[quote name='Rescue131' date='10 January 2011 - 10:02 AM' timestamp='1294670551' post='419678']
Was this originally a fire truck? I had always heard that Violetville bought the cab & chassis used and converted it to a fire truck.
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This info comes from Signal 30 over on TWD, who's father was a member of Violetville for many years, his father is wearing the white shirt in the photo below.:
1941 Mack Ex US Navy stake body truck purchased as surplus and titled in Md. as a 1947. Rig constructed by membership primilary under the direction of the late member Sam Steinberg, a mechanic by trade.
The Dept. had previously converted a 1941 Dodge panel delivery truck to a front mount pumper, as well as rebuilding and lenghtning the hose body of a Gov't surplus 1918 American LaFrance 1000GPM pumper in the 1930's.
Original Mack grille & fenders removed and replaced by ones as for a Mack L., closed cab converted to open.
Completed unit placed i/s in 1951. Siren purchased and donated by Ladies Auxilliary.
500GPM/300GWT
Original pump replaced by one bought used from the Kent Island Md. VFD in the 1960's. 750GPM downrated to 500GPM. Supposedly, they converted a pumper to a front mount pump.
Scrollwork on front fenders each contained a numeral 5, denoting the fifth motorized rig of the company.
Exaust piping plumbed thru booster tank so water woudn't freeze in winter.
Cost of project estimated at $6,000 dollars (1951 Baltimore newspaper article).
The late Capt. John A. Purkey of VVFD once had a photo of it as the stake body truck being used to haul their Model T Ford to an MSFA convention.
The photo below was taken by 30's uncle at an "I am American Day" parade lineup on Broadway, Baltimore , about 1960.