Baltimore City Fire Department

[Guest]

Duane took this photo of Second Line Engine 33 using this 1943 Mack 750/200 pumper, Mack #85LS-1016.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[firepost]

[quote name='MatttheEPFDBuff' date='Nov 17 2006, 12:42 ' post='51685']

Many Cities did not have the money needed to replace lots of rigs, please keep this in mind that from 1929 through 1940 we were in the Great Depression where there was no money to buy anything except the essentials and then from 1941 through 1945 you had WWII when the apparatus that was allowed to be manufactured was being carefully doled out based on need by the war production board.



So many places had to make do and rebuild as needed and many places were not able to buy new equipment until the late 40's and early 50's.



The rigs were simpler that is for sure in construction and design but I am sure that they were also kept around out of necessity. Chicago due to financial constraints and shortages ran 1920's vintage Seagrave in some of the outlying companies and as spares up until the early 60's leaving the newer Macks and FWD's with the busier companies.

[/quote I would like to interject a slight correction for you as far as the years go for the 1920's vintage Seagraves in Chicago.The only 1920's vintage Seagrave's that saw service into the 60's was a combination rig (quad) that served at Engine 97 until 1960 and was then reassigned to Engine 10 at O'Hare Field until about 1968/69.There were also two Service Ladders that were in service at Trucks 55 and 56 until 1959 as well.

Chicago's 1920's era Seagrave Engines were taken out of service by the mid 1950's when Chicago received 30, 1954 and 10, 1956 Mack pumpers.

The CFD did have a number of very old 1920's era Aerial Ladder trailers from Seagrave as well as American La France that survived into the 1960's however they had all were using 1942 and 1946 Mack Tractors as well as two 1950 Available and 2 1960 Mack Tractors.Those trailers were so old that the ladders were hooked onto the sides of the "tillered trailer" as they had very small "ladder beds".Some of the 1920's era trailers lasted into 1968. Firepost. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/computer.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Guest]

Four of nine 1947 Ward LaFrance 750/250 pumpers were still in first line service in 1973. Here is Engine 3 using WLF #2258, delivered on 8/13/1946.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

Here is a William Porter shot of Baltimore Engine Engine 27 operating a 1947 Ward LaFrance 750/250 pumper.

- Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.

[Guest]

Here is a William Porter photo of Engine 15 using 1948 Mack 750/???, Mack #85LS-1223.

- Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.

[Guest]

Here is the same 1948 Mack 750/??? pumper, Mack #85LS-1223 of Engine 15, which had been rehabbed and repainted when Duane took this shot of it in the station in the fall on 1973.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Here is another one of the six 1948 Mack 750/??? pumpers in service at Engine 17. Mack #84LS-1228..

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Here is yet another 1948 Mack 750/??? that had been rehabbed and repainted. It is Engine 23, Mack #85LS-1224.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Baltimore Engine 52 also had a 1948 Mack 750/??? pumper, Mack #85LS-1225.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Duane caught a couple fires when he visited Baltimore. Here is BFD Engine 55's 1948 Mack 750/??? pumper, Mack #85LS-1226 at a fire scene.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Also in 1948, Baltimore purchased two Light Units on 1948 Mack EH chassis. Here is Flood Light 1, which had been repainted in the new department colors.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

William Porter caught Floot Light 2, an identical 1948 Mack EJ chassis, out on the street .

- Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.

[Guest]

Baltimore also purchased two Mack LS model tractors in 1948. Here is Second Line Ladder 24 with its 1948 Mack tractor, #19LS-1080, pulling what looks like an Ahrens-Fox 85-foot shop-assembled trailer.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Duane caught Second Line Ladder 22, a 1948 Mack, #19LS-1079 backing into quarters.

- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.

[Guest]

The last image for tonight is Engine 1's 1949 Mack 750/??? pumper, Mack #85LS-1429.

- 1973 Duane Troxel photo.

[Guest]

Regarding the two floodlight wagons, they both still exist. Floodlight 1 now has red fenders again and is at the Fire Museum of MD in Lutherville. Floodlight 2 has been completely restored and is at Charlie Black's Chesapeake Fire Museum in Hebron, MD. These two units were unique as they had roll up doors. Probably no other American fire apparatus had roll up doors until the late 1980s.

[Guest]

[quote name='hawkins point' post='51743' date='Nov 17 2006, 22:05 ']Regarding the two floodlight wagons, they both still exist. Floodlight 1 now has red fenders again and is at the Fire Museum of MD in Lutherville. Floodlight 2 has been completely restored and is at Charlie Black's Chesapeake Fire Museum in Hebron, MD. These two units were unique as they had roll up doors. Probably no other American fire apparatus had roll up doors until the late 1980s.[/quote]





I was in Chesapeake Fire Museum in Hebron about 2 weeks ago and didn't see Floodlight 2.Here is what Floodlight 1 looks like today.



Credits to the photographer.

[YeOldeEnjine]

When I worked for Charlie Black, the Floodlight unit was kept "Downtown" in another building with his Corton, NY Mack Rescue, Crown Pumper and the LaPlata Mack...

[Engine2524]

Steve,



Thanks once again for sharing Duane's work with us. I enjoy his photos and appreciate you taking the time to show them.

[jim kay]

Ahhhh thanks for sharing these great photos,You have to love all those classics.