Ladder 5

[fdce54]

I know Johnny Gage spent some time with Ladder 5. I hope you enjoy this photo Johnny. Rig is a little before your time.

 

[JohnnyGage]

Thanks Frank, great photo! I never saw that rig photo before, not even old photos in the firehouse scrapbooks...very cool looking dragster! Gotta love the multi-versal deck gun mounted behind the cab, I don't think I've ever seen that before either!

 

[Bud36]

What year was that from my grandfather finished up as the captain of 5 truck back in like 76-77

 

[wfd444]

Worked in NYc 1972- when Ladder 5 had a 1969 Mack MB tractor retrofitted to the 1953 ALF trailer. QUESTION: how did ladder 5 fit two rigs in the Charles St firehouse up until 1939 when the second section was dropped so that manpower could be shifted to a new additional platoon which process extended into 1947 when 5 Manhattan engines were likewise dropped for manpower for that same additional platoon which effort spanned 1939-1947 according to NY Times articles I have read on microfilm from those time periods?

 

[Bud36]

If anyone has any information about 5 truck from the mid late 70's please message me, my grandfather was extremely tight lipped my grand mother still has no idea where he worked as a fireman

 

[68jk09]

^^^  Bud was it CPT Ray Deering ?

 

[fdce54]

What year was that from my grandfather finished up as the captain of 5 truck back in like 76-77

The rig is a 1953 ALF and from the looks of how clean it is, it must have been taken shortly after going into service.

 

[guitarman314]

What year was that from my grandfather finished up as the captain of 5 truck back in like 76-77

The rig is a 1953 ALF and from the looks of how clean it is, it must have been taken shortly after going into service.

  This photo was taken sometime after 1962-63 when portable wooden ladders were replaced with aluminum ones and before 1967 when plywood riot roofs were added.

 

[guitarman314]

The only other tiller I've seen with a multiversal nozzle mounted on the tractor was Ladder 7's 1959 Mack C/Maxim 85ft. that they ran with for 3 years until they got a 1962 ALF 100ft.

 

[3511]

FDCE 54,

I beg to differ. That picture would not have been right after the rig went into service. Two telltale signs...the multiversal pipe and the siren.

Multiversals did not go in service in the FDNY until the arrival of the 1958-59 Mack CF pumpers. The 1953 ALF did not have such an appliance from the factory. This one was obviously cannibalized from a Mack CF (or later model pumper) in the boneyard.

2d telltale sign is the siren...the 53  ALF tillers came with a chrome Sireno model, very high pitched that were signature of the early 1950s WLF and ALF rigs. This picture shows an early Federal Q model (?) which replaced the Sirenos en masse in the late 1960s.  Don?t know why the department replaced all the Sirenos with Federals in just a few years like they did, because they sure in hell still worked.  I recall riding with Engine 91-2s 53 WLF pumper in Harlem in 1969 and that damn thing really wailed.

The Sireno Company manufactured on Staten Island but went out of business in the 1960s.  Maybe that?s why the switch over to Federals. The company supplied most of the sirens to the FDNY since the early ?gasoline propelled pumping engines? from American LaFrance.  The earlier model sirens were brass and produced a low moan rather than a high pitch. Anyone living in NewYork prior to 1960 would remember these sirens...they were the sound of the City.

My guess is that this picture is from the late 1960s, prior to the plywood cab covers. BTW, my uncle was Captain of H&L 5 after WWII.

 

[3511]

And a third telltale sign...the rotating beacon on top of the windshield. The 53 ALS came from the factory with a MARS light, like those originally used on railroad locomotives. It rotated in a forward figure 8. Another cannibalization for H&L 5...Those guys must have lived in the boneyard.

 

[811]

Rheingold Beer had a number of fire-themed posters in their Miss Rheingold series. Here is 5 Truck's '53 ALF in their 1955 poster.  Multiversal not yet on the tractor, and windshield with MARS light not visible

 

[811]

FDCE 54,

I beg to differ. That picture would not have been right after the rig went into service. Two telltale signs...the multiversal pipe and the siren.

Multiversals did not go in service in the FDNY until the arrival of the 1958-59 Mack CF pumpers. The 1953 ALF did not have such an appliance from the factory. This one was obviously cannibalized from a Mack CF (or later model pumper) in the boneyard.

2d telltale sign is the siren...the 53  ALF tillers came with a chrome Sireno model, very high pitched that were signature of the early 1950s WLF and ALF rigs. This picture shows an early Federal Q model (?) which replaced the Sirenos en masse in the late 1960s.  Don?t know why the department replaced all the Sirenos with Federals in just a few years like they did, because they sure in hell still worked.  I recall riding with Engine 91-2s 53 WLF pumper in Harlem in 1969 and that damn thing really wailed.

The Sireno Company manufactured on Staten Island but went out of business in the 1960s.  Maybe that?s why the switch over to Federals. The company supplied most of the sirens to the FDNY since the early ?gasoline propelled pumping engines? from American LaFrance.  The earlier model sirens were brass and produced a low moan rather than a high pitch. Anyone living in NewYork prior to 1960 would remember these sirens...they were the sound of the City.

My guess is that this picture is from the late 1960s, prior to the plywood cab covers. BTW, my uncle was Captain of H&L 5 after WWII.

The rounded cab Macks starting in 1958 with Multiversals on roof were the C Models, the squared cab CF Macks didn't come till 1968 or so.  Here is a 1957 Ad for the original Mack C's

 

[JohnnyGage]

Not certain, but I did a quick look-see on Kitty Kelly Shoes...there was a KK shoestore on 40 E 14th Street, might be where the photo was taken.
BTW; this was my "office" for seven years as LCC, photo credit to Mr. Willy!

 

[fdce54]

FDCE 54,

I beg to differ. That picture would not have been right after the rig went into service. Two telltale signs...the multiversal pipe and the siren.

Multiversals did not go in service in the FDNY until the arrival of the 1958-59 Mack CF pumpers. The 1953 ALF did not have such an appliance from the factory. This one was obviously cannibalized from a Mack CF (or later model pumper) in the boneyard.

2d telltale sign is the siren...the 53  ALF tillers came with a chrome Sireno model, very high pitched that were signature of the early 1950s WLF and ALF rigs. This picture shows an early Federal Q model (?) which replaced the Sirenos en masse in the late 1960s.  Don?t know why the department replaced all the Sirenos with Federals in just a few years like they did, because they sure in hell still worked.  I recall riding with Engine 91-2s 53 WLF pumper in Harlem in 1969 and that damn thing really wailed.

The Sireno Company manufactured on Staten Island but went out of business in the 1960s.  Maybe that?s why the switch over to Federals. The company supplied most of the sirens to the FDNY since the early ?gasoline propelled pumping engines? from American LaFrance.  The earlier model sirens were brass and produced a low moan rather than a high pitch. Anyone living in NewYork prior to 1960 would remember these sirens...they were the sound of the City.

My guess is that this picture is from the late 1960s, prior to the plywood cab covers. BTW, my uncle was Captain of H&L 5 after WWII.

Can't argue with you 3511. If that photo was taken in the late '60s and being in color probably says it was, that rig from looking at the photo is in immaculate condition. Kudos to the members of L-5 for taking such pride in their company. Second thought, the rig doesn't have the riot roof on it yet so maybe early to mid '60s.

 

[mack]

Some Ladder 5 pics:

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

[mack]

Ladder 5 former firehouse 102 Charles Street - 1865-1975:

   

   

   

 

[mack]

Ladder 27 1956 ALF:

   

 

[mack]

Other 1953 or 1956 ALFs:

    Ladder 1:

         


    Ladder 15:

         


    Ladder 27:

         


    Ladder 102:

         


    Ladder 103:

         


    Ladder 109:

         


    Ladder 170:

         

 

[JohnnyGage]

Ladder 5 also had a Mack tilt cab, I can't find a better photo, but there is one out there somewhere...