via a borg and beck clutch at the turret end. The ladder controls include the ability to start the Measdows engine from the control hub at the rear as well as extending and folding and turning the ladder and turret to the left or the right.and accelerating or de-accelerating. The Dennis No 3 pump controls are in the cab area and include totallt separate throttle controls, the rev counter goes up to 25oo rpm on the dial and can be controlled from nearside oroff-side. I have experience of operating the ladder but not the pump as I nave not got a pumping appliance to provide the water or a lake! Hope this answers your query. I will send you a separate email as well.

Added by David Plant on 12 June 2023.

Thanks David. It sounds like the pump and ladder have to be operated separately, as the engine can only be governed by one of the two throttle controls at at one time. This may be why a lot of TLPs were fitted with a pump with its own engine, even in the 1930s but perhaps best exemplified by the 1959 and later Merryweather ladders which has a transverse mounted 45O gpm pump powered by an Austin four cylinder diesel engine, as fitted to London taxis in those days.

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 June 2023.

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