LARM—FIRE! A gleaming Austin Gipsy hurtles from a Cornish Fire
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anion. Behind it, bells clanging, roars a econd engine—a pump escape for wn fires or blazing chimneys. A water nder for country calls to isolated farmouses, heath or forest fires. Both on ustin 5 ton chassis.
The 30 fire stations in Cornwall get average of 1,500 calls a year. Some 00 are special service calls, including scue calls etc. that take emergency and cue tenders to cliff faces, tide-trapped holidaymakers, grim gaping mineshafts, road, rail or air crashes. These vehicles, mounted on 1940 2 ton Austin chassis, carry full equipment for any emergency.
Also mounted on these 2 ton chassis are canteen and mobile service vans, stores vans and towing vehicles. All 2 and 5 tonners are powered by a special 106 b.h.p. high speed engine developed for the Cornwall Fire Brigade by Austin in 1949,
The men—and the machines Lives may depend on a fireman's skill. And he depends on his vehicles. Mr. B. A. Christmas, M.B.E., Chief Fire Officer for Cornwall, says, "Our vehicles must go where we want them to go, go darned fast and nevo let us down." His 74 vehicles, including and ton personnel vans, are all Austins. "Standardisation", says Mr. Christmas, "is more economical and more efficient, particularly when you carry a large supply of spares. I have standardised on Austin and am completely satisfied."
Newcomers—and a major success—are the 7 Gipsy Fire Engines. 4 more are on order and the Gipsy has been adapted as a control unit for major incidents.
Cornish roads are hazardous—narrow, twisting, steep. Cornish towns are nerveracking to speed through. "Here", says Mr. Christmas, "my Gipsys really score. They maintain high speeds safely and in four-wheel drive they get right up to fires across open country."
The Austin commercial range includes all-purpose vehicles from ton to 7 tons, plus prime movers for 15 ton gross train weights. L.W.B. or S.W.B. Petrol or diesel engines. All available as chassis/cab./ scuttle units for special bodywork. 12 months' warranty and backing of B.M.C. Service.