PRIMITIVE FIRE-ENGINES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue IV, 27 July 1895, Page 104

PRIMITIVE FIRE-ENGINES.

The oldest known fire-engine for pumping water is probably the one mentioned in the ‘ Spiritalia ’ of Hero, about 150 B.c. This engine, it is said, was contrived with two single-acting pumps, with a single beam pivoted between the two for working the plungers. The streams of water united in a single discharge pipe, and passed up a trough having an air chamber, and out of a nozzle which might be turned in any direction as desired. Fire-engines appear also to have been used extensively by the early Romans, who furthermore organised regular fire brigades. In the early part of the sixteenth century a fire-engine known as a ‘ water syringe ’ was introduced, which, in a measure, resembled the model forms of fire-engines. This was mounted on wheels, and the water was pumped by levers. This form of engine was very generally used in Germany. In England, about the same time, large brass syringes were used. These held several quarts of water, and were operated by three men, two of then holding the syringe at each side with one hand, and directing the nozzle with the other, while the

third operated the plunger. It was necessary, after having discharged the water from the syringe, to’ refill it from a well or cistern near the fire or from buckets. The syringes were later fitted to portable tanks of water. The first successful fire-engine was probably the Newsham engine, and this was the pioneer of manually-operated fire-engines. The pumps in these engines were built on many different designs, but in most cases they were operated by levers. Fire engines similar in form to the Newsham engine were in use up to the year 1850.