Garden State Oldies

[Frank B]

The Masonville FC of Mount Laurel Township, NJ operated this Dodge 4x4 mini.

John Toomey pic/Mattson Collection

<span>1971 Dodge Imperial #530
</span>

[Guest]

Yes, like FDNYTrucks stated, it's gray. The story of the gray paint scheme-and I don't know exactly how accurate it is- is that many moons ago, the fire company ordered a new pumper and it was going to be painted green. However, when the color was noted in the paperwork, they just put down "Gr" and it wound up being painted gray instead of green.

 

And this is a reason, in my telephone man experiences, why there is no 'grey'; green is already used as a color, so it is designated 'slate'. They had to abbreviate that color some how....

 

John Loesch

Exempt, Moorestown, NJ Sta. 312

[b9208]

Union Fire Company #1 - City of Lambertville NJ FD

1923 Ahrens - Fox   Model M-S-4  900 GPM Pumper  Serial #1090

 

Today I was invited to attend the yearly pump testing of the Union's Fox.  She drafted from the Delaware & Raritan Canal like a champ...not bad for 90 years old!

[b9208]

Refurbished by Ahrens - Fox in 1948, the windshield, steel steering wheel, and two extra hard sleeve were added at that time.  The extra hard sleeve were added since the Union often found themselves in the role of a supply company, and with the canal,the Delaware River, and several large creeks in town, drafting was an often used technique.  The extra sleeves gave more reach or allowed drafting through both large intake ports.  It originally was delivered with pneumatic tires on wood spoke wheels, but they were changed to steel wheels shortly after delivery due to safety concerns.

[b9208]

The Fox was donated by the Union at one point to a museum that was never built, and the company fought to get her back.  The process eventually required the assistance of state officials.  It was then completely refurbed to its condition circa 1948, all with private donations raised by the company over several years.  It sits in her own climate controlled bay, complete with an alarm system, in the Union's fire house.

[b9208]

Drafting, using volume, then pressure, then both the pressure and volume sides of the pump.  Awesome sight to see it pumping, bouncing up and down on its springs in synch with the pistons...History at work.  The Union purchased an adaptor to use 6" modern hard sleeve - lot lighter and easier to position, not to mention not having to clean the original hard sleeve after the drill.  The members brought it back to the firehouse and immediately went to work washing and waxing her for tomorrow's parade.

Happy Memorial Day!

Thanks,

Gary

[Guest]

Thanks for the detail photos- still a very attractive rig!!!

[Guest]

It's been awhile since I've posted here. A few months ago we received a phone call from the chief of the Sorrento, ME fire department. His initial call to us was "we have your 1953 Mack engine, would you like to have it back?" Needless to say, 'Engine 1' has found it's way home and is now back serving the Far Hills-Bedminster Fire Department.

 

   

 

   

[Guest]

Great looking rig and that is very cool that it's home!

[pittse11]

John Walters caught this 1951 Ford L squad truck that was being used by the Liberty FC of Penns Grove, NJ.  Mattson Collection  <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/usa.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

One of my childhood memories was in the front seat with my Dad driving and towing a boat to a drowning.  Stick and a neat little squad for the small town of PG.  Oh to have that one around now!

[pittse11]

John Walters caught this 1951 Ford L squad truck that was being used by the Liberty FC of Penns Grove, NJ.  Mattson Collection  <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/usa.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

In it older days they used to call it "Harry's Trash Truck" name so after the person who drove it mostly.

[Hvyrescue]

Whitman Square, NJ

1967 Int'l/Young 750 Gpm

Can you tell me who owns this truck (Wallington NJ 1954 WLF front mount ladder) and where it is currently located?  

Thanks,
Larry