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], GMC Pierce 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 the GMC Snorkel to battle fires and drive in parades.

Maloy praised this newspaper for helping to make this all possible.

thanks Drew

earlier posts are HERE and HERE

Tags: Bedford Fire Department, Bedford Park Fire Chief Sean Maloy, Bedford Park Fire Department history, Bedford Park Snorkel, original Snorkel, Smeal to restore original Snorkel fire truck, vintage Snorkel saved from scrap heap