HCB Angus Fire Engine Builders

The story of the HCB Angus fire engines from 1933 to 1994.

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HCB Angus produced 6,500 fire engines for fire services from across the UK and all over the world at their Southampton factory. The author discusses the history of the company and its forebears from their first involvement with building fire engines in 1933 until the completion of the last orders before closure on 24 June 1994. Orders came in from fire services from Pakistan to the Falkland Islands as well as the UK fire brigades, the Ministry of Defence, and oil and chemical companies around the world. HCB's keen interest in crew safety even earned them a place on the BBC's Blue Peter. Aidan Fisher has had exclusive access to the archive of photographs, technical papers and brochures preserved by the company until its closure and has used it to produce this complete account of the company and its products, a testament to the skills and craftsmanship of the company's workers. Aidan, a member of the Fire Service Preservation Group, lives in Manchester.