BRAITHWAITE
Though not self-propelled, this possibly warrants an entry as it is described as the first steam fire engine. It was built in London by Braithwaite & Ericsson in 1830 and was said to be capable of pumping 40 tons water per hour to a height of 90ft.
BRAMAH
The famous Birmingham locksmith and engineer, Joseph Bramah, built a steam carriage in 1821 to the designs of Julius Griffiths of Brompton. Within a couple of years it was converted to a wagon capable of transporting three tons, making it probably Britain’s earliest lorry. Its pioneer water tube boiler seems to have been its Achilles heel, although it impressed Walter Hancock sufficiently for him to create his own machines.
BRAY
A rival of James Boydell was William Bray of Folkestone, Kent who in 1857 built a three-wheel traction engine with retractable strakes on an eccentric ring inside the driven wheels. Some
