Posts Tagged historic fire apparatus

Evanston Fire Department history (more)

More Evanston Fire Department history and apparatus details from Phil Stenholm:

1924 Seagrave 85-ft TDA (Truck 1) at Fire Station #1 on Lake Street circa 1950 :

1924 Seagrave 85' aerial in Evanston IL

Bill Friedrich collection

The five new Pirsch rigs (Truck 21, Truck 22, Engine 21, Squad 21, and Engine 25) lined-up L-R at Fire Station #1 on Lake Street circa 1952: 

Evanston Fire Department history - vintage Peter Pirsch & Sons fire engines

Bill Friedrich collection

1951 Pirsch 85′ TDA (Truck 21 1951-68 and then Reserve Truck 23 1969-79) at Fire Station #3 on Central Street when it was the reserve truck in the 1970’s:

Evanston FD Reserve Truck 23

Bill Friedrich photo

1952 Pirsch 85-ft TDA (Truck 22 1952-79) after it was refurbished in 1969: 

Evanston FD Truck 22

Bill Friedrich photo

1968 Pirsch Senior 100-ft TDA as Truck 22 in the 1980’s (was Truck 21 1969-79) 

Evanston FD Truck 22

Bill Friedrich photo

1968 GMC / Pirsch tractor (ex-Aurora,CO) pulling refurbished 1952 Pirsch 85-ft ladder & trailer (Reserve Truck 23 in the 1980’s) 

Evanston FD Truck 21

Bill Friedrich photo

 

1949 Seagrave 1000 GPM pumper (was Engine 21 1949-1952, then Engine 22 1952-66, then Reserve Engine 26 at Station #5 1966-70)  It was sold to a private individual (Stuart Trock) for use as a party & parade vehicle in 1970 (it was only 21 years old when it was sold). It was was kept in very good condition by Trock and it was in the Evanston 4th of July Parade every year back in the 1970’s and 80’s. 

Evanston Fire Department history

Warren Redick photo

1937 Seagrave 750 GPM pumper (one of two identical pumpers purchased by  Evanston at that time after voters passed a bond issue). It was Engine 3 (later Engine 23) 1938-57 and then it was Reserve Engine 27 at Station #3 1958-70.

Evanston Fire Department history

Warren Redick photo

1937 Seagrave Service 65-ft aerial-ladder truck that was a front-line rig (Truck 2) at Station  #1 1937-1952, and then it became Truck 23 at Station #3 1955-62 (in front-line service), before finally going into reserve (still known as “Truck 23”) 1963-69.  

Evanston Fire Department history

Warren Redick photo

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Chicago Fire Department history

This from Steve Redick:

I shared this official CFD image a while ago. Since that time Jack Connors took the time to identify all the rigs in the image. 

classic Chicago FD apparatus

click to download

notes about vintage Chicago FD apparatus

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Chicago Fire Department history

Here is a link to the website of Old Custom Cruisers, a car club in Bristol, Tennessee which owns two Ahrens-Fox pumpers; one from Chicago and one from Maywood, Illinois. 

This 750-GPM Ahrens Fox pumper (piston), Model: IM-2 was built for Chicago Fire Department 7 and was  stationed in the Stockyard area of Chicago.  It was manufactured in 1921 and delivered in  1922.

Hours on Pumper: 750 gal @ 120 lbs for 6 hrs,  375 gal @ 200 lbs for 4 hrs, 250 gal @ 250 lbs for 2 hrs

Engine Details: 6 cylinder engine, 2 plugs per cylinder, duel  ignition system, magneto & distributor, 3 speed  manual transmission, gas, up draft carburetor, mechanical brakes, spring suspension.

The “Ball”, or the pulsation chamber, reduces  the throbbing of the stream as it ejects from the nozzle. The tall chamber on the front retained  the vacuum on the intake side of the pump.  With minor variation, the style of this pump did not change from 1915 to 1952.

former Chicago FD Ahrens Fox piston pumper

Old Custom Cruisers photo

former Chicago FD Ahrens Fox piston pumper

Old Custom Cruisers photo

former Chicago FD Ahrens Fox piston pumper

Old Custom Cruisers photo

thanks Dennis

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Gary Fire Department history

This from Wayne Stuart for #TBT:

The Gary Fire Department operated this 1909 Seagrave horse drawn ladder truck. It was one of only two horse-drawn apparatus operated by the GFD. This apparatus carried Seagrave serial #3758. It ran as Truck Company #1 until 1916
 
wayne stuart collection
Gary Fire Department 1909 Seagrave horse drawn ladder truck

Wayne Stuart collection

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Gary Fire Department history

This from Wayne Stuart:

The Gary Fire Department operated this 1916 South Bend hose and chemical wagon. It ran as Engine Company 6 for quite a numder of years.
 
wayne stuart collection
Gary Fire Department history

The Gary Fire Department operated this 1916 South Bend hose and chemical wagon. It ran as Engine Company 6 for quite a number of years. Wayne Stuart collection

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Of interest … vintage Maxim fire truck brochure

This from Mike Summa:

I found this brochure I sent for a long time ago.  I would like to share them with you.  Enjoy and comment.

Mike Summa
1972 Maxim Fire Trucks brochure cover

click open the photo for a larger version

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