Pierce 100th Anniversary Parade 7-13-2013

[Guest]

I wondered this myself.  Being a member of SPAAMFAA and the local Michigan chapter I asked one of the Pierce PR guys walking around if they put out a call for antiques.  He gave me a long winded answer that basically said no, talking about liabilities, lack of interest from antique owners and within company, etc..  This event was more for their plant employees and their families. 

 

I also learned that I am not a "normal fire buff" as I was requested to quit taking so many pictures inside the plant as I walked through on the self-guided plant tour.  "Normal fire buffs don't take pictures of the things you're photographing,"  I was told by two Pierce staff guys that approached me and pulled me off to the side.  In addition to the photographing the build sheets taped to the rigs as they are assembly which showed what department the rig was being built for, I also happen to build models so the detail pictures of things like the chassis wiring and plumbing, also with the pump and associated plumbing, are of interest to me.  I also was interested in the engine/trans buildup area where the two assemblies come together and are dressed before being placed in the chassis.  Pretty hard to see the details on the engine, trans, or pump when it's in the chassis and covered by the cab and pump house it once it's delivered.  They also inquired as to where I was from (the Detroit area) and who I worked for (been retired for 7 years), and even though I had my local Great Lakes Interntational Antique Automotive Fire Apparatyus cap on, they asked what club I belonged to.  The fact that I was willing to drive 500+ miles each way to attend the event didn't seem to pase them.  So I complied and put away my camera and just walked around for a couple of hours. I guess I'm not normal as I took over 500 images of just the parade before going to the plant.

 

Derspite that, I had an enjoyable day before the wife and I headed back home.

What a corporate copout! "Lets celebrate 100 years, but only acknowledge the last 40 years..."

As for their in-plant paranoia, ironic that they have no problem dealing with China, but a domestic fire buff with a camera scares them to death.