Frank,
Info on the Downingtown rigs posted.
Alert
1941 Autocar model U/U.S. Fire Apparatus, semi-cab over engine, quad, 750/100, cost $12,000, housed 6/21/41 in dual ceremonies with Minquas No. 2. It was replaced in 1963 and sold to the Primos, Secane, Westbrook Park Fire Company -Upper Darby Township (Delaware County, PA). They sold it in 1968.
1963 American LaFrance, 900 Series, semi-cab, 85 ft mid-mount steel ladder, 250/300, six cylinder Continental K series motor,
245HP, manual transmission. It was purchased at a cost of $43,000. Housed 9/2/64. A white Whitten cab was added in 1969 after it was involved in an accident when it collided with the fire chief while both were responding to a fire call at the intersection of Lancaster & Brandywine Ave’s. It was rehabbed and repainted by LTI in 1986. It was sold to the Coudersport Fire Company (Potter County) in 1987. The ladder was refurbished in 1989 and in 1995 completely rewired, offered for sale in 1997. For sale on E-Bay in 09/06 from someone from Elizabethville, PA.
1987 Spartan Gladiator/LTI, canopy cab, 1500 GPM, 100 ft rear- mount steel ladder tower. It was delivered on 6/25/87 at a cost of $415,000. It was housed on 9/5/87. It was out of service the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997 due to the ladder not passing certification. It had some rust and hydraulic problems. OOS again in late 2001 due to ladder problems. Placed back into service on 3/15/02. Pump blew on 3/20/05 at the paper mill fire in the borough. Repaired by 4/9/05. In the week of 2/6/06, it was out on driver training when going up a long hill (Rock Raymond Rd), the transmission downshifted and snapped the u-joint on the drive shaft.
Minquas
1941 Autocar/U.S. Fire Apparatus, open cab, pumper, housed on 6/21/41 in dual ceremonies with Alert No. 1. It was sold to Blakely (Lackawanna County, PA).
1948 Autocar C-50/U.S. Fire Apparatus, 7 man sedan cab, 750 Hale pto/200, referred to as a squad. Purchased by the borough. It was sold out of the fire service to Ted Waltz of Downingtown. Still had in 2006.
1949 Autocar/U.S. Fire Apparatus, full cab, 750/250, purchased by the borough for $13,500, housed on 10/14/49. The company retained this piece and had it restored. It is used as a parade piece.
1965 Mack C-95-F, canopy cab, 1000/500, delivered 12/29/65. This was the first canopy cab engine purchased by the
borough and housed 9/17/66 at a cost of $28,000, Mack ENF707C 6 RB cylinder gas, 5 speed manual transmission. It was rehabed and repainted by 4-Guys in 1989 and had a large diameter reel installed in a brand new stainless steel body which holds 1800' of 5" for $50,000. It was sold in 10/94 to H.J. Usher of Downingtown for $10,000. Mr. Usher tried to sell it in 1996 but got no reasonable offers. Finally in early 1997, a firefighter from Coalfield (Morgan County), TN sent a letter to Mr. Usher asking him to donated the engine to the towns fire company since it had no working engine. Mr. Usher was reluctent at first, but gave in. The engine went south on in June of 1997. Cab repainted black by Coalfield.
Info on the Downingtown rigs posted.
Alert
1941 Autocar model U/U.S. Fire Apparatus, semi-cab over engine, quad, 750/100, cost $12,000, housed 6/21/41 in dual ceremonies with Minquas No. 2. It was replaced in 1963 and sold to the Primos, Secane, Westbrook Park Fire Company -Upper Darby Township (Delaware County, PA). They sold it in 1968.
1963 American LaFrance, 900 Series, semi-cab, 85 ft mid-mount steel ladder, 250/300, six cylinder Continental K series motor,
245HP, manual transmission. It was purchased at a cost of $43,000. Housed 9/2/64. A white Whitten cab was added in 1969 after it was involved in an accident when it collided with the fire chief while both were responding to a fire call at the intersection of Lancaster & Brandywine Ave’s. It was rehabbed and repainted by LTI in 1986. It was sold to the Coudersport Fire Company (Potter County) in 1987. The ladder was refurbished in 1989 and in 1995 completely rewired, offered for sale in 1997. For sale on E-Bay in 09/06 from someone from Elizabethville, PA.
1987 Spartan Gladiator/LTI, canopy cab, 1500 GPM, 100 ft rear- mount steel ladder tower. It was delivered on 6/25/87 at a cost of $415,000. It was housed on 9/5/87. It was out of service the end of 1996 and the beginning of 1997 due to the ladder not passing certification. It had some rust and hydraulic problems. OOS again in late 2001 due to ladder problems. Placed back into service on 3/15/02. Pump blew on 3/20/05 at the paper mill fire in the borough. Repaired by 4/9/05. In the week of 2/6/06, it was out on driver training when going up a long hill (Rock Raymond Rd), the transmission downshifted and snapped the u-joint on the drive shaft.
Minquas
1941 Autocar/U.S. Fire Apparatus, open cab, pumper, housed on 6/21/41 in dual ceremonies with Alert No. 1. It was sold to Blakely (Lackawanna County, PA).
1948 Autocar C-50/U.S. Fire Apparatus, 7 man sedan cab, 750 Hale pto/200, referred to as a squad. Purchased by the borough. It was sold out of the fire service to Ted Waltz of Downingtown. Still had in 2006.
1949 Autocar/U.S. Fire Apparatus, full cab, 750/250, purchased by the borough for $13,500, housed on 10/14/49. The company retained this piece and had it restored. It is used as a parade piece.
1965 Mack C-95-F, canopy cab, 1000/500, delivered 12/29/65. This was the first canopy cab engine purchased by the
borough and housed 9/17/66 at a cost of $28,000, Mack ENF707C 6 RB cylinder gas, 5 speed manual transmission. It was rehabed and repainted by 4-Guys in 1989 and had a large diameter reel installed in a brand new stainless steel body which holds 1800' of 5" for $50,000. It was sold in 10/94 to H.J. Usher of Downingtown for $10,000. Mr. Usher tried to sell it in 1996 but got no reasonable offers. Finally in early 1997, a firefighter from Coalfield (Morgan County), TN sent a letter to Mr. Usher asking him to donated the engine to the towns fire company since it had no working engine. Mr. Usher was reluctent at first, but gave in. The engine went south on in June of 1997. Cab repainted black by Coalfield.
Bruce W. Anderson
Historian
Southeastern PA Region
Historian
Southeastern PA Region
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