Vintage Fire Trucks

We have one on buses so why not fire trucks.

 

The town of Millinocket, Maine, purchased this early-1908 solid-rubber-tired Knox chemical and hose fire truck through the Portland Company

A fire patrol truck operated by the Great Northern Paper Company.



Hose 4 of South Portland Fire Department.

The truck was created from a 1928 Dodge chassis that had been a Cushman's Bakery delivery truck before being damaged by fire.

Fire Department employees rebuilt the motor and chassis and the department's repair shop on Thomas Street added the fire truck body.

In 1942, the truck was equipped with a 500-gallon-per-minute front-end pump as a wartime ancillary.

 

Thanks yellerspirit for starting another great thread with pictures and information. Photos are great. But it's always nice to know something about who, where, and what.
Many years ago I came very close to owning the old original very low mileage 1928 Model A fire truck of the tiny town south of where I lived. After the deal was nearly done someone decided it should go someplace else. I always wondered where that was?:confused:
Now and then I still see an old fire truck just wasting away next to a building, often with old advertising on the sides.

 

And vintage from where I live, Victoria BC........

Victoria Fire Department fire truck in front of Dominion Hotel, 755-765 Yates Street, 1947. City of Victoria Archives​

This mammoth was at our local; car show this summer.


Langford, technically the town I live in......

From the Langford archives, unknown year..........






Don Robson, our first chief (Galiano Island), saw an ad in the paper for a fire truck and in 1963 this 1947 Dodge Bickle pumper was bought used from the Langford fire department.
Engine 1 has just arrived on the island with the Langford license plates still on and the Langford name on the door. The truck is parked just up from the ferry dock and the reel hose is being tested out.



Many thanks to past fire fighter Bill Stevens who kept the truck safe for 30 years in his garage after the truck was retired in 1980.


Here it is at the Lion's fiesta 2010 after the department took on the restoration project.


The fire fighters, Chief Jones and retired chief Chester Williams pass society president Dave Hutton a donation totaling $3,000.00 towards the restoration of Engine 1.



Restoration in progress


Other retired Vancouver island trucks..................


Engine 1, bought new, in-service 1974 - 2009

1974 - Gas Powered International
625 GPM Pump, 500 Gallon Water Tank
Donated to Peru (Fire Fighters without Borders)



Engine 2, bought used, in-service 1993 - 1997

1954 - 300 HP La France
? Pump, ? Gallon Water Tank
Donated to NGVFD



Engine 2, bought new in-service 1997-2013

7.3 Litre Ford 4X4 Mini-pump
420 GPM Pump, 250 Gallon Water Tank
Trade-In (Rocky Mountain Phoenix Fire Trucks)



Tanker 4, bought used, in-service ? - 1990

1957 - 120 HP GMC
No Pump, 1500 Gallon Water Tank
Sold Locally



Tanker 4, bought used, in-service ? - 2000

1980 - 180 HP International
No Pump, 1500 Gallon Water Tank (reused)
Sold Locally



Tanker 3, bought used, in-service 1980 - 2005

1974 250 HP Chev
250 GPM Pump, 1000 Gallon Water Tank
Sold to Greeney Lake.

(Tanker 3 was bought for the department by the Women's Auxiliary) <- good read about the unsung heros

 

Back in the early 70's I was a volunteer firefighter in Millwood NY, the town I grew up in. I also worked in a body shop in town where we restored this 1924 Brockway Lafrance fore truck. It was the towns first truck so it really was a labor of love.

 

East Middlebury Vermont 1983

 

Vergennes, Vermont

 

A Chevrolet fire truck (1937) converted to a salvage truck in 1959 by the full-time Presque Isle Fire Department drivers, who also fabricated the body.

It carried a sled in winter and a boat in the summer. 100 gpm pump. Retired in 1968.

 

First fire truck, Surry, 1947
Surry Volunteer Fire Department's very first fire truck. An "old" truck was modified to create the fire truck and a water tank was mounted on the rear. Note on the side of the truck the letters SVFD which stand for Surry Volunteer Fire Department followed by the date 2.12.47. The man at the front of the fire truck is Luther Carter, Fire Chief.

 

I went here in 1995.

http://firefightersmuseum.novascotia.ca/

 

Great shots.

Love those old pictures.

Bill

 

I loved "Emergency!" and wanted to get these posted immediately: