Asbury Park

[Box 2565]

This town was a thriving vacation spot along the Atlantic with a large summertime population.  The combination career/volunteer department operates frm a singlle station.

The department purchased three American LaFrance rigs in 1917, a pair of Type 75 pumpers and a Type 14 City Service Ladder.  The pumper shown was assigned to Engine 1 and carried ALF Reg. No. 1780.  The ladder truck carries ALF Reg. No. 1782.  Photographer unknown, but most likely Bill Schwartz.

[Box 2565]

In 1927 a pair of American LaFrance pumpers were delivered.  These Type 145 PWT rigs carried registration numbers 6056 and 6057.  Number 6056 is still owned by the A.P.F.D. and has been nicely restored.  Signs for Hershey's Ice Cream and an Amoco Car Wash liven up the background, but what was Big Chief?  Photographer unknown, but most likely Bill Schwartz.

[Box 2565]

1930 American LaFrance
85' Aerial
Registration #7131   Type: 217 Trac. 85' DB   Aerial #C 532
Images from eBay

[Box 2565]

This hose wagon appears to have been built on a 1934 or so Pierce-Arrow truck chassis.  The manufacturer of the hose body isn't know.  In one photo you can see that a war-surplus pump trailer (with a CD sticker on the side) is being pulled by this rig.
Images from eBay.

[magicitybill]

Take a peak in the fire station door at the gong / register.

In the last photo I wondered why this truck carried a strainer on the driver side running board, however on second look I think that is a soda canister?

Magicitybill

[FAO25]

This hose wagon appears to have been built on a 1934 or so Pierce-Arrow truck chassis.  The manufacturer of the hose body isn't know.  In one photo you can see that a war-surplus pump trailer (with a CD sticker on the side) is being pulled by this rig.
Images from eBay.

Is it possible this is a wartime towing unit for a CD Auxiliary Fire Company? I have found it a common pratice to take a pick up or open cargo box style used truck and set it up with some basic fire fighting tools and use it to pull a trailer pump unit. According to the published materials at the time in areas with a low threat of attack there was supposed to be one aux. engine for each in service engine company. In high threat areas it was 2 or 3 engine companies. This plan was based on British practice. Portland Maine and Providence R.I. had large CD Aux Fire Services. Lynn Mass. had a trailer pump auxiliary engine comapny for each of the 13 in service engine comapnies. One group of aggressive aux. fire guys scrounged an old truck from a furniture company, scavenged (with permission) equipment including hand rails from an old chmeical tuck used as a spare, and bulit a fourteenth Aux. company.

[Box 2565]

First photo: 1936 Chevrolet "Canopy Express" with a front-mounted pump.

Second photo: The truck on the left is also a 1936 Chevrolet, however this unit has a custom body.  The truck on the right is a 1936/37 Diamond T with a custom body.  The Diamond T has a CD sticker above the rear wheel well.  This is probably the answer to FAO25's question regarding auxiliary apparatus.  The 1936 Chevrolet is most likely the same chassis shown in both photos and  these units were probably towing trailer pumps during WWII.

Images from eBay.

[Box 2565]

Engine 1
1939 American LaFrance
1000 GPM
#8059
Images from eBay.

[diablo_fire]

Hey fantastic love all the old stuff ty