One of my favourite projects over recent years has been the complete restoration of a Liverpool built 50′ wheeled fire escape.
The escape arrived at the workshop in a very sorry state, the wheels had collapsed and one was missing its axle box, the ladder was rotten and collapsing in places and all the metal work was rusting heavily, shedding its paint.
As a result we had to near enough start from scratch.
New naves for the escape.
Freshly spoked escape wheels.
Wheel during spoking
Felloed wheel
Set up for hooping
Freshly hooped wheel
Sanding after hooping
First coat of primer, it’s almost a shame to cover up the wood!
 Part of the escapes chassis back from sandblasting, primed and having new timbers fitted.
Fitting the new wheels onto the axles and chassis.
Pepper inspecting the job so far!
Joe fitting a replacement stay.
First tier of the ladder fitted onto the chassis.
Second tier of the ladder being spliced and having new rungs fitted.
Joe restoring the top winding mechanism.
Fully assembled ladder being wheeled out of the workshop, it runs and balances so easily one man can handle it!
Final checks and a touch up before delivery.
Delicately loaded onto a crane wagon to be transported to it’s home in the Merseyside fire service museum.
