Modern Apparatus
Sometimes you just want to hop onto your apparatus, fire up the engine, and go for a spin, without the need for a whole fire company to help pull. It is also nice to be able to sit through those long parades. My previous project is this 1928 American Lafrance 1000 gallon per minute triple combination pumper. The photos above show it as it was delivered in 1928 and at a local parade. "Triple" means it incorporates three functions that in earlier days required three separate pieces of apparatus to accomplish. In this case it has (1) the pump, (2) carries hose, and (3) has a water tank. There are also "Quads", which carry a large selection of ground ladders and "Quints" which also include an aerial ladder. There are various other combinations as well.
This was also a major restoration project. It barely ran when I got it but was in otherwise poor mechanical and cosmetic condition with rusted out areas, pitted nickel plating, a poor repaint job, and many missing pieces. I completely disassembled it to the bare frame and sandblasted, stripped, dipped, straightened, welded, rebuilt, replaced, replated, repainted, reupholstered, rewired, and reassembled it. Fortunately I had some excellent original photos for reference. It is not quite completely finished but it is a big hit wherever I take it.
This was also a major restoration project. It barely ran when I got it but was in otherwise poor mechanical and cosmetic condition with rusted out areas, pitted nickel plating, a poor repaint job, and many missing pieces. I completely disassembled it to the bare frame and sandblasted, stripped, dipped, straightened, welded, rebuilt, replaced, replated, repainted, reupholstered, rewired, and reassembled it. Fortunately I had some excellent original photos for reference. It is not quite completely finished but it is a big hit wherever I take it.
Oregon Fire Service Museum
I am the President of the Oregon Fire Service Museum. Our goal is to build and operate a museum for artifact display and interpretation, fire safety education, and as a memorial to firefighters. Our museum is located at Powerland Heritage Park, a campus of 15 museums. Construction of the museum building is nearly complete. Visit our website or see us on Facebook.
