FDNY and NYC Firehouses and Fire Companies

[guitarman314]

Gman, I also remember L4 having a Peter Pirsch and might have been older that the other three as L4 had doors on the tractor.

  L4 had the one 1948 Pirsch w/doors (#355) that was delivered when FDNY got their first three metal aerials, one each from Seagrave (L110), Pirsch (L4) & American LaFrance (L24).

 

[guitarman314]

    The last wooden aerial in Manhattan was L15's 1955 FWD 75ft. (shop #400) that was replaced in 1962 with a 1953 ALF 85ft. (#366) that was formerly L19. That 1955 FWD (#400) was reassigned to L52, later received a 1969 Mack MB tractor then went on to have the distinction of being the last wooden aerial in first line service on May 27, 1973

 

[mack]

    The last wooden aerial in Manhattan was L15's 1955 FWD 75ft. (shop #400) that was replaced in 1962 with a 1953 ALF 85ft. (#366) that was formerly L19. That 1955 FWD (#400) was reassigned to L52, later received a 1969 Mack MB tractor then went on to have the distinction of being the last wooden aerial in first line service on May 27, 1973

Wow - thanks Gman.  Didn't SI have a few wooden aerial ladders well into the 1960?

 

[memory master]

I think L86 had a '55 FWD until 1961 or 62.

 

[mack]

Ladder 84 had a FWD 75' wooden tiller.

There were also WLF quads operating both in engine companies and ladder companies.

 

[68jk09]

In regard to reply # 2139 the 287/136/46 video... the box location looks to be the East side of Grand Ave & 84 St where the NY Connecting Railroad goes under Grand Ave ...the route to the box does look spliced in as it not the most direct & also 136 is using 154's ALF maybe they had a spare the day of the filming ?

 

[68jk09]

G Man what were the dates on LAD*124 in the '60s/'70s ?...i remember them responding w/their '55 WoodenFWD until they got what i believe was LAD*26s '60 ALF ?

 

[guitarman314]

I think L86 had a '55 FWD until 1961 or 62.

  86 was organized 4-15-63 and had a 1955 FWD (x-L53 low mileage) until they got a 1971 Mack  tower ladder.

 

[guitarman314]

    The last wooden aerial in Manhattan was L15's 1955 FWD 75ft. (shop #400) that was replaced in 1962 with a 1953 ALF 85ft. (#366) that was formerly L19. That 1955 FWD (#400) was reassigned to L52, later received a 1969 Mack MB tractor then went on to have the distinction of being the last wooden aerial in first line service on May 27, 1973

Wow - thanks Gman.  Didn't SI have a few wooden aerial ladders well into the 1960?

  Yes,  past the 60's and into the 70's. The only metal aerials on S.I. in 1970 were L77's 1960 Mack, L78's 1953 ALF (x-L17), L80's 1953 ALF, L83's 1962 Seagrave (X-L27), and L84's brand new 1970 Seagrave rearmount. According to the Staten Island Centennial Book: L79 had the last wooden aerial, a 1955 FWD which was retired on Sept. 1, 1972 when they received a new 1972 Seagrave rearmount. The following year they would get a 1973 tower ladder.

 

[guitarman314]

G Man what were the dates on LAD*124 in the '60s/'70s ?...i remember them responding w/their '55 WoodenFWD until they got what i believe was LAD*26s '60 ALF ?

  My chart shows L124 had a 1933 Walter 75ft. stick until 1960 when they got a reassigned 1955 FWD 75ft. stick (ex-L114) . Their next rig came in 1968, a reassigned 1960 ALF 100ft. (ex-L26) which they ran with until they got their first tower ladder in 1972.

 

[mack]

Gman, I also remember L4 having a Peter Pirsch and might have been older that the other three as L4 had doors on the tractor.

  L4 had the one 1948 Pirsch w/doors (#355) that was delivered when FDNY got their first three metal aerials, one each from Seagrave (L110), Pirsch (L4) & American LaFrance (L24).

Ladder 4  1948 Pirsch:

   

 

[nfd2004]

Ladder 4  1948 Pirsch:

   
[/quote]

Looking back at some of these rigs, there were no enclosed cabs with heaters and air conditioners. During cold or snow the seats and steering wheel might have been covered in snow or ice.

There was no power steering. I'm sure getting these big rigs through tight streets and turns was no easy chore.

There was no hydraulic outriggers or automatic transmissions. 

I'm sure the guys who rode in the fire trucks like that would certainly appreciate the fire trucks we have today.

 

[lucky]

The Pirsch ladder apparatus were odd in that the owner of this relatively small company felt that spring locks were all that was required to stabilize the rig with the aerial up. He refused to place outriggers on his apparatus so the four city rigs all had a small set of outriggers on each rig installed by the FD shops after purchase.

 

[memory master]

Did L152 have a Pirsch at one time? That I seem to remember if in fact they did have one.

 

[mack]

Gman - I think Ladder 85 had a Pirsch, too.

 

[1261Truckie]

I visited L-123 shortly after they received their 1962 Seagrave tiller, and their opinion was, while the Seagrave was okay, they would rather have the Pirsch back.

 

[guitarman314]

Gman - I think Ladder 85 had a Pirsch, too.

  Yes L85 had the 1948 Pirsch that was originally assigned to L4 until 1960. After brief stays at L13 & L3, the '48 Pirsch went to L85 around 1962-63 replacing a 1938 FWD 85ft. (x-L105).

 

[guitarman314]

Did L152 have a Pirsch at one time? That I seem to remember if in fact they did have one.

  Yes, L152 got L26's Pirsch #356 in 1960, L140 got L31's Pirsch #357 in 1962 and L162 got L123's #358 in 1962.

 

[mack]

Old Pirsch ad:

   

What company?

 

[mack]

FDNY rescue patient - Bellevue Hospital roof - Manhattan - approx. 1950:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBsoRS2MQ8