The department also received a Pirsch 100-foot TDA in 1955. Here is Ladder 3 in 1973 using Pirsch serial #2226 delivered on 10/31/1955. I'm sorry I got started late tonight and I'm going to leave off here with this post for tonight.
[quote name='firebuff55407' post='51926' date='Nov 18 2006, 21:39 ']The department also purchased two 1954 American LaFrance 100-foot TDA's. In 1973 Ladder 6 was using ALF #N-22. I believe I read somewhere that this rig was involved in an accident and rebuilt by the shops.
- William Porter Photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.[/quote]
In the summer of 1962, Truck 6 and Engine 2 came together at the corner of Light St and Fort Avenue. The Seagrave engine drove the truck into a convenience store on the corner, killing someone in the store. The front part of the building collapsed on the truck as it was being towed out. The Seagrave was junked but the truck was rrebuilt by the skilled folks at Baltimore's shop. At the time, the shop was operating out of a bus garage as the old shop building was being rebuilt. Still they did a great job resurecting that truck.
There's probably more information in Willy Murray's book, The Unheralded Heroes but I'm too lazy to dig it out.
The BCFD dedicated the John F. Steadman fire station during the convention.
One thing you wiiil notice is that most of the rigs that were assigned to the Steadman at that time were given the Orange treatment just prior to the dedication (E-15, 23, Rescue 1, Water Tower 1, Floodlight 1).
American LaFrance used the convention to unveil their Century series apparatus, which would explain their heavy hospitality.
hawkins point - Thank you for reinforcing what I thought I had read someplace, probably in Unhearlded Heroes, like you said.
Photoguy Kurt 07- Thank you. I'm posting the Baltimore appatatus Duane shot by the year built. I believe the companies you requested will be posted today or tomorrow.
Signal 30 - Thank you. Also, thank you for the very interesting info about the "Steadman" House. Duane only caught a few of the rigs stationed in the Steadman Fire Station out on the street.
Duane did catch both Hi-X 1 and Hi-X 2 out on the streets. They were built on 1956 Chevrolet chassis (no other info).
Baltimore purchased one Ward LaFrance 1000/300 pumper in 1956 which was assigned to Hose 5 (sorry, no photo).
There were a few Baltimore rigs with unknown years that were probably built sometime around the mid-50s. Here is a former Civil Defense rig on a GMC chassis the served as a City of Baltimore Mobile Command center.
In very late 1956, Baltimore received both an engine and a ladder truck from Peter Pirsch. Neither went into service until 1957. Here is Ladder 11 using 1957 Pirsch 100-foot, seial #2297, delivered on 12/26/1956.
- William Porter photo from the Duane Troxel Collection.
[quote name='firebuff55407' post='52166' date='Nov 19 2006, 18:31 ']Then there was this (unknown year) former transit bus with a rather unusual paint job, possibly being used as a fire prevetion unit.
- 1973 Photo by Duane Troxel.[/quote]It was a 1947 Brill, powered by a Leyland motor.
The Baltimore Transit Co. replaced of the last of them in 1967.
Baltimore also received two more Pirsch 1000/300 pumpers later in 1957. Here is Engine 51, using Pirsch #2334 in 1973, which was delivered on 9/30/1957.
The Baltimore City FD department received two 1958 GMC/National Foam Chemical rigs very late in the year. Duane caught this photo of Chemical 1 at the training area in 1973. Sorry, no other info on these.
In late 1958 Baltimore City also received two more Pirsch engines and a Pirsch ladder truck. Here is Engine 44 in 1973 using 1959 Pirsch 1000/200, Pirsch #2397, delivered on 11/22/1958.