1965 FWD Tractioneer Pumper

[Rheems1]

Well, I finally started my foray into the antique fire truck ownership game after a number of years of hoping, wishing and dreaming. My dad died a year ago and I decided to use some of the money he left me to buy a fire truck, the truck I bought was one that I have had a love affair with for many, many years. This engine was bought new by the Honey Pot Fire Department (of Nanticoke, Pa) in 1965, it was refurbished in the mid-1980's by someone (I think KME), it was refurbished again in 1992 by KME which included adding power steering, putting in an International DT466 motor and replacing the transmission and than it was refurbished again in 2005 by Har-Rob out of New York which included adding new highside compartments, a complete repaint and an update to the warning lights. This piece has been out of service and for sale since the end of 2009 when it was replaced by a Ford Attack piece that saw service in Littlestown, Pa. I have had my eye on it since it went up for sale but the asking price at that time ($30,000) was way out of my league, it has come down a couple of times since it was first put up for sale so I decided to make them an offer. Much to my surprise the offer was accepted and I became the owner of this fine piece of apparatus. I already knew that it was a unique little piece and after seeing it and looking it over I can say without a shadow of a doubt it is unique. The cab has a bench seat up front (I didn't think to take pictures of the inside of the cab) that will hold 4 people BUT behind the driver's seat and the officer's seat there is another seat so the cab will hold 6 people total (though maybe not comfortably). When I went up yesterday I almost didn't buy this piece because I thought something was wrong with it, when I tried to pull it out of the place it was stored it wouldn't move, the engine would stall and carry on.. I managed to get it out but could't get it to move. I thought the brakes were locked up on it so my heart sank to my stomach. So we called someone who was familar with the truck and he suggested putting it in reverse and letting it roll backwards to try to unlock the brakes.... when I let off the brakes it rolled backwards just fine. After doing some more investigation and playing I figured out what was wrong with it.. it was the dummy behind the wheel. When I thought I had it in first gear (which is all the way towards the driver and back) it was actually in 3rd gear which is why it could just barely make it out of the building (yet somehow I got it out that way!!), after I got that figured out (and than further realized you don't need to use first gear) it was pretty smooth after that. It is a great little piece and I am so proud to call it mine, now to get used to the very heavy clutch it has!! Without further ado, here are the pictures I took... I still have to clean it up and get it show worthy and of course get equipment for it. I hope you enjoy!!!































Here is me talking with the representative from the fire department (with a stupid look on my face)







This is the engine's former home where it lived from 1965 until 2009... the streets are very tight and small as is the firehouse!!









I will post more pictures once I get it cleaned up inside and out as well as when I get some equipment, since it was refurbed in 2005 the body and cab are in great shape so it won't need any body or paint work... thinking about taking the Honey Pot logo off of the doors though (the missus hates them LOL) and maybe the United We Stand sticker which I am not a big fan of. Only time will tell!!!

[hank]

Good photos!



tHANKs

[Guest]

Fritz FD. Congrats. It is definetely as unique as you are. lol. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Parade season is coming, we will have to get together for a few.

[Fire28]

What they replace it with?

[Guest]

Rheems1, that FWD Tractioneer cab was certainly unique and ahead of its time as far as fire apparatus is concerned. We all know very few fire apparatus cabs were fully enclosed in '65. This is a far different design than what we're used to today, but was still ahead of its time. Not sure if yours is the same set up or not, but the town I grew up in, Harwood, PA, also in Luzerne County about 25 miles south of Nanticoke, had a 1972 FWD Tractioneer 2000 gal. tanker. Both the driver and officer seat simply flipped forward to access the two forward facing "jump" seats either side of the engine tunnel. A bit awkward in and out with turnouts on, but the seats were just for riding, they weren't SCBA seats. As well, it was a full tilt cab, which was HEAVY to lift to say the least. I've only ever seen a few of these around and I know of one other with a pumper body that served somewhere in eastern PA. Here is a photo I took of it in '98 while still in service. Its whereabouts are unknown. Looking forward to seeing more of your rig.

[Guest]

Man we have so many Privately owned rigs in this area it is awesome! Fritz awesome little piece! A couple of questions for ya. Under the front bumper, are those warning lights? Any plans to replace the light bar? Was this piece once yellow? For some reason I remember it being yellow? Any pics before the rehab? I like the E6 on the rear compartment door. Are they holes drilled into the door? That would be cool to stick some type of light in the compartment to light that up. Is there a cellar nozzle in the rear where the pike poles go? Don't forget about the Spring thaw in Allentown coming up. Make a list and bring some cash. You should be able to get most of the items you desire there.l

[Guest]

What size pump and tank?

[Guest]

That's pretty cool how the quartz lights are offset.

[OPEN CAB MACK]

Fritz, I could of met you there and pulled it out for you. LOL. Good luck with it. I liked that truck. Maybe instead of backing it in when we shot it, I should of just drove it to you. Now Shoop has an engine to supply the tiller.

[Guest]

Ok Another question, above the ladders is the brackets for pike poles up there?

[Rheems1]

[quote name='T Niss' timestamp='1332600505' post='478552']

Man we have so many Privately owned rigs in this area it is awesome! Fritz awesome little piece! A couple of questions for ya. Under the front bumper, are those warning lights? Any plans to replace the light bar? Was this piece once yellow? For some reason I remember it being yellow? Any pics before the rehab? I like the E6 on the rear compartment door. Are they holes drilled into the door? That would be cool to stick some type of light in the compartment to light that up. Is there a cellar nozzle in the rear where the pike poles go? Don't forget about the Spring thaw in Allentown coming up. Make a list and bring some cash. You should be able to get most of the items you desire there.l

[/quote]

[quote name='T Niss' timestamp='1332600624' post='478553']

What size pump and tank?

[/quote]

[quote name='T Niss' timestamp='1332602378' post='478557']

Ok Another question, above the ladders is the brackets for pike poles up there?

[/quote]



Okay, starting from the top LOL...I don't think it was ever Yellow although I haven't been able to find any photos of it after it was delivered and before the first rehab. The lights under the bumper are actually driving lights (no, I don't like them BUT I am not electrically savy enough to take them off LOL) which aren't that bad looking. The 6 on the back compartment door is actually blue "marker" lights, there is a switch to light it up though I am not so sure it works anymore... it is a pretty nifty idea though and would look pretty sharp at night if I could get them to work. It has a 750 gpm pump and a 500 gallon tank on it, it is powered by an International DT466 motor through a 5 speed transmission.. the 4 wheel drive is always in (unlike some FWD's where you could take it out of 4 wheel drive) and the turning radius on it is very sharp!! That is indeed a cellar nozzle on the back of it and there are pike pole holders on both the driver and officer's side of the piece (the officer side are mounted above the ladders) although there is NO WHERE to put hard sleeve... before the last refurb it was stored on the driver's side where the highside compartments are now. I was just talking to my fiance about Spring Thaw and are in agreement that we are going this year to get some equipment for the truck, even if it isn't 100% complete I plan to take it to Pump Primers and some of the local parades. Top speed is estimated at about 45 mph and it felt a little squirrley (like the front end was dancing) at that speed but not horribly bad, just a little light. Thank you for the comments so far, it should prove to be a fun and unqiue challenge and should hopefully be a hit on the muster/parade circuit!! Ed, had I known you back than and thought I stood a prayer's chance purchasing it I would have had you bring it right down to me LOL... I am thinking about having it flatbedded down here only because of how long it has sat. I want to do a full pm and oil change on it when it gets back here, probably not a good idea to spend 3 hours on the highway with the tach standing straight up on questionable oil. HIT6, it is just like the old Harwood piece.. it has the seats behind the driver and officer and the front 2 seats fold down to get people back there. Never saw anything like it before!!

[Marc]

Good luck with it!

[Rheems1]

[quote name='HIT6' timestamp='1332600390' post='478551']

Rheems1, that FWD Tractioneer cab was certainly unique and ahead of its time as far as fire apparatus is concerned. We all know very few fire apparatus cabs were fully enclosed in '65. This is a far different design than what we're used to today, but was still ahead of its time. Not sure if yours is the same set up or not, but the town I grew up in, Harwood, PA, also in Luzerne County about 25 miles south of Nanticoke, had a 1972 FWD Tractioneer 2000 gal. tanker. Both the driver and officer seat simply flipped forward to access the two forward facing "jump" seats either side of the engine tunnel. A bit awkward in and out with turnouts on, but the seats were just for riding, they weren't SCBA seats. As well, it was a full tilt cab, which was HEAVY to lift to say the least. I've only ever seen a few of these around and I know of one other with a pumper body that served somewhere in eastern PA. Here is a photo I took of it in '98 while still in service. Its whereabouts are unknown. Looking forward to seeing more of your rig.

[/quote]





That brings up one of my many questions, how DO you tilt the cab on this monster? I see something that may or may not be a release for the cab... do you tilt the thing by hand or is there some other way it comes up. The guy there doesn't really have much of a clue I am afraid and since you are at least familair with one of these monsters, I am hoping maybe you will remember.

[wardengine]

[quote name='Rheems1' timestamp='1332604721' post='478558']

Okay, starting from the top LOL...I don't think it was ever Yellow although I haven't been able to find any photos of it after it was delivered and before the first rehab. The lights under the bumper are actually driving lights (no, I don't like them BUT I am not electrically savy enough to take them off LOL) which aren't that bad looking. The 6 on the back compartment door is actually blue "marker" lights, there is a switch to light it up though I am not so sure it works anymore... it is a pretty nifty idea though and would look pretty sharp at night if I could get them to work. It has a 750 gpm pump and a 500 gallon tank on it, it is powered by an International DT466 motor through a 5 speed transmission.. the 4 wheel drive is always in (unlike some FWD's where you could take it out of 4 wheel drive) and the turning radius on it is very sharp!! That is indeed a cellar nozzle on the back of it and there are pike pole holders on both the driver and officer's side of the piece (the officer side are mounted above the ladders) although there is NO WHERE to put hard sleeve... before the last refurb it was stored on the driver's side where the highside compartments are now. I was just talking to my fiance about Spring Thaw and are in agreement that we are going this year to get some equipment for the truck, even if it isn't 100% complete I plan to take it to Pump Primers and some of the local parades. Top speed is estimated at about 45 mph and it felt a little squirrley (like the front end was dancing) at that speed but not horribly bad, just a little light. Thank you for the comments so far, it should prove to be a fun and unqiue challenge and should hopefully be a hit on the muster/parade circuit!! Ed, had I known you back than and thought I stood a prayer's chance purchasing it I would have had you bring it right down to me LOL... I am thinking about having it flatbedded down here only because of how long it has sat. I want to do a full pm and oil change on it when it gets back here, probably not a good idea to spend 3 hours on the highway with the tach standing straight up on questionable oil. HIT6, it is just like the old Harwood piece.. it has the seats behind the driver and officer and the front 2 seats fold down to get people back there. Never saw anything like it before!!

[/quote]

(Hugh McGeehan Photo)

[GA_Dave]

SWEET!



I'll post the photo I have of it, taken after the first refurb, tomorrow. Your rig is all FWD. The Harwood rig has a Welch body. There was another rig similar to the Harwood rig delivered to Salem Township, PA. West Valley, NY had one like yours. Corry, PA had a 2WD Seagrave version and Hy-View FC in Cheektowaga, NY had two more. Very cool rigs!



Congratulations!

[e290l103]

West Valley's for comparison

[e290l103]

and yours

[GA_Dave]

Here's the Honey Pot rig after the first refurb.

[GA_Dave]

And a shot of the West Valley rig when it was still in service.

[GA_Dave]

And the Corry Seagrave I mentioned above.