|
Fire Engine Accessories |
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to Steve Walker
|
Fire Engine Bell |
|
Steve Walker wrote: Question "I was given a bell 30 years ago and told that it was off of an old fire engine of the 1950s era. I would be interested to know if you recognise this as a fire engine bell. I have looked on the internet and there is one with a similar top connection fitted into a frame. The bell weighs 11kg and is stamped George VI." Steve Walker, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England: June 7, 2010 |
|
Reply to Steve Walker? If you know anything about this type of bell, please email me, then I'll pass on your message to Steve. Thank you. Peter Stubbs: June 10, 2010 |
|
Reply 1. Steven Walker |
|
Steve Walker added: The Bell "Someone recently told me that the Auxiliary Fire Service / Green Goddess did have bells with George VI stamped on the top. I was also told, when I was given the bell, that the fire engine was converted into transportation for people. I have looked on the Internet and found a 'pump' which looks as if it carried equipment. It actually looks like a small coach. I'm not sure if that could be the one that my bell came from." Steve Walker, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England: June 10, 2010 |
|
Reply 2. John Hadden Edinburgh |
|
John Hadden wrote: The Bell "I think it would seem reasonable to believe that this bell really is off a fire engine, but I would suggest that 1940s may be more likely. The bell in the photo is the very same shape and style as the bell on a Green Goddess fire engine, except the top fitting of a Green Goddess bell is by a bolt through a vertical hole in the top of the bell and not by a horizontal bolt as in the photo. Also, the markings on the top of a Green Goddess bell are "ER" instead of "G vi R", because the Green Goddesses were built from 1953 to 1956. I suggest that if there is any trace of paint on or in the bell, that may be a clue if it was from a military fire engine. For example, I suspect that all Green Goddess bells were painted green, like the rest of the vehicle. I know of at least one genuine example." John Hadden, Edinburgh: June 10, 2010 |
|
Reply 3. Ian Scott Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire, England |
|
Ian wrote: The Bell "I agree. The bell is most likely an ex-AFS(pre1941) or a NFS bell. They were originally rough cast and painted 'NFS grey', but the firemen removed the rough cast and polished them for years (bull) and this is the final result . I have one in the garage that came of one of Edinburgh's old NFS appliances." Ian Scott, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire, Scotland: June 16, 2010 |
|
Reply 4. Ken Vernon Frome, Somerset, England |
|
Ken wrote: Another Bell "I've just bought a similar bell from a sale room in Frome, Somerset. I paid £50 for it. It's red and white inside. I know nothing more about it." Ken Vernon, Frome, Somerset, England: August 12, 2010 |