From The DesPlaines Valley News:
The vintage Bedford Park Fire Department Snorkel … that was possibly headed to the scrap yard has been rescued from oblivion.
Fire Chief Sean Maloy said the truck, which was the first original Snorkel manufactured in 1959, will be donated to Smeal Fire Apparatus of Snyder, Neb. “They said the Snorkel will be restored 100 percent to its condition when delivered to the Bedford Park Fire Department on March 31, 1960,” Maloy said.
The company will keep the Snorkel on display in its museum as well as take it to fire apparatus shows. Smeal bought the rights to the Snorkel name from LTI in June, Maloy said. “They plan to start building Snorkels again and want to show off the original truck at fire conferences,” Maloy said. “It will definitely be a marketing tool.”
“The truck will retain the Bedford Park name and markings,” Maloy said. “We will send them photos of the original truck so they make sure to get everything right.” Maloy said the company would pay the village $1 for the truck, which needs an estimated $60,000 in body and engine work.
“The village board was very happy to see the truck get a good home,” Maloy said. “The truck is an important part of firefighting history and I’m very happy to see it will be going to a good home.”
While the first Snorkel was converted from [a tree trimmer],
GMCPierce produced the first original Snorkel fire truck in 1959 for the Chicago Fire Department. “For some reason, they did not purchase it and it wound up in Bedford Park,” said Maloy. “I’m told Bedford Park got a good deal on it.” For the next 20 years, Bedford Park firefighters used theGMCSnorkel to battle fires and drive in parades.Maloy praised this newspaper for helping to make this all possible.
thanks Drew
#1 by Jim on August 17, 2014 - 7:02 PM
So glad to Smeal stepping up to the plate to take over the refurb on this rig. It was so sad to see it sitting in Bedford Parks Public Works yard rusting away for all those years…Kudos to Smeal!!
#2 by Bull Bull on August 16, 2014 - 1:43 PM
Word to Smeal!!
#3 by frmddc221 on August 16, 2014 - 5:39 AM
I’m glad to see they saved it as well. Would have been a shame to scrap it. Felt bad Bedford couldn’t have done it themselves, but 60 grand is a lot of money and would have taken forever to repair.
#4 by John on August 15, 2014 - 7:26 PM
As the story goes, Quinn rejected it because he felt the tandem axles would make it hard for the rig to get around. He then recommended it to Bedford Park, who bought it. Anyway,I’m glad it found a home.