We have more history to share on the Chicago Fire Department Turret Wagons. Images come from Jack Connors and his collection featuring units built on the Willy’s Jeep chassis.
Chicago Turret Wagon 6-7-2 prior to completion outside of the Civil Defense house on Wells Street. Jack Connors photo
Chicago FD Turret Wagon 6-7-4 during a Fire Prevention Week parade on State Street. Jack Connors photo
X-CFD 6-7-4 near 55th and Luna after being sold by the city to a private individual. Jack Connors photo
CFD Jeep Pressure Unit 1, 1959 Willy’s Jeep/Shops built (6-7-1) at Engine 4’s house . Ken Little photo
Chicago FD Jeep Pressure Unit 1. Warren Redick photo
Chicago FD 6-7-1 after a repaint. Formerly this was all red and lettered as Jeep Pressure 1. Jack Connors photo
The previous installment in this series can be found HERE.
#1 by Pat Holohan on November 21, 2014 - 4:29 PM
Just found one of these Mars DX-40 lights. It is not marked with a “voltage”. Were they all 12 volt ? Or did they make 6 Volt also. The Serial Number on mine is #1076. Trying to determine before I attempt to power up. Thanks for any help. Pat H.
#2 by Mike Mc on March 26, 2013 - 10:28 PM
Martin: Well, they were small. The firehouse that quartered the jeep pressure wagons (there was also a jeep light wagon) was called “Disneyland” and the firemen detailed to drive them were called “little people”. One of the theories was that they could be used in areas that larger rigs could not penetrate, such as narrow alleys and loading docks. I don’t know if they ever did, but one idea was to actually drive them into large factories or warehouses that were on fire. I assume they were viewed in the same way the Navy viewed P.T. boats in WW II – they were expendable.
#3 by Turk_WLF on March 26, 2013 - 2:04 PM
Thank you John for the information and I found the videos of the Mars DX40 on the Youtube an interesting light for it’s day.
#4 by Martin Nowak on March 26, 2013 - 1:09 PM
Not going to lie, those last 3 pictures. Those high pressure units look so tiny. A joke on wheels.
#5 by John on March 26, 2013 - 11:36 AM
They were Mars DX40s.You Tube has several of them in action.
#6 by Turk_WLF on March 26, 2013 - 9:58 AM
I have a question slightly off of topic on Jeep Pressure I/6-7-1’s Warning/Emergency Lights…
If I see and guess correctly the outer most lights (silver cone shape) on the roof are Mars 888 (the light travels in a figure 8 pattern), but my main question is about the red center light. What is the model & what does the light(s) do are they just flashers with a siren in between the 2 lights.
The reason why I’m asking is I haven’t seen this before but just on the original Snorkel or other older Chicago Fire Apparatuses.
Thanks,