Original Item: IMA acquired these water pumps nearly 30 years ago in the early 1980s. These are genuine and these are romantic. In the fall of 1940 after AH abandoned the dream of invading England, having lost the “Battle of Britain” air war, he, in fury, turned to the “Terror Tactics” of the BLITZ! Seemingly endless bombing runs over southern England rained down a firestorm on London and other cities.
Here IMA is offering, long forgotten, original WW2 style stirrup pumps which when used with a pail of water could direct a continuous jet of water up to 20 feet away on any flaming object. Pretty ineffective during the Blitz, however, these were distributed widely to Air Raid Wardens, Fire Gaurds, and used mostly to put out incendiary bombs.
Simply constructed using the principal of a bicycle pump one only hopes these did some good during those trying times. Made from Wood, Steel, Brass and Rubber (some of which shows signs of perishing) these old pumps survived the blitz.
Offered as decorative historical artifacts, not as functioning equipment, every WW2 buff should have one of these.
Very few available.
Colors and styles will vary somewhat.