Transit van becomes compact fire tender
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USING a Ford Transit Custom 30cwt van of 9ft 10in, wheelbase, a notably compact HCB Angus Firefly Major tender has been produced for the engineering division of Courtaulds Ltd. The van body is built to a special fire specification including two forward hinged doors for driver and officer, a further hinged side door on either side for the crew, and an upward hinged tailgate at the back.
A Coventry Climax 350-400 gpm alloy fire pump is installed at the rear, being driven through a Hardy Spicer shaft from a specially developed full-torque pto in the main vehicle drive line. Among the instruments on the panel surrounding the pump are an engine throttle control. electric engine rev, counter, plastic tube water contents gauge, and hooded lights for night work.
A 60gal. glass reinforced plastics first-aid water tank is mounted across the body floor towards the rear, there being baffles to limit surge and to stiffen the tank body. A single
HCB hose reel, mounted on a frame over the rear pump, is coupled by a -in. feed pipe to the main pump system, being arranged so that when the main pump is running the hosereel is always pressurized. Thus, to obtain water at the nozzle it is necessary only to.turn on the lever cock on the hose-reel spindle, to run out the hose and operate the shut-off nozzle. The reel is fitted with three 60ft lengths of first aid hose.
Stowage is provided for ten lengths of 50ft main hose. On the roof are ladder gantries stiffened to carry the 26ft Ramsey light-alloy dual extension ladder, the arrangement being designed to ensure easy removal of the ladder from the rear.
In addition to the comprehensive lighting equipment incorporated in the Custom van, special items include a blue flashing beacon, two-tone horn, 7-in, remote control searchlight, fire extinguisher, 10in, electric bell, and a fluorescent unit for illuminating the interior.