The Launceston Fire Brigade Board entered the motor age in 1920 with the purchase of a Maxwell car fitted out as a “motor hose cart”. In 1921 this was followed by the purchase of a Ford chassis fitted out locally as a hose-carriage. In 1925 a Chevrolet replaced the Ford. In 1929 the Board made two purchase decisions, a 60` wheeled escape ladder from Merrywether & Sons, London England and a 250 gpm pumper from Dennis Bros, Guilford England (as displayed). Entering service on the 26th February 1930, the Dennis is powered by a 4 cylinder White & Poppe petrol engine. It features a rear mounted Dennis No. 2 turbine pump and the first live hose reel to be fitted on a LFB appliance. For most of its working life the Dennis was based at the Brigade`s 89 Patterson St. central station. Initially it served as first turnout but after the arrival of a more modern Ford V8 pumper in 1937 it became the carrier of the Brigades wheeled fire escape ladders until its retirement in 1977.
