Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Paul Brook]

I am restoring the 1943 Westmorland Fire Brigade Dodge type 101a Water Tender registration number GXO 480, which spent much time at Windemere Fire Station and was pensioned off in the mid 70s. Thereafter it was rallied extensively by Chris Brook. The machine still resides in the family and I am restoring it. Sadly the bodywork has all but collapsed as the timberwork has recycled itself adn so a ground up restoration is in order. To assist, does anyone out there have photographs - either in service or on the rally scene from the 80's. Anything at all would be helpful. It is one thing remembering what it should look like more or less - quite another working out exactly how it all fitted together!

[Scotty]

Paul - are you still out there?

I'm a moderator on a fire brigade related web site and we have a number of fire appliance buffs, but I don't want to start a thread over there if you've got all the info you need (- or if you've moved on from this site).

Scotty.

[Paul Brook]

Scotty - still looking! I have some photos of where I have got to in the restoration if anyone is interesated - not sure if I can post them here. As you can see I dont check this forum very often but will now! Cheers.

[Rick]

Hi Paul, it'd be great to see some pics of your Dodge on here, more the merrier

cheers, Rick
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[Rick]

PS is it similar in style to this one?



Rick
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[Paul Brook]

Very similar - but mine is the 5 ton. The detailed differences are that the engine side panels have horizontal rather than vertical louvres, and the cowl is different. On the wheels front mine are 34x7 and 8 stud.

Now - how do I post a picture....?

I will try and start with one of how it is currently and then if I get any good at it I will get a couple of what it was like when we dragged it out of the orchard where it was hiding!

Mmm. Just read the FAQ on posting images and I will need to put them somewhere and link to them. What fun - more IT to learn! Patience people - I am on the case!

[Paul Brook]

Right - here goes - with luck this link will work....

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x74/paulbrook/P4250064.jpg

[Paul Brook]

OK - I give in - how do I include the photo in the post?

A couple of other links here to be going on with:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x74/paulbrook/Dodgeloading3.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x74/paulbrook/Dodgeloading1.jpg

The latter one is of the chassis actually moving under its own steam for the first time in donkeys years and was taken recently as I moved the project from Cumbria to Yorkshire!

[Rick]

Hi Paul, great piccies!! like the driver's seat

thats probably the best way of linking to fairly large image files, that way people on a slow internet connection can read the post, and choose to view the images if they want to.

If you want to include more compact images in your post, click the [Img] button just above the text box, paste in the link to the image like you were doing, and then click the [Img] button once more. That'll incorporate the pic into your post!

cheers, Rick
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[Paul Brook]

Ah yes - the seat. I asked my (engineer) son to fettle up a throttle mechanism so that we could get it running and after half an hour banging and crashing in the barn he came out with a daft grin on his face and the new driving seat in position. Apart from the seat being just a little too far back and the throttle being a little too close to the clutch (he had to mount it in the middle for now) it all worked very well.

The seat is now removed but I keep it handy so that I can sit and look at it as I try and work out how it was all put together, as effectively up to the scuttle it was as per a 5 ton truck, but from the scuttle and windscreen back it was a coachbuilt limosine type fire engine body. Thinking through how they actually did that, both to maintain the structural strength whilst at the same time not making it so rigid that it could not flex with chassis movement is up there with one of lifes great mysteries. Good job I have about a ton of ash timber to practice with!

When I have time I will post a history, progress so far, a few more pics and then update on progress every so often.

[Scotty]

Hi Paul,

I've posted your question onto the fire brigade web site - just have to wait and see what pops up.

[Paul Brook]

Thanks - I will keep my fingers crossed!

[Uncle Joe]

Am I correct in thinking that this has been re-bodied at sometime?

UJ

[Paul Brook]

Correctimundo.

Originally it was supplied to Westmorland Fire Brigade as a Heavy Pump Unit in 1943. I believe that the configuration was a flatbed 5 ton truck, with a crew shelter and a big pump on the back. After the war, in 1947 I believe, the "normal" fire engine body was built, I think (but I could be wrong) by Atkinsons of Kendal, and it was designated as a Water Tender. It had a first-aid pump and hosereel(s) driven from the main gearbox, and then a lightweight, ex. trailer, pump (Coventry Climax) was slotted up into the back.

Further research suggests that there must have been a range of standard Home Office designs and even components, as the lights inside the lockers are exactly as per those in a Green Goddess, even though the latter is from a slightly later era.

Although I can remember how it looked (my Dad bought it from Westmorland Fire Brigade in about 1972) there is a big difference between that and ensuring that I get the rebuild right, hence the request for photos. That said, any photos of this (GXO 480) or other similar vehicles, either in the heavy pump, or converted forms, would be very welcome! (the vehicle was rallied extensively in the 70s and 80s, it even did the London Brighton HCVS run)

[Scotty]

Hi Paul,

This is your fire engine -



I have to say in all the years of my interest in fire appliances I have never seen one quite like this - you have got yourself, what I consider to be a truely unique vehicle.

Would you ensure you take a copy as I'll be deleting it from my web host after a week or so when the thread drops down the list - got to save server space.