Fire-Brigade raw./ r
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The Belfast Brigade is reported to be extremely pleased with its Morris engines.
Mitcham (Surrey) is about to purchase a motor fire-engine, and to spend £882 upon it.
Attention is directed to our second leaderette, and to the report of the L.C.C. discussion of last week (pages 109 and 115).
The Watch Committee of the Leicester Town Council appears to be of the opinion that motors will entirely replace horses in the local fire-brigade establishment.
Litherland (Liverpool) U.D.C. shortly expects to receive the sanction of the Local Government Board to its loan of £1,300 for the erection of a fire station and the provision of motor equipment.
Armstrong-Whitworth Motor Tender for Fire and Rescue Brigades.
A few points about the motor tender constructed by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Ltd., for the Durham and Northumberland Collieries Fire and Rescue Brigade, should be of interest to readers of this page. Seating accommodation is provided on the tender for seven men, one of whom drives. The purpose of this machine is to attend calls where rescue apparatus is required.
Ten of the liquid-air rescue apparatus are carried in the box body of the machine Two metal containers, each holding 52 lb. of liquid air, are carried hanging on a light angle-iron frame above the
box. Suitable spiral springs attached to the top of the box hook on to the bottom of each bottle, to prevent them from swinging very far when the car is travelling. A Pul-motor reviving apparatus, with two spare cylinders, is carried in a compartment under the frame at the rear. Two miles of special light telephone cable, wound on drums which hold one-eighth of a mile, is carried in the footboard boxes, together with two breast carriers for the drums. A heavier drum, with a semi portable carrier, is stowed in the box body. This carries 880 yds. of cable, and is used when it is required to establish elephonic communication from the top to the bottom of the shaft. Three portable telephone boxes are carried in the footboard boxes, two of which can be used at either extremity of the line, and the third can be coupled in at any position on the line. Twelve electric hand lamps and a surgical haversack are also carried. A special ventilated box is provided on top of the footboard boxes, on the off side ; this is made to contain four small hand cages, each cage containing a canary.
A loud-sounding hand-rung bell is fitted. The side and tail lamps can be used either as electric or oil lamps ; in the former case, they are switched on from the driver's seat. Dissolved acety lene is burnt in the head lamps, and these are lit electrically by means of a switch from the dashboard. Detachable rims are fitted to the wheels, and two spare rims, complete with tires, are carried. Ample accommodation is provide& for tools and spare parts.
For use with the Rescue Brigade. using rescue apparatus of the oxygen type, arrangements could be provided for carrying ten dresses and sufficient charges to last them for four hours each.
The chassis is of the standard Armstrong-Whitworth design, with four speeds forward and one reverse, with carda,n shaft and bevel. gear drive. The engine is 100 mm. bore by 120 mm. stroke, giving a maximum b.h.p. of 35. The general structure of the chassis is strong and accessible, and great care has been taken to provide against risk of breakdown. The whole car has been subjected to stringent trials and tests, all of which have been successfully fulfilled. A speed of 35 to 40 miles per hour can be obtained, and, notwithstanding this, the range of gears is such that a hill of 1 in 3 with a full load can be negotiated.
Edinburgh.
Some 30 members of the Edinburgh Town Council visited Glasgow, last week, to inspect the Dennis, Halley, and Merrywea,ther engines in that city. Various comparative Lests were made. We are informed that no representative of either the Dennis or Halley interests was invited to be present, but that a representative of Messrs. Merryweather accompanied the Edinburgh deputation. This points to an oversight somewhere. The decision of the Town Council will be taken after we have gone to press.