3-008-915 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The International Exhibition: Merryweather and Son's patent steam fire-engine, 1862. 'This powerful and well-finished steam fire-engine, which is the only one of English manufacture in the exhibition, is the most powerful fire-engine for land service hitherto constructed in this country, and is appropriately named "The Deluge."...When loaded with six men, hose, &c., it has frequently been drawn by two horses at a rapid rate; provision is made for three or four horses if required. At the late trial in Hyde Park, the boiler being perfectly cold, cold water was pumped in, and in six minutes from applying the match steam was heard issuing from the cocks. At a trial which recently took place at Messrs. Hodges' distillery water was projected vertically through a 1½-inch nozzle 10ft. over their chimney-shaft, which is 140ft. high. In one experiment water was drawn vertically through the suction-pipes a vertical height of 14ft., and then discharged through a 1¼in. nozzle clear over a building 60ft. high to a horizontal distance of 210ft'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.