The Great Lakes International Antique Fire Apparatus Association covers southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario held their 41st annual muster yesterday, with the last 16 in beautiful Frankenmuth Michigan. As usual, the turnout was very good with nearly 60 rigs turning out, the weather was perfect, and the local Frankenmuth community support was great. I just realized that this was the 30th straight GLIAFAA muster that I attended since joining in 1982. To share some of the rigs in attendance, I photographed those that participated in the parade that winds its way from Heritage Park on the banks of the Cass river through downtown Frankenmuth and back to the park.
One of the neatest aspects of the parade is that it crosses the Cass river on a wooden covered bridge. That's one of the places I photographed the rigs from as they were returning to the park. Here is a picture of the bridge.
Which was then followed by Frankenmuth's 1967 Dodge L700 FTI 750 gpm 500 gwt ex-Engine 3 that was purchased through the local Dodge dealer who is still there today.
The Frankenmuth rigs were followed by a 1985 Chevrolet C70 Darley 1000 gpm 1000 gwt ex-North Branch MI pulling a 1907 Waterous Horse Drawn Pumper that pumped for more than four hours straight after the parade.
Then came this 1978 Ford F700 Hahn 1000 gpm 500 gwt pumper with a door logo that said Sedan Volunteer FD Sedan MN, or at least the owner thought so. The data plate showed the rig as a FCP 10 with a pump number of 41143 and the chassis number of F70FVAH3151. Any ideas?
The little Reo was followed by a long time participant in the GLIAFAA musters, a 1925 ALF Type 65 #5063 400 gpm 100 gwt ex-Richmond MI Engine 2. This is a really beautifully restored and maintained rig that never seems to show its age.
The second Child's rig was 1926 Childs Thoroughbred #1090 400 gpm 100 gwt. Pretty unusual to have two Child's rigs at the same event this close in production to each other.
Only two aerial trucks were at this year's muster which is unusual from the usual four or five that had routinely been attending. Here's the first one, 1963 Mack B95 Maxim 85' TDA ex-Wilkes Barr PA Ladder 6 #1481.