A LOOK BACK.

S

STAjo

Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
3,838
TY Chief, Great Stuff! I Remember, 'Back In The Day...' The Booster Line had become
Quite Popular as the 'Go-To' Line, very frequently used as an Initial Attack Line.
I Recall Also The LODD's mentioned, May They Rest In Peace.
 
M

memory master

Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
2,487
I also recall my dad saying that their '54 Mack pumper had no booster line so if they were rolling into a pull box and saw a car or small rubbish fire going they would "slow up" a bit and let the second due engine who had a Ward LaFrance rig with a booster get in first. Naturally the would assist with the stretch and the rewind but it was easier than breaking down, draining and repacking the 1 1/2" cotton jacked hose.
 
J

johnd248

Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Messages
4,570
Thanks for the great booster history, Chief.  I can certainly remember using the old hand crank to reload the booster line onto the reel.  Was never easy.
 
X

XPFD3

Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
244
Philadelphia still specs a booster line on every pumper.  From 1954 thru 1963 PFD was buying John Bean High Pressure Fog pumpers on commercial chassis.  There was a separate belt driven high pressure pump that supplied 850 PSI to the 2 booster reels which were equipped with BEAN GUNS as the booster nozzle.  There was a highly respected old school Assistant Chief of Department named Howard O'Drain who was a company officer in Engine 2 in the 1950s.  As the story goes, if they had fire in more than one dwelling in a row, THE BIG DUECE would start at one end with the booster line off the wagon and at the other end with the booster line off the pumper and meet in the middle.  Sadly Philadelphia elected one term Mayor Bill Green in 1980 who fileted the PFD.  He eliminated the 8 Assistant Chiefs positions and the PFD lost hundreds of years of experience in one day. 
 
M

mack

Administrator
Joined
Aug 8, 2009
Messages
13,431
Thanks Chief.  Great summary on booster lines. And ADVs.   

Also, SI companies used boosters for brush extensively.  There were great for jobs which were accessible with the rig and saved long stretches.  SI had many areas with limited hydrants. 
 
68jk09

68jk09

Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
16,241
S

STAjo

Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
3,838
68jk09 said:
RES*5 BACK IN THE '40s WHEN IT WAS MANNED BY LAD*78  IT WAS LATER DISBANDED UNTIL 1984....  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1941-WARD-LAFRANCE-CONVERTED-TO-RESCUE-FIRE-TRUCK-PHOTO-NEW-YORK-CITY-NYFD/301135506331?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.RVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D5775747740891524583%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D121299971390
Click to expand...

Wow ! Wotta' Rig ! Talk about 'Plain-Jane' ! Loved the Searchlights Mounted over cab !
 
S

STAjo

Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
3,838
68jk09 said:
WW2 ERA RELAY HOSE WAGON MADE FROM AN OLD TILLER RIG FOR USE IN CASE OF AERIAL BOMBING THAT DESTROYED WATER MAINS  .....  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1924-AMERICAN-LAFRANCE-RELAY-HOSE-FIRE-ENGINE-TRUCK-PHOTO-NEW-YORK-CITY-NYFD/291111013345?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.RVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D5777323653013424872%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D371028207937
Click to expand...

Great Lookin' Rig Chief, TY !  Great Improvisation, Ingenuity: Working w/ What ya' got!
 
A

auxlteng225

Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
156
looking at the tiller rig converted to a large capacity hose wagon for WW2 brought back memories of Engine 236 on Liberty Avenue in Brooklyn back in the early forties with their American Lafrance painted GRAY.  I have never been able to find a picture of that rig, sad to say. Their hose wagon was the standard color red.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top