Fire Engine [Bedford A2 Taihape Volunteer Fire]
Maker and role
Bedford Motors Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
1955
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
F1155.2003
Maker
Production period
Description
Bedford A2 fire engine, ex: Taihape Volunteer Fire. Registration No. EQ1804. Red Fire truck, Flat bed style truck with seating in the tray and a central fire hose reel behind the cab. Various spotlights around the top of the cab. NEW ZEALAND FIRE SERVICE BADGES on the sides of the cab, TAIHAPE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE along the side of the flatbed.
Brief History
This is one of a number of Bedford A2s supplied to various volunteer fire brigades throughout New Zealand during the 1950s. They generally replaced converted touring cars, such as Ford Model As, which the brigades had utilised as the embryo fire brigade was established.
This Bedford chassis was fitted with a body made by Carters, a coach building firm located in Wellington. The fire engine carried 450 litres of water which was pumped via a small gear pump. It also carried a hose and basic fire fighting equipment. These vehicles often towed trailer pumps which gave the combination a well deserved reputation for instability. The crew rode on the back of the fire engine, sitting in the open.
This example was supplied new to the Taihape Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1955, and served at a number of small brigades in the Wairarapa before coming to MOTAT in 1989.
Type: Fire engine
Manufacturer of chassis: Bedford Motors Ltd
Country manufactured: England
Engine type: Bedford
Engine capacity: 6-cylinder 214 cubic inch OHV
Pump: Gear pump
Pumping capacity: 227 litres (50 gallons) per minute
No. of firemen needed: 6
This Bedford chassis was fitted with a body made by Carters, a coach building firm located in Wellington. The fire engine carried 450 litres of water which was pumped via a small gear pump. It also carried a hose and basic fire fighting equipment. These vehicles often towed trailer pumps which gave the combination a well deserved reputation for instability. The crew rode on the back of the fire engine, sitting in the open.
This example was supplied new to the Taihape Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1955, and served at a number of small brigades in the Wairarapa before coming to MOTAT in 1989.
Type: Fire engine
Manufacturer of chassis: Bedford Motors Ltd
Country manufactured: England
Engine type: Bedford
Engine capacity: 6-cylinder 214 cubic inch OHV
Pump: Gear pump
Pumping capacity: 227 litres (50 gallons) per minute
No. of firemen needed: 6
Marks
BEDFORD Maker's Plate
TAIHAPE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE Logo
TAIHAPE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE Logo
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Bedford Motors Limited. 1955. Fire Engine [Bedford A2 Taihape Volunteer Fire], F1155.2003. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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