More complex and imposing than any other vehicle in the British emergency services, the fire engine has a long and interesting history. The earliest water pumps had been developed by the eighteenth century – basic manual pumps that had to be hauled around by people or horses, and were often only used on fire-insured premises. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries horse-drawn, steam-powered fire engines, and eventually motorised fire engines, came to revolutionise firefighting, offering far greater versatility and the brigades came to be run by the municipalities. In this beautifully illustrated introduction, Eddie Baker charts the history of fire engines and their variants, and the increasingly complex equipment they have carried, such as high-rise ladders and high-pressure hoses. He also explains the wider history of the fire service and how the engines have been shaped by its needs and, most importantly, those of the firefighters themselves.
From the time the order is confirmed, it should take up to 15 minutes to arrive at the email you used when placing the order.
Digital products, including but not limited to digital keys, may require activation. Activation instructions will be provided in the order confirmation notification sent to the email address registered in the user account. If you do not receive activation instructions by email, please contact customer service for assistance. Digital products are available immediately after activation, and no returns or refunds are allowed for these types of products.
Read more
