BAICO Fire Engine Conversion for the FORD
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 7:37 pm
Intrigued by the fire engine found in the background of one of Grandad's slides (see my post at https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15625 ) I had a look for Ford fire engines in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Several Fire Brigades in New Zealand used Ford fire engines, so the design is not unusual here.
My search turned up this beast which belonged to the New Zealand Defence Force and was on duty at the Trentham Camp in 1925 (still one of New Zealand's larger military bases and that background building is probably still there). This is a BAICO according to the proud name on the radiator cover. Underneath is a very much modified Ford.
Where BAICO comes from I cannot find out, but it may have been an English company?
I did find this news clipping from England as well:
And this interesting commentary from Tring in England about their 'BAICO':
My search turned up this beast which belonged to the New Zealand Defence Force and was on duty at the Trentham Camp in 1925 (still one of New Zealand's larger military bases and that background building is probably still there). This is a BAICO according to the proud name on the radiator cover. Underneath is a very much modified Ford.
Where BAICO comes from I cannot find out, but it may have been an English company?
I did find this news clipping from England as well:
And this interesting commentary from Tring in England about their 'BAICO':
(https://tringhistory.tringlocalhistorym ... dex.htm#03)"Messrs Pemsel and Wilson brought the new machine to Tring for testing on October 12th. It certainly pumped satisfactorily but it could not get up Marlin Hill and needed several attempts to reach the top of Hastoe Hill. Dispute then arose between the Council and Messrs Pemsel and Wilson as to the merits of a low speed axle and a gear box to remedy the problem. The axle would have reduced the appliance’s speed to 16 - 18 m.p.h. from its existing 35 - 40 m.p.h. Agreement was finally reached on November 7th. The firm gave a guarantee that with the gear box fitted — without further delay and at a cost of a further £17-10s-0d -- the fire engine would get up any of the hills in the district fully loaded. The offer was accepted and on December 10th 1927, just a month short of two years since Tring Fire Brigade’s failure to go to Spencers Green, the Council received confirmation from the Fire Brigade Committee that the motor fire engine had indeed carried the men and full equipment up Hastoe Hill, Marlin Hill and Oddy Hill several times. Councillors immediately agreed that a cheque for £476-2s-5d should be despatched to Messrs Pemsel and Wilson. Whereupon Cllr Bagnall referred to unfair reports which had been circulated and asked the Press to take particular note that on November 26th “under conditions none too good as regards weather and roads, and from a cold start in the fire station” the fire engine went up Marlin Hill to the Hastoe cross-roads in nine minutes with full equipment and seven men, and then went from New Ground Waterworks up Hemp Lane to Wigginton Church in six and a half minutes."