Airport Fire Appliances

[Tim Lovelock]

Img96b. Location unknown, Apparently the 'street sweeper' on the end was much maligned, it's lack of, 'off road' capability very much a drawback on an airfield.
Img98b. I believe is Essendon circa1950's
Img10b. Location unknown.
Img11b. Moorabbin Airport.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tim Lovelock

Img96b. Location unknown, Apparently the 'street sweeper' on the end was much maligned, it's lack of, 'off road' capability very much a drawback on an airfield

This vehicle on the end looks like a standard model of the Shelvoke & Drewry Gully Emptier. They have a swinging boom on top with a suction hose to clear blocked drains in to the tanker body. A common municipal vehicle, obviously the wrong vehicle for airfield use due to the small diameter wheels.

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Tim Lovelock

Img96b. Location unknown, Apparently the 'street sweeper' on the end was much maligned, it's lack of, 'off road' capability very much a drawback on an airfield.

Looks like a Shelvoke and Drewy sweeper.



They always had small wheels.

Regards Rick

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Looks like a Shelvoke and Drewy sweeper.



They always had small wheels. Regards Rick

hi Rick,
Neither of those you have shown are Sweepers. The top one is a Gulley Emptier body as the RAAF one in the old photo in discussion. The lower one is a Refuse body, or Dustcart as they are commonly known in the UK and is the early tiller steered model, which had exceptionally small wheels.

[ted angus]

Gents there is a picture and a bit of info in " FIRE & CRASH VEHICLES By Bart Vanderveen published by OYSLAGER IN 1976.

The S & D is a W model RAAF truck firefighting domestic; supplied 1952 carried 1100 gal water. The pipe on the top looks too be a vent overflow pipe.
TED

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by ted angus

Gents there is a picture and a bit of info in " FIRE & CRASH VEHICLES By Bart Vanderveen published by OYSLAGER IN 1976.

The S & D is a W model RAAF truck firefighting domestic; supplied 1952 carried 1100 gal water. The pipe on the top looks too be a vent overflow pipe.
TED

Thanks Ted !
The slopping box alongside the tank looked just like a gulley emptier where they stowed the hoses. Your info seems more logical. Definitely not a sweeper anyhow.

Just found this info on a restored RAAF example at Point Cook museum:

217159

SD W type Crash Tender Year of Manufacture: 1950/51

Original Owner: Royal Australian Air Force. Owner: R.A.A.F. Point Cook Museum. Location: Melbourne, Victoria,Australia.

The Australian Civil Aviation Department ordered ten SD 'W' types equipped as airfield crash tenders for delivery in 1950/51. It is not known whether this one is one of that batch or a separate order for the Air Force. Fitted with 1,100 gallon water tanks and a front sprinkler to clear spilt fuel and when fire fighting to keep flames clear of the vehicle. In 2010 the vehicle was restored at the museum and painted bright yellow

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

hi Rick,
Neither of those you have shown are Sweepers. The top one is a Gulley Emptier body as the RAAF one in the old photo in discussion. The lower one is a Refuse body, or Dustcart as they are commonly known in the UK and is the early tiller steered model, which had exceptionally small wheels.

Yes, I know that Richard, I was just id.ing the make. Got that right.

Regards Rick.

[Richard Farrant]

The first photo which we have been discussing is Guildford aerodrome in WA. I thought this was all to familiar, we have had this photo on the forum before,
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=18179

Also found this web page, showing one of these S&D trucks that were in RAAF service. I think the term "sweeper" was a nickname for them as it looks as though it is a fire engine of sorts, carrying a ladder, but bodywork is very similar to a cesspool tanker and gully emptier, with the tank and side stowage for hoses. Never seen a sweeper version of this truck though, doubt the engine would have had enough power to suck the dirt up.
http://www.georama.com.au/RAAFFireSe...26_Drewry.html

[Wayne Henderson]

The last 2 vehicles, both Jeeps, are from another era.
The back end of a HR (?) station wagon is shown in the background and these where new in the mid 60's.

[Tim Lovelock]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

The first photo which we have been discussing is Guildford aerodrome in WA. I thought this was all to familiar, we have had this photo on the forum before,
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=18179

Also found this web page, showing one of these S&D trucks that were in RAAF service. I think the term "sweeper" was a nickname for them as it looks as though it is a fire engine of sorts, carrying a ladder, but bodywork is very similar to a cesspool tanker and gully emptier, with the tank and side stowage for hoses. Never seen a sweeper version of this truck though, doubt the engine would have had enough power to suck the dirt up.
http://www.georama.com.au/RAAFFireSe...26_Drewry.html

Ha ha Richard, by the size of the tank on the S&D it's any wonder the caption on your link asks why they ever bothered to try to change up a gear!! My experience in a Bedford (RL) some years later used to be the same, poor old girl would have struggled to pull the skin off a rice pudding. I worked with an officer who had some years on me in the ARFFS, vague though my memory is, I'm sure he wasn't fond of the S&D... But I'm glad for a bit more history on them to update the captions on these pics that I was fortunate to have printed by the DCA photographic section when organisations funded such things!! Cheers Tim