Fireman - Help with photo [Archive] - British Genealogy & Family History Forums

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Frampton

13-03-2009, 5:17 PM

I discovered this photo amongst some of my mother's memorabilia. I have no idea who it is. I thought the M of MFB could possibly stand for Metropolitan. I e mailed the London Fire Brigade Museum and they say the helmet is not one of theirs. Two questions: which Fire Brigade does this uniform belong to and does anyone know which date it could be?
Have failed to insert photo so would like to hear from anyone who has knowledge of Fire Brigades.

MarkJ

13-03-2009, 5:33 PM

We find it easiest to pop the image somewhere and link to it. The most common method is to use Photobucket, as described in this thread -

http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30819

Mark

Frampton

14-03-2009, 11:59 AM

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/framptonstory/IMG.jpg

Thanks for the tip. It did take me a long time to conquer the photobucket site but achieved the result in the end.

stickymone

14-03-2009, 12:54 PM

Hi Frampton,

I think it's safe to say that you photo is pre 1938. Unfortunately before 1938 there were 1400+ brigades in the country!

The 'M' I would suggest is the initial of the town or city where your man served, if he was from Kent it could be something as simple as Maidstone, on the other hand it could be any town in the country beginning with 'M'.

You could try contacting the owner of this site romar.org.uk/index.html He calls himself a Fire Service Historian and seems happy to accept enquiries. Be warned though, there's an awful lot of fire engines on this site!|jumphappy

Stickymone

Browneyes

14-03-2009, 1:02 PM

On the london-fire.gov.uk site, if you click on Gallery then "Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Merryweather horse drawn steam fire engine, 1890s" ...those moustaches seemed to be all the rage!

Mutley

14-03-2009, 1:37 PM

I think the style of the helmet was called a Merryweather and were used by British fire brigades from the Victorian era. Designed by Massey Shaw.

Jan1954

14-03-2009, 1:46 PM

I had the computer screen at the wrong angle and read the initials as FMP.... I really should get out more..... :o

Do you have any clues as to who this chap was or where he was from? Manchester sprung to mind, as did Maidstone and Middlesborough.

Procat

15-03-2009, 1:22 AM

Have you tried zooming in on the buttons? They may contain the name etc.

michaelpipe

15-03-2009, 2:13 AM

Whilst on the subject of Fire Brigades, there is a pdf link (slow to download) on this page http://orionmarketing.co.uk/fire/page4.html
which is a "Rules & Regulations" for the Harleston Fire Brigade c 1911 - makes interesting reading.

Incidentally, the photo is about 1925, and yours looks to be a lot earlier than that.

leonardpiggin

16-03-2009, 2:43 PM