Bedford Park FD history – the original Pitman Snorkel

Larry Shapiro photo

Karl Klotz visited the Bedford Park Fire Department and spoke with Chief Sean Maloy about the restoration project that they have underway of their 1959 Snorkel.

The unit is a 1959 GMC/Pierce/ 65′ Pitman Snorkel. This was the first Pitman Snorkel built. It was designed for the Chicago Fire Dept, but refused due to the overall length and tandem axle. The Bedford Park Fire Department made an offer and subsequently purchased the vehicle.

Bill Freidrich collection

Snorkel 5 (later re-numbered 712) entered service in Bedford Park in 1959 and served until 1979 when it was replaced by the Seagrave Snorkel 705.

Jack Connors photo

In 1979, it was passed down to the public works department where it was used by the street light division until approximately 1995. From that point on, it sat in the back parking lot of public works unused.

Currently it is sitting inside Bedford Park Station 1, where it is in the process of a complete overhaul. Mechanical work is being performed by the fire department mechanical staff in house. After completion of the mechanical work, it is slated to go to Automotive Mentoring Group (AMG) for body repair and refinishing.

Karl Klotz photo

The project is being funded in part by the BPFD Foreign Fire Board and the Village of Bedford Park.

From another reader:

“Hey recently, I visited Bedford Park Station #1 and observed a work of love in progress. The Bedford Park Fire Department finally brought home their very first Snorkel, which has been left outside their public works yard rotting away for over 20 years, to start a desperately needed refurbishing. Some mechanical work will be performed in-house with bodywork to be completed at a local business. For those that do not know, this Snorkel is of historical significance, as it was the very first Snorkel actually produced by the Pitman Company for the fire service. It is rumored that this Snorkel was spec’d out by the late Chicago Commissioner Quinn only to be rejected because of it’s overly long wheelbase, which would’ve proved too difficult to maneuver around the city streets. Bedford Park jumped at the chance and purchased it. Snorkel 5 is a 1960 GMC chassis with a V8 gas engine and manual transmission with a Pierce body.”

fire department refurbishes 1st Snorkel ever built

Karl Klotz photo

Dennis McGuire, Jr. submitted images of the Snorkel during it’s stay in the public works yard.

Dennis McGuire, Jr. photo

This entry was posted on October 31, 2013, 8:17 AM and is filed under Fire Department History. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

#1 by Brian on January 27, 2015 - 2:28 PM

Correct, CFD did not take delivery of the “first” snorkel and Commissioner Quinn had a relationship with Bedford Park or something like that and that is how they ended up with the Snorkel.

#2 by spoung45 on January 27, 2015 - 12:12 PM

Brandon according to the article this was the first one, it was made for the CFD, but the CFD rejected it. and Bedford park bought it. So yes the first was made for the CFD but the CFD did not take delivery of it.

#3 by Jim on January 27, 2015 - 11:46 AM