JD1490 (shown above on Brighton Sea Front in the late 60's in the hands of Mr. Stanbridge of Haywards Heath) is a Dennis Big 6 manufactured in 1931. It is powered by a Dennis (White and Poppe) six cylinder petrol engine rated at 45hp with a bore and stroke of 110 x 140mm. A Dennis number 3, 900gpm pump is centre mounted, although this was customer choice with rear mounting an option. The following photographs is reproduced from the Newham Council local history collection courtesy of Peter Williams. Notice the Dennis 'N' Type on solid tyres behind JD1490. After the war JD1490 was transferred to Stratford Fire Station (36C13) and by 1948 it appears that it was no longer with London Fire Brigade.
The Dennis factory photograph of JD1490 shows quite clearly the grain in the varnished wood body. This picture is slightly unusual as it is not taken against the usual backdrop of the railway embankment outside the factory or in the adjacent streets of Dennisville but more in open countryside around Guildford.
Reproduced by permission of Alexander-Dennis and the Surrey History Service
The table below shows the first Big 6 deliveries. You will see that the neither the Engine numbers or Car (chassis) number are sequential with respect to the despatch date. The Car number was allocated on receipt of the order, but manufacture could start some time after.
|
Car Number |
Engine Number |
Customer |
Despatch Date |
|
7340 |
60002 |
Hong Kong FB |
23/10/29 |
|
7341 |
60019 |
Croydon FB |
29/10/30 |
|
7342 |
60028 |
Glasgow FB |
20/1/31 |
|
7394 |
60005 |
Birmingham FB |
12/6/30 |
|
7402 |
60010 |
Birmingham FB |
30/8/30 |
|
7403 |
60038 |
Leeds FB |
6/5/31 |
|
7420 |
60021 |
West Ham FB |
30/11/30 |
|
7421 |
60034 |
East Renfrew FB |
10/2/31 |
|
7422 |
60031 |
Wimbledon |
10/2/31 |
|
7429 |
60035 |
Ealing FB |
17/3/31 |
|
7430 |
60036 |
Tottenham FB |
27/4/31 |
|
7431 |
60027 |
West Ham FB |
11/6/31 |
The West Ham Big Sixes featured on the front cover of the Instruction manual for the Big Six.
After leaving the West Ham Fire Brigade, JD1490 was the works appliance at the Kodak film company. Whem sold into private hands it was purchased by Paul Adorian who claimed to have the largest private fire brigade in England with 23 appliances.
In 1967 the owner of JD1490 placed it and 11 other appliances all up for auction. The newspaper reports at the time told the story of how JD1490 was sold for £155.
JD1490 still sign written for the Kodak fire brigade is seen at auction.
