G'day Numbers
I reckon once upon a time every brigade had one.
It was usually brass & about 18 inches long.
No valve & no handles. We called it a branch.
Had a really nice one at the Queenstown RFB - had a triple-stacked tip.
Solid brass. Ex-London FB via TFB Hobart if I recall correctly.
With just the first tip attached (1" dia) it delivered water nearly
as fast as our trailer Godiva could supply it. Took 3 strong blokes
to hang onto it. The other 2 tips necked it down to 3/4" & 1/2" for
water economy...
Mostly they were gotten rid of because they were too inflexible - they do just one job superbly well - convert energy from pressure to velocity. I'd suggest most brigades feel/felt that one job occurs so infrequently that it doesn't justify its place on the truck. Those that still carry them have mostly replaced the stream tips with a variable nozzle.
We carry a long Fogmaster that has the tapered accelerator built-in. Hasn't been used in anger in the 10 years or so I've been in the brigade.
But there would probably be some brigades for whom a long tapered branch would be useful. Handles & a valve would make it more friendly than the old brass branch.
cheers
AJ