This from Steve Redick:
This year it was held in Oswego, some surprises, some regulars. Positioning of the few fire rigs that were there was tough, the police cars were pretty easy to shoot. I was excited to see the old Broadview ALF tower ladder is now apparently privately owned and hopefully will be making the rounds, I could not get a shot of it this time. Thanks to Dave Weaver for putting this event together. All the images can be seen hereSteve
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
Steve Redick photo
#1 by Sebastian on August 17, 2016 - 6:01 AM
Does Broadview plan on replacing the old tower or are they just running with a squad and engine only now??
#2 by CrabbyMilton on August 16, 2016 - 12:37 PM
Indeed if anyone knows the history of such vehicles those 2 guys certainly would. Walter McCall is likely responsible in part for getting many of us interested in fire apparatus with that first book of his. Sure got me into it over 30 years ago.
However, I was speaking mostly of police squad cars since not all of them are the low cost brand of the traditional big 3 plus AMC.
#3 by Matt on August 16, 2016 - 12:11 PM
The big ambulance builders, Miller-Meteor, Flexible and S&S commonly offered two lines of ambulances and professional cars from the 40’s through the 70’s. The Cadillacs were always the top of the line and the prime vehicles but more economical hearses and ambulances were also available from the same company but on a lower cost car line. Each generally used another GM Brand in that one company converted Buicks, another Pontiacs and another Olds. The biggest difference is that Cadillac would sell commercial chassis models consisting of the front clip, cowl and maybe the doors on factory built long wheelbase chassis for conversion into professional cars. The cheaper cars were sedan or wagons purchased then stretched and converted by the builder. Generally, Chevrolet was not used for conversions by the big builders of the 50’s and if they were used for ambulances, why buy a conversion when you could buy a delivery or Suburban. I would recommend checking out the books by Tom McPherson or Walt McCall as they have done some great stuff for ambulances.
#4 by CrabbyMilton on August 16, 2016 - 6:23 AM
I’m not trying to blast any department or even the now defunct PONTIAC brand. However, I find it interesting that so many departments ordered PONTIAC squads as opposed to CHEVROLET. I even remember one department in WI. having some OLDSMOBILE squads. I know that many of the GM products overlap and duplicate but typically the PONTIAC and OLDSMOBILE nameplate commanded a higher price for identical or very similar specs.
Did some municipalities get special discounts with certain dealers? This was also true with CHRYSLER in that most squad cars were PLYMOUTH though there were many DODGE and some DESOTO squads.
#5 by Mike Mc on August 15, 2016 - 10:46 AM
The old Palatine 75′ snorkel, which operated at the Ben Franklin Store fire in (1973?) and serves as a memorial for the three LODDs was there as well.
I thought the Plymouth Fury CPD car with the blue beacon light was the best. He even has a pulsator siren!
Thanks for the photos.
#6 by CrabbyMilton on August 15, 2016 - 6:05 AM
Nice shots. Those old PLYMOUTH squad cars look mint don’t they? I had other things going otherwise I may have came down there. They seem to like to change the location quite a bit.
#7 by FFPM571 on August 13, 2016 - 5:00 PM
The owner of the Broadview ALF/Grumman tower is the same guy who owns both the Hillside rigs. Safe to say all 3 are well cared for