Past & Preserved (Pre 2000)

The age of motorised fire appliances started in 1904 when the first self-contained pumping appliance entered service with Finchley Fire Brigade. Manufactured by Merryweather it marked the beginning of the motor age and the demise of the horse-drawn steam pumper. Others manufacturers soon followed with Dennis producing their first fire appliance in 1908 and Leyland in 1910. Special appliances also began to emerge, the first Turntable Ladder entered service in 1908 and the first Foam Tenders in 1910. Innovation continued and for the next 30 years as fire appliances became faster, safer and better equipped. 

WWII saw the nationalisation of the Fire Service in 1941 and thousands of Auxiliary Towing Vehicles (ATVs), Heavy Pump Units, Turntable Ladders and Dam Units were produced for use by both the National Fire Service and the Auxiliary Fire Service. Most of these were built on Austin K2 and the heavier K4 bodies along with Fordsons V7 chassis. After the war, many of these appliances were reallocated to local brigades where they served throughout the 1940s and 50s.

Following the denationalisation of the Fire Service in 1948 and the standardisation of fire appliance specifications other manufacturers entered the market including AEC, Albion, Bedford, Commer, ERF, Dodge, Karrier & Ford. While Dennis was unusual in that they produced fully integrated fire appliances, most relied on specialist coachbuilders such as Alfred Miles, Carmichael, Merryweather, CFE, HCB Angus, Fulton & Wylie, Excalibur & Saxon Sanbec. The 1980s saw the emergence of European manufacturers including Volvo, Scania, Mercedes Benz and Iveco. Working with coachbuilders such as Angloco, Emergency One and WH Bence they now dominate the UK market.