1949 DENNIS F 7 Fire EngineRestored to former glory
Restored to its original condition, a Dennis
F 7 Pump Escape Fire Appliance.
The vehicle, dating back to 1949, has
undergone a complete makeover after
many years of service having taken its
toll.
Many hours of hard work have gone into
its refurbishment including a complete
replacement of the appliance’s interior
and various mechanical elements, as
well as a body re-spray and new livery,
bringing the engine back to life.
Back in the 1950s the F 7 was known for
its advanced performance and modern
looks. Its 4 speed Rolls Royce Engine, 0-60
speed of 45 seconds and a typical fuel
consumption of 3 to 4 mpg were quite
impressive for the time. With no power
steering and hydraulic brakes the F 7 was
known to be difficult to drive. Driving one
was considered quite an art, although
drivers still loved using them.
Now the engine has retired from its
official duty the F 7 still attends shows
and has become a local attraction
in its home town of Chester. With
approximately five remaining from the 50
that were made, enthusiasts and others
alike still want to see a working F 7 model.
Fire Engine from
Macclesfield Fire
Station
This appliance first served at
Macclesfield fire station. It replaced
their old Braidwood fire engine.
The first driver was Lt Sherratt. It also
served in the German bombings of
Manchester and Liverpool.
The ladder is 104ft long. It was
made to fit the small streets of
Macclesfield, by being shorter
when housed, with an extra
extension to make it up to the full
140ft.
It can pump up to 575 gallons per
minute, has two water tanks, each
holding 60 gallons,this was only for
use with the hose reel at the rear of
the appliance.
The bonnet is blue because
Leyland Trucks said that it helped
with engine heat dispersal.
The engine is an in-line six cylinder
overhead camshaft of 539.cu.ins
rated at 69 BHP at 1,000 rpm
Fire engine from
Nantwich and
Audlem Fire Stations
This fire engine was bought
by Cheshire County Fire
Brigade in 1953 and served
at Nantwich and Audlem fire
stations.
In its later years it served as
a spare appliance before
being handed over to
the historical society for
preservation in the mid 70s.
It is powered by the Rolls
Royce B60-6 cylinder petrol
engine
It carries a 35ft Ajax ladder
plus the two section short
extension ladder.
The water tank holds 400galls
and pumped via a 500
gallons per minute pump.
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