Real life mystery

Oh boy thats an old one and nice too....as a kid I remember the brass helmets being used and an old Dennis fire engine with solid tyres
and spoked wheels which were replaced with tubed tyres it served its purpose during the war and was coverted into a council lorry

First thing is the size and number of flags - one is massive; is that a gun carriage lower left? Magnificent picture ......

@ treeve not sure but you might be on to something. I noticed that all the people at the front of the picture are male why? I know that some of them are band members.

Myself, I would say that was a Merryweather engine, one of the steam pump machines; my guess is 1890 or so. The ladies and children are on the steps and landing. A lot of interested boys gawping . I will get back to you ...

Actually - looking at the ladies dresses and the number of gents boaters, maybe later - 1900.

Thank e kindly sir

I seem to remember that the silver bands were not formed until around 1905; as far as I can tell from this it looks like the Independent Brass Band - they were formed somewhere about 1885? Two major events occurred about 1900, one was the Queen s Jubilee in 1897, together with various gifts and benificence in the town; the other was the return from the Boer War. It does not appear to be either. Also the Police and the Firemen were interchangeable. More thought ....

More thoughts ....
Very Large Flag may be red, we may not be able to see a jack; there are two St Andrew s cross flags, but they appear to be red. There also appears to be a tricolour. Another flag, looks very heavy (not furling as freely), probably stitched like a set of Arms. The event is not that formal, note the very relaxed manner of the gents on the landing terrace, also the boaters in plenty, there is not that ordered a line up, and only a few of the men have bowed heads. The gawping young boys in flat caps would have been held back. It looks as if it may have been the inauguration of a machine into the fire service. Probably a gift of one of the philanthropists of Penzance; the wheels to the lower left are those of a private horse carriage (with a folding hood at the rear). The Bolithos provided Fire Engines to Penzance for many years, up to and including the motor engine in 1927, this steam engine being handed to Marazion s service at that time.

@ treeve from West Penwith resources. 1895—Steam Fire Engine presented to the Borough by Mr. R. F. Bolitho, of Ponsandane.

Well, there you go ....