Morris Commercial “F Type” Fire Engine 1931

By February 6, 2017 No Comments

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Lot No: 40
Year Make Model Mileage ESTIMATED SALE PRICE
1931 Morris Commercial "F Type" Fire Engine None £13,000 - 15,000

Description:

KJ 14 is a Morris Commercial “F” type fire appliance built by Beadles of Dartford with three others for Dartford Rural District Council and registered on 30th March 1931. KJ11 – KJ14 going to Eynsford, Wilmington, Swanley and Stone respectively.
The 30 CWT, twin rear wheel, 10ft-2in wheelbased chassis Z7151 was built in 1928 and fitted with a four cylinder 17.9HP petrol engine at approx 12 MPG.
KJ14 stayed at Stone until the outbreak of WW2 when it transferred to the newly formed National Fire Service and spent the war around the Horton Kirby area. It was then transferred to the Kent Fire Brigade in 1948 when the NFS was disbanded.
In around 1948 KJ14 was passed to the KFB Workshops at Lyminge where the pump was removed and a 9KVA generator was fitted. It stayed in service as a mobile power unit until 1960 when it was transferred to the Kent Highways Department at Aylesford and then to Canterbury Department. It was finally sold to a farmer on Romney Marsh.
KJ14 stayed on the farm until 1970 by which time she was minus most of the body work, brass radiator, 40 gallon bronze water tank and her pressure gauges but was purchased in this state by a Sussex garage owner and historic commercial vehicle enthusiast who rebuilt the engine and chassis and used her as a stand-by power unit in the garage.
The vehicle was then purchased by a Mr Bromley in 1980 who spent 2 years restoring her as a mobile power unit, rallied her for one season then being offered assistance from a KFB vintage enthusiast, plus the offer of a fire pump, not a Gwyne but a very similar Dennis, he started the task of rebuilding KJ14 as a fire appliance, re appearing at the 1985 Kent Show, followed in May 1986 with a complete London to Brighton HCVS run.
KJ14 then passed through auction in 2002 onto Landspeed Motors Ipswitch. In 2002 the vehicle was badly damaged by a fire (image in folder) and was subsequently declared insurance loss category F. The damaged vehicle was purchased by Mr Tucker who set about sourcing original parts and rebuilding it to get it back on the road. Stacks of bills, invoices and correspondence follow on from this over the next 10 or so years until it was put back on the road in 2011.
The history file includes lots of letters from previous owners and correspondence, bills and invoices for parts in relation to the restoration of the vehicle. Also included is some photographs of the vehicle during its lifetime including ones from 1936 and 1937 along with some more recent images.

Auctioneers notes: A pair of bronze helmets can be bought by the purchaser for an additional cost of £150.

Lot No. 40
Auction 28th April 2017 - 91% SOLD
Vehicle Make Morris
Vehicle Model Commercial "F Type" Fire Engine
Year of Manufacture 1931
Mileage None
Registration KJ 14
Date first Registered 30-03-1931
MOT N/A
Chassis Number 7151Z
Engine Number A30689
Estimated Sale Price £13,000 - 15,000

Please note: Current engine and chassis numbers are supplied by HPI. Prospective buyers are advised to satisfy themselves as to the condition of a vehicle and the accuracy of any statement made, be they statements of fact or opinion. All vehicles are sold as seen. If you cannot attend the auction please contact the office for a walk around description over the phone.

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