Oldest Fire Apparatus in service?

Hi all! Just trying to get a feel for what kind of equipment is still in service out there! We've got a 1956 Ward LaFrance that was purchased new by the Dept and is still in active service (although not commonly!). Believe it or not, it's a 750 GPM Pump and is more powerful than a lot of the newer stuff we've got! The newest in the fleet is a 2003 Marion 75' Aerial Ladder. We've got a couple older trucks that are being restored and are collectors, but nothing else that old on the active roster. Anyone else still have good old trucks?

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Permalink Reply by Greg on February 7, 2008 at 6:28pm

We still have a 1963 dodge power wagon used as a brush truck, very dependable truck... it can go anywhere

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Permalink Reply by Jim Dyson on February 7, 2008 at 6:55pm

we still run a 1976 smeal pumper with a 500 gpm pump and 1500 gallon tank on a ford 900 chassis

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Permalink Reply by Johnathan Turner on February 7, 2008 at 7:34pm

We have a 1981 engine and a 1985 pumper/tanker from Grumman, both are in frontline status. The State prision has a vol. dept staffed by guards, and their is a 1950s (Don't know the exact year) Barton American Front Mount.

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Permalink Reply by divo on February 7, 2008 at 10:23pm

1969 gmc pumper and our main pumper is a 1983 gmc

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Permalink Reply by John on February 10, 2008 at 11:34am

We had a 1964 Ford, that was origonaly used as an egine, then we converted it to a Tanker, that we replaced with a new tanker last week. It is now going to go to the town crew to be used for flushing out culverts. And if we get a really bad fire, we can still use it if needed.

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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Freeland on February 10, 2008 at 12:21pm

we have a 2007 gmc tanker in service now but we have a 71 international and a 1932 buffflo to we use the 32 innthe summer parades but it is still in active duty but has not left the station on a call in 5 years.

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Permalink Reply by Ron Maddox on February 10, 2008 at 11:45pm

Our department has a 1973 Mack/Baker Aeriolscope that was orriginally in station 58 in the Bronx. It is in Fort Apache the Bronx.

A neghboring department has our 1964 Ford/Midwest that is used as a first in engine.

And Jonesville Fire Department has one of the most unique pieces i have seen. Its a 1950 Ford, only its on a 1944 Chassis and has no brass. It was on the lin when the war started in 1944 and was puched off the line and left for 6 years. During the war all brass was taken from it and used for the war effort. The couplings and other odds and ends were replaced with puter. A one of a kind.

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Permalink Reply by Clint M. Nelsen on February 11, 2008 at 11:34am

Wow, I'd love to see some pictures of that 50/44!!!

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Permalink Reply by 27-9-17 on February 12, 2008 at 3:17pm

my fire company has two trucks that are old the first on is a 1975 dueces and 1/2 brush truck and a 1986 pierce --arrow> pumper sorry had to do make an arrow with it

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on February 12, 2008 at 3:36pm

We still have our first truck...its still servicable but alas...now more designated for parades and special events....its a 1929 Sanford...still pumps great too....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Tom Kilmartin on June 10, 2008 at 2:26pm

There is a 1947 American laFrance still inservice in Garnett, Kansas. Oddly... the "twin" to this truck had been restored and is on display In Manhattan, Kansas... go figure.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on June 10, 2008 at 2:57pm

We have a 1987 Pierce engine that is a back up for a front line engine breaking down. When I came on the department in 1996 we still had as a front line engine, a 1963 Howe engine that had been refurbed in 1979 to enclose the cab and rework the pump.