Wayne

Fire Marks

Fire marks were used as a way of telling the insurance company which buildings
and houses were insured. In the early days houses were not numbered and they
had very little formal "addressing system" these marks ensured that the company
could tell at a glance if the building was insured and with who. No insurance
often resulted in no help if there was a fire!

Before the days of the local fire brigade the insurance companies often
organized there own response teams (or private brigades) in areas where
they had buildings insured.

When these private brigades turned up to a fire they looked for their mark.If their mark was present then they set straight
to work with the help of bystanders who were given arm bands and all the beer they could drink in return for manually
pumping the water. On return of the arm band the next day they were given a small monetary payment. If it was not
present then a quick deal may have made with the owner or they would have stood back and watch it burn.

The insurance companies also insured themselves and a fee of £100 was required by from each fire man as a promise of
good behavior, looting was a popular pastime to many!

Eventually the fire teams and insurance companies decided to work together and out of this came the municipal brigades.
Even today in some countries marks can still be seen and the superstitious amongst them feel safer if their houses still
have the fire mark attached to it.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT VOLUNTEER DETROIT COMPANIES HAD NAMES AS WELL AS NUMBERS.

PROTECTION NO. 1
EAGLE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 2
WOLVERINE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 3
LAFAYETTE COMPANY NO. 4
PHOENIX COMPANY NO. 5
MICHIGAN COMPANY NO. 6
UNION FIRE COMPANY NO. 7
MECHANIC NO. 8
DETROIT ENGINE COMPANY NO. 9
OPERATIVE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 10
HAMTRAMCK SPROUTERS NO. 11
WOODBRIDGE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 12
THE END OF DETROIT'S VOLUNTEERS ENDED IN 1861

OTHER CITY'S VOLUNTEER COMPANY NAMES

BLUE DICK
LITTLE GIANT
WATER WITCH
DRY BONES
NORTH RIVER
NEPTUNE
BEAN SOUP
PETERSON
OLD WREATH OF ROSES
OLD TURKS
MOYAMENSING
VIGILANCE
ORIGINAL 38S
CONFIDENCE
PARK HORSE
KNICKERBOCKERS
EXCELSIOR'S
GOOD WILL
MUTUAL HOOK AND LADDER
WASHINGTON
BUNKER HILL
UNION
EAGLE
LADY SUFFOLK
MUTTON HOSE
BALLCLUB
HAYWAGON
MANKILLER
KING GEORGE III
DELAWARE
QUEEN CHARLOTTE
FAME
HIBERNIA
SUN
FELLOWSHIP
CROWN BEAVER
HAND IN HAND
FREE AMERICA
HANCOCK NO. 1
DUTCHMAN
MECHANICAL
FRIENDSHIP
OCEANUS
EMPEROR
LIVE OAK
SHAD BELLIES

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE VERY EARLY FIRE FIGHTING WAS MORE ON SAVING THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS

AND WRITING OFF THE ONES ON FIRE AS THEY COULD ONLY FIGHT THE FIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THAT'S WHEN THEY USED THE PULLDOWN HOOK AND THE PIKE POLES TO TAKE DOWN THE PLACE

ON FIRE AND / OR THE ONE NEXT TO IT TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING.

I MADE A PICTURE OF THE PULLDOWN HOOK IN ONE OF MY EARLIER COLUMNS, WE ALL KNOW

WHAT A PIKE POLE IS.. THEY EITHER THREW THE PULLDOWN HOOK AT THE UPPER MOST PART

OF THE ROOF OR BY USING LADDERS AND INSERTING THE OTHER END OF A PIKE POLE IN THE HOLLOW

HANDLE OF THE HOOK POSITIONED IT ON THE ROOF. THEN SINCE THE HOOK WAS CONNECTED

TO A 10 FT. PIECE OF CHAIN AND THEN A ROPE THEY ATTACHED THIS TO A TEAM OF HORSES AND

PULLED THE PLACE DOWN.

THE EARLY RIGS ONLY HAD A STATIONARY NOZZLE , VERSES ONE THAT COULD SWIVEL IN ALL

DIRECTIONS. YOU HAD TO MOVE THE ENTIRE RIG TO DIRECT THE STREAM TO ANOTHER PART

OF THE FIRE. ALSO SOME OF THOSE EARLY RIGS HAD NO ROTATING FRONT AXLE. THE MEN HAD

TO LIFT THE RIG TO TURN IT TO THE ANOTHER FIRE POSITION. THIS EVEN APPLIED TO RESPONDING

TO A FIRE WHEN COMING TO A CORNER. YOU CAN SEE HOW A RUN THROUGH TOWN WITH STOPPING

AND LIFTING THE RIG AT EVERY CORNER WOULD GIVE THE FIRE A GOOD START.

NOTE THESE RIGS WERE SMALL ENOUGH TO BE LIFTED

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE VOLUNTEERS, WHEN RESPONDING TO A FIRE, WHILE PULLING THEIR RIG, WOULD SOMETIMES

BE PASSED BY A GROUP OF RESPONDING VOLUNTEERS FROM ANOTHER COMPANY. THIS WAS

A GREAT INSULT AND WOULD FREQUENTLY RESULT IN A FIGHT.

ANOTHER CAUSE FOR INSULT AND A FIGHT WAS TO BE "WASHED"

THERE WAS A LOT OF RELAYING WATER AS THERE WASN'T A HYDRANT ON EVERY CORNER LIKE

THERE IS NOW. THE SOURCE OF WATER COULD BE BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE FIRE.

THE WATER FROM ENGINE # 1 PUMPED INTO ENGINE # 2 AND FILLED UP THEIR TUB. WHILE IT

WAS FILLING ENGINE #2 MEN WOULD PUMP THEIR BRAKES (HAND PUMPING HANDLES) TO PUMP

THE WATER TO ENGINE # 3 , AND SO ON DOWN THE LINE. WASHING WAS WHEN THE

ONE ENGINES WATER WOULD RISE AND "WASH" OVER THE TOP OF THEIR TUB BEFORE THEY

COULD PUMP IT OUT TO ANOTHER ENGINE. IN ESSENCE IT MEANT THE FIRST ENGINES MEN WERE

STRONGER BY BEING ABLE TO MAN THE BRAKES AND PUMP HARDER THEN THE SECOND ENGINE.

THIS WAS A GREAT INSULT AND SOMETIME DID RESULT IN A FIGHT. SOMETIMES THE MEN DRAPED

THEIR RIG IN A BLACK BUNTING UNTIL THEY WASHED THE COMPANY THAT WASHED THEM.

I THINK WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT AS IT'S LIKE SOMEONE STRETCHING ON "OUR FIRE" OR

STEALING OUR LINE OR INSULTING OUR COMPANY IN ANY OTHER MANNER.

REMEMBER YOU OLD GUYS IF YOU WEREN'T FIRST ON YOUR BOX THE OTHER COMPANIES WOULD

ASK IF YOU CAME ON SECOND ALARM. YOU AT TIMES GOT PHONE CALLS ASKING IF YOU WERE

OUT OF YOUR DISTRICT WHEN THE RUN CAME IN.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THE TERM "TURN TONGUE IN"

WHEN A COMPANY WAS INVOLVED IN A FIGHT THEY WERE ORDERED TO RETURN THEIR RIG TO

THE CITY STORAGE YARD AND PUT THE FRONT TONGUE UNDER THE RIG.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN BOSTON IN 1823 THE FIRST ARRIVING COMPANY AT A FIRE GOT $15.00

SECOND $10.00 AND THIRD $8.00
OTHER CITY'S INSURANCE COMPANIES GAVE A REWARD FOR "FIRST WATER". SO YOU

CAN SEE HOW FIRST WATER WASN'T JUST A MATTER OF PRIDE TO THE VOLUNTEERS IT WAS ALSO

A MATTER OF MONEY. IT APPEARS THAT BOTH CITIES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES GAVE A BONUS

FOR "FIRST WATER"

THERE ARE NUMEROUS STORIES OF COMPANIES SENDING THEIR FASTEST RUNNERS TO SECURE

A HYDRANT. SOMETIME THAT PERSON WOULD FIND AN EMPTY BARREL AND PUT IT OVER THE

HYDRANT AND SIT ON IT . HE WOULD THEN WAIT UNTIL HIS COMPANY SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE

BEFORE UNCOVERING THE HIDDEN HYDRANT. NATURALLY THIS ALSO CAUSED FIGHTS. SOME COMPANIES

HIRED BOXERS TO SECURE A HYDRANT AS HE HAD A BETTER CHANCE OF KEEPING THE HYDRANT

UNTIL THEIR COMPANY CAME ON THE SCENE.

ANOTHER SCHEME A COMPANY WOULD USE TO GET THE MONEY FOR BEING "FIRST WATER" WAS

UPON GETTING AN ALARM HAVE SOMEONE RUN TO THE FIRE WITH BUCKETS OF WATER. THEY WOULD

THROW THE WATER ON THE FIRE WHILE AWAITING THEIR COMPANY TO ARRIVE. THIS WAY THEY

CLAIMED " FIRST WATER" IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE GUYS WERE KIND OF LIKE OUR

"ENGINE HOUSE LAWYERS", THEY COULD FIGURE OUT ANGLES ON ANYTHING.

HAND TUBS / HAND ENGINES

THE NUMBER OF MEN THAT PUMPED THE BRAKES (PUMPING HANDLES) DEPENDED ON THE SIZE

AND MAKE OF THE ENGINE. IT COULD BE JUST TWO OR FORTY. SOME MODELS HAD THE MEN ON

THE ENDS WHILE OTHERS HAD THE MEN ON THE SIDES. SOME MODELS EVEN HAD A TWO TIER

SYSTEM. ONE GROUP OF MEN WOULD BE ON THE GROUND AND THE OTHER GROUP WOULD BE ON TOP

OF THE RIG ON CORRESPONDING BRAKES. THERE COULD BE THREE OR MORE TEAMS OF MEN

TO MAN THE BRAKES AND GIVE RELIEF AS ONE TEAM GOT WORE OUT. ONE BOOK STATED

THAT IT WAS ABOUT 5 MINUTES AT A TIME AT THE NORMAL SPACE OF 60 STROKES PER MINUTE.

BUT IF YOU WERE TRYING TO "WASH" ANOTHER COMPANY IT COULD GO UP TO DOUBLE THAT,

IN WHICH CASE YOU ONLY LASTED ABOUT ONE MINUTE.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND NOW HOW COMMUNITIES COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A PAID DEPARTMENT.

NO TOWN COULD AFFORD TO EMPLOY 40 MEN TO MAN ONE ENGINE COMPANY. IT WAS ONLY

AFTER THE STEAMERS ARRIVED THAT OPERATED WITH 2 TO 3 MEN THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED TO

HAVE PAID DEPARTMENTS.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

INSURANCE COMPANIES OFTEN PURCHASED THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIRE COMPANIES

AND ALSO UPGRADED THEM AS IT WAS IN THEIR SELF INTEREST TO KEEP LOSSES TO A MINIMUM

DUE TO FIRE.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHILE THE MEN WERE PUMPING THE BRAKES, CADENCE WAS SOMETIMES CALLED USING THE

TRUMPET.

THE TRUMPET HAD MANY USES

TO SOUND THE ALARM OF A FIRE , ONES VOICE CARRIED SOME DISTANCE USING IT.

TO DIRECT THE MEN IN THE DARKEN STREETS ON SETTLEMENTS AND TO INSPIRE THEM ON TO THE FIRE.
THEY HAD A MAN RUNNING WITH A TORCH TO LIGHT THE WAY .

TO SHOUT ORDERS TO THE MEN AT A FIRE.

TO BE USED AS A WEAPON DURING THE MANY FIGHTS THAT THEY HAD.

THE MOUTHPIECE WAS REMOVABLE. THEY REMOVED IT AND REPLACED IT WITH A CORK AND DRANK

"WARMING BEVERAGES" AFTER THE FIRE AT THE TAVERN.

THE ABOVE WERE ALL WORKING TRUMPETS.

THEY ALSO HAD "PRESENTATION TRUMPETS" GIVEN AS GIFTS, THESE WERE

MUCH MORE ELABORATE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES THEY HAD AN ORDER THAT ALL HOME HEATING FIRES HAD TO BE

EXTINGUISHED FROM 9:00 PM UNTIL 4:30 AM TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL FIRES.

DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST RIGS WERE GRAY AND THE VOLUNTEERS PAINTED AND DECORATED THEM.

DID YOU KNOW

THE VARIOUS METHODS OF SOUNDING AN ALARM OF FIRE BACK THEN

DETROIT ........................CLANGING IRON TRIANGLE .............CLANGING IRON HOOPS

NOTE: IN 1827 DETROIT HAD A 2 TON, 8 FT. HIGH STEEL TRIANGLE OF 4 INCH

METAL BAR TO BE RUNG BY A PAID FIREMAN

PHILADELPHIA ............ LIBERTY BELL CLANGING

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA ....... SHOOTING MUSKETS

LOS ANGLES ........................ FIRING PISTOLS

CINCINNATI, OHIO..... BLEW FOX HORNS............ BEATING OF DRUMS.................STEAM WHISTLE

VARIOUS COMMUNITY'S

CITY AND CHURCH BELLS

RATTLES AND MUFFIN BELLS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WATCHMEN, DURING COLONIAL TIMES , IN SOME COMMUNITIES ,HUNG A RED LANTERN

FROM THE TOWNS BELL TOWER TO SIGNAL A FIRE IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF TOWN

AND A GREEN LANTERN FOR A SOUTHERN SECTION.

DID YOU KNOW

ANOTHER NAME FOR THE "RATTLE WATCHMEN" WERE "PROWLERS"

THEY PATROLLED THE TOWN FROM SUNSET TILL DAWN.

THEN AROUND 1830 IN SOME TOWNS HE STOOD WATCH IN THE CENTRAL BELL TOWER IN CITY HALL

UPON A FIRE HE WOULD SOUND THE BELL ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT IT WAS IN.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT UPON SEEING A FIRE THEY WOULD SIGNAL A FIRE BY THEIR RATTLE , MUFFIN BELL, SHOTS,

SHOUTING THROUGH THEIR TRUMPETS, TRIANGLES, HOOPS, BELLS OR WHATEVER THEIR TOWN USED AT

THE TIME. UPON HEARING THIS OTHER CHURCH BELLS WOULD JOIN IN UNTIL THE WHOLE TOWN WAS

ALERTED .

LATER ON IN SOME TOWNS THEY SPLIT THE AREA INTO NUMBERED DISTRICTS AND RUNG THE BELL

ACCORDING TO WHAT DISTRICT THE FIRE WAS IN

.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHAT PREVENTED THE VOLUNTEERS FROM RESPONDING FASTER WAS THEY HAD TO TRAVEL

FROM THEIR HOMES TO THE FIRE STATION . TO GAIN THE EDGE SOME STARTED TO RENT ROOMS ABOVE

THE STATION, OR IN NEARBY STORES OR HOTELS

DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WERE BUSINESS MEN WHO JOINED OUT OF A SENSE OF DUTY.

BEING A VOLUNTEER WAS A STEPPING STONE INTO POLITICS. SEVEN NEW YORK MAYORS, EIGHTEEN ST.

LOUIS MAYORS AND TWO PRESIDENTS STARTED THEIR CARRIERS AS VOLUNTEER FIREMEN. THE TWO

PRESIDENTS WERE JAMES BUCHANAN, UNION COMPANY ,LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA AND MILLARD

FILLMORE, OF BUFFALO'S EAGLE HOSE

ALSO SOME OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE STARTED OUT AS VOLUNTEER

FIREMEN, JOHN HANDCOCK, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JAMES WILSON, DR. BENJAMIN RUSH, GEORGE

CLYMER, FRANCIS HOPKINSON AND ROBERT MORRIS

DID YOU KNOW

IN THE EARLY DAYS FIREMEN WHO SERVED TEN YEARS WERE EXEMPT FROM JURY DUTY AND MILITARY

SERVICE.

IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY IT WAS AGAINST THE RULES TO SLEEP IN THE FIRE HOUSE AS THAT MIGHT

LEAD TO DRINKING AND GAMBLING. IN 1857 SOME VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS ARRAIGNED SLEEPING

QUARTERS FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

NOTE TO YOU OLD RETIREES
ON MOST OF THIS STUFF I KNOW IT IS NOT IN ANY ORDER AND AT TIME I REPEAT SOME INFORMATION
BUT AS I STATED I READ OVER 40 BOOKS AND THEN HIT NUMEROUS WEB SITES. THEN FROM ALL THIS I MADE NOTES AS I WENT ALONG. I HAVE SCRAPS OF NOTES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TRY TO CROSS OFF
"STUFF" AS I TYPE IT IN. I AM NOT A WRITER AND DON'T CLAIM TO BE. I AM JUST AN OLD RETIREE LIKE YOU ARE. SO BARE WITH MY MANY MANY MISTAKES IN GIVING YOU ALL THIS "STUFF, ALSO MANY
BOOKS CONTRADICT OTHER BOOKS. THEN THERE IS THE FACT AS EACH COMMUNITY HANDLED THINGS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT

DID YOU KNOW
THE FIRST FIREMAN AT THE FIREHOUSE TOOK THE NOZZLE AND PROCEEDED TO THE FIRE.

THE FIRST TWO FIREMEN ARRIVING AT THE FIREHOUSE WERE ENTITLED TO THE NOZZLE.

THE FIRST FIREMAN AT THE FIREHOUSE TOOK THE TRUMPET AND ACTED AS FOREMAN

DID YOU KNOW

THE BATTLE CRY AT THE SCENE OF THE FIRE WAS "FIRST WATER"

DID YOU KNOW

TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY YOU COULDN'T JUST VOLUNTEER TO FIGHT

FIRES, YOU HAD TO BE VOTED IN. IT DOES APPEAR TO BE AN LIMITED NUMBER OF MEN THAT THEY

ACCEPTED.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IF THE COMPANY WAS DRAFTING FROM A CISTERN THERE WAS ALWAYS THE DANGER OF

PUMPING THE CISTERN DRY..

DID YOU KNOW

SOME OF THE OLD VOLUNTEERS WERE KNOWN AS
FIRE LADDIES OR FIRE JAKIES

DID YOU KNOW

IN SOME TOWNS THE EARLY FIRE HYDRANTS WERE CONNECTED TO THEIR WATER RESERVOIRS BUT

WERE KEPT DRY. THE WATCHMAN HAD TO OPEN THE RESERVOIR GATE FOR WATER TO FLOW TO THE

HYDRANT. NATURALLY THE WATCHMAN HAD TO BE ALERTED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AND IF HE WAS

SLEEPING THERE WAS A DELAY, WHICH DID HAPPEN AT TIMES.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE FIRST WOODEN FIRE HYDRANTS

WERE ENCLOSED IN WOODEN BOXES AND FILLED

WITH "MANURE" TO KEEP FROM FREEZING.

AND YOU OLD RETIREES THOUGHT OUR HYDRANTS WERE TOUGH TO DO. IMAGINE HAVING TO CLEAR

ALL THE MANURE JUST TO HOOK UP.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME TOWNS THERE WERE FIRE HOSE HOUSES SCATTERED THROUGH OUT THE TOWN. THE ONE

THAT I SAW A PICTURE OF WAS BUILT AROUND AN OLD FIRE HYDRANT . IT WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN

OUTHOUSE AND HAD HOSE ON A HOSE REEL WITH VARIOUS TOOLS AND LADDERS INSIDE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE VOLUNTEER ENGINE HOUSES HAD A BELL IN THEIR TOWER TO SOUND THE ALARM

DID YOU KNOW

THAT ENGINES WERE ALSO KNOWN AS

ENJINES & MASHEENS

DID YOU KNOW

IN VOLUNTEER ENGINE HOUSES THEY HAD A "STEWARD". HE WAS ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WAS

ELECTED FOR A ONE YEAR TERM TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE HOUSE AND EQUIPMENT. HE LIVED AT THE

ENGINE HOUSE . IT VARIED AS TO WHO PAID HIM, IN SOME THE TOWN PAID HIM , IN OTHERS THE

COMPANY DID.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN THE EARLY FIREMEN MARCHED IN PROTEST THEY WORE THEIR HELMETS BACKWARDS

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE ORIGINAL CALL LETTERS FOR THE DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1929 WAS

WKDT

IT CHANGED IN 1949 TO

KQA205

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE DETROIT SEAL, WHICH IS ON ALL OF OUR BADGES, WAS ADOPTED IN 1829

IT HAS ON IT

SPERAMUS MELIORA WHICH MEANS

"WE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS"

AND

RESURGET CINERBUS WHICH MEANS

"IT SHALL RISE AGAIN FROM THE ASHES"

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN THE DRESS UNIFORM OF THE EARLY FIREMEN HAD A SINGLE ROW OF BUTTONS,

THE OFFICERS HAD A DOUBLE ROW.

DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST FIRE ALARM BOXES HAD TO HAVE A KEY TO OPEN THEM TO TURN IN AN ALARM.

THESE KEYS WERE HELD BY NEARBY STORE OWNERS OR OTHER TRUSTED CITIZENS.

THE KEY WAS NUMBERED AND THE OWNERS NAME WAS ON THE BACK OF EACH ALARM BOX.

ONCE THEIR KEY WAS INSERTED IT COULDN'T BE REMOVED OTHER THEN BY A MEMBER OF THE

FIRE DEPARTMENTS KEY. THIS PREVENTED FALSE ALARMS BUT RENDERED THE SYSTEM USELESS

IF A KEY HOLDER COULDN'T BE FOUND IN CASE OF FIRE.

DID YOU KNOW

THE BOXES WERE WIRED DIRECTLY TO THE FIRE HOUSES AS THERE WAS NO CENTRAL OFFICE.

EVERY ALARM CAME IN ON THE BIG BELL (TURTLE GONG). THIS WAS VERY DISTURBING TO THE

HORSES SO IN 1891 THE LITTLE BELL (TAPPER BELL) WAS INSTALLED. THE MAN ON WATCH UPON

HEARING HIS BOX COME IN THREW IN THE BIG BELL.

IN 1922 THE ORDER WAS TO KEEP THE BIG BELL IN AT ALL TIMES.

THEN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1932 AND 1935 THE ORDER WAS AGAIN TO TAKE OUT THE BIG BELL AND

JUST THROW IT IN ON YOUR BOX. THEY FIGURED IT WAS TOO UNSETTLING TO THE FIREMEN TO HEAR THE

BIG BELL ALL DAY LONG WITH MOST TIMES IT NOT BEING THEIR FIRE. NOW THEY KNEW IF THE

BIG BELL SOUNDED IT WAS THEIR BOX.

ANOTHER NAME FOR THE SMALL BELL (TAPPER BELL) IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IS

"JOKER"

DID YOU KNOW

THEY HAD "RUNNERS" BACK IN THE VOLUNTEER DAYS

HE WAS USUALLY THE YOUNGEST AND RAN AHEAD OF THE ENGINE WHILE YELLING TO CLEAR A PATH TO A

FIRE. THEY CARRIED TORCHES TO LIGHT THE WAY AT NIGHT. SOME RUNNER WERE NOT YET VOLUNTEERS

BUT WANTED TO BE "ONE OF THE GUYS". THEY DID CHORES FOR THE FIREMEN IN HOPES OF BEING

ACCEPTED AS ONE OF THEM WHEN THEY GOT OLDER.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE SAYING:
"IF THAT PLACE EVER CATCHES ON FIRE
I WANT TO BE ON KELLY".

DO YOU REMEMBER

THAT ON MAY 1976 THE FIRE COMMISSIONER OUTLAWED DOGS IN ALL ENGINE HOUSES.

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE TERM

"SMOKE EATER"

THE PHRASES

"CARELESS COOK"
"BACKFIRE IN CARBURETOR"
"KIDS AND MATCHES"
"CARELESS SMOKER"

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE 4 TO 5 SALVAGE COVERS PIPE RACKS IN MANY OF THE ENGINE HOUSES WHEN WE HAD SALVAGE

COVERS . . REMEMBER HOW HEAVY A WET SALVAGE COVER WAS AND HOW HARD

THEY WERE TO HANG. THE PIPES ARE STILL THERE BUT I IMAGINE SOME OF THE YOUNG

"WHIPPER SNAPPER" DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE FOR.

DO YOU REMEMBER

IN MY CLASS ( JULY 1962 )

IN THE TRAINING ACADEMY IF YOU WERE LATE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR JOB, YOU HAD TO GO DOWNTOWN

AND EXPLAIN THE REASON.

DO YOU REMEMBER

BEING DETAILED AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" TO BE A PALL BEARER AT A RETIREES FUNERAL.

DO YOU REMEMBER

AT HEADQUARTERS YOU HAD TO DO HYDRANTS ON SUNDAYS AS THERE WAS TOO MUCH TRAFFIC DURING

THE WEEK.

DID YOU KNOW

THE JET BOAT CAME IN SERVICE OCTOBER 9, 1970

THE EMS WENT IN SERVICE IN 1972

DO YOU REMEMBER

CALLING FOR THE LIGHT UNIT. I THINK IT WAS STORED IN THAT BACK SECTION OF ENGINE 12,

LADDER 9 ( THE TRAINING ACADEMY)

DO YOU REMEMBER

PHINEY OR PHINNEY PIES ,I THINK THEY WERE OFF GRANDRIVER AND LAWTON

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE "BLACK WIDOW" NOZZLE. I THINK IT WAS ON THE SNORKEL .

DID YOU KNOW

THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMPING STATION, AT THE FOOT OF RANDOLPH, WAS BUILT IN 1921

AND WENT OUT OF SERVICE IN 1956

THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRANTS OPERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 150 LBS. WHILE OUR REGULAR

HYDRANTS WERE IN THE 55 TO 65 LBS RANGE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND RAILWAYS HAD FIRE HOSE JUMPERS. THESE WERE

DEVICES THAT WERE PLACED ON THE STREETCAR TRACKS AND WENT OVER ANY FIRE HOSE THAT WERE

STRETCHED OVER THEM AT A FIRE. THAT WAY IT DIDN'T PUT THE STREET CAR OUT OF SERVICE .

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY FIRE HYDRANTS WERE MADE BY COMPANIES THAT CAST CANNON BARRELS

DID YOU KNOW

THE STANDARD FIRE AX IS AN "INDIAN CHIEF" MODEL.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OLD FIREHOUSES HAD RAILINGS AROUND THEIR WATCH DESK.

THIS WAS TO PREVENT THE HORSES FROM DAMAGING THE ALARM SYSTEM

DO YOU REMEMBER

AFTER A FIRE AND YOU HAD STRETCHED

YOU WENT IN SERVICE WHEN YOU WERE DOWN TO 6 LENGTHS OF 2 1/2 " LINE OR LESS

STILL OFF YOUR RIG

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN YOU HAD COT WATCH AND THE ONLY PHONE WAS AT THE WATCH DESK . YOU HAD TO ANSWER THE

DEPARTMENT PHONE ON THE FIRST RING. SO TO GO TO THE TOILET YOU HAD TO CALL CENTRAL OFFICE

AND TELL THEM WHERE YOU WERE GOING. OTHERWISE IF YOU WERE AT THE TOILET AND THE PHONE

RANG 3 OR 4 TIMES, CENTRAL WOULD TELL YOU TO PUT THE BOSS ON. IF YOU WERE A YOUNG "WHIPPER

SNAPPER" YOU MIGHT GO DOWN DOWN ON CHARGES FOR NOT STANDING A PROPER WATCH.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE REAL EARLY COMPANIES, THAT DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY RUNS, PUT THEIR ENGINES

ON BLOCKS BETWEEN RUNS TO SAVE STRESS ON THE OLD COTTON CORD TIRES.

THE BLOCKS WERE MADE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUSH THE RIG OFF THEM FOR A RUN

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN THE STREETS WERE DIRT IT WAS EASIER ON THE HORSES LEGS. WHEN THEY STARTED TO BE

BE PAVED IS WHEN THE HORSES HAD IT MORE DIFFICULT. SOME LOST THEIR FOOTINGS ON THE NOW

PAVED STREETS. FIRE HORSES HAD BOTH METAL AND CORK SHOES, THE CORK BEING USED FOR BETTER

TRACTION. THEIR HOOVES AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE HORSE HAD A DAILY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE.

THE EARLY COBBLESTONE STREETS WERE ESPECIALLY HARD ON THE HORSES HOOVES

AND THEY WERE DAMAGED BY THEM. IF A RUN CAME IN WHILE THE BLACKSMITHS WORKED ON THE

HORSES HE HITCHED ONE OF HIS OWN HORSES ,THAT PULLED HIS BLACKSMITHS WAGON, TO THE FIRE

RIG.

DID YOU KNOW

THE TERM" TWO BAGGER" WAS A SLANG TERM FOR USING

TWO BAGS OF COAL AT A FIRE OR A TWO HOUR FIRE.

OUR "TWO BAGGER" IS A SECOND ALARM FIRE

NOTE: A BAG OF COAL WEIGHED 100 LBS.

COAL WAS KEPT IN FUEL BINS ON THE STREET. AT A FIRE THE DRIVER TOOK HIS TEAM OF

HORSES TO THE FUEL BINS AND CAME BACK PULLING A COAL WAGON.

THE VARIOUS RIGS BLEW THEIR STEAM WHISTLES, ACCORDING TO

THEIR NUMBER, WHEN THEY NEED COAL.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

AT FIRST THE TRUCK MEN RAN ALONG SIDE OF THEIR RIG.

WHEN THE HORSES STARTED PULLING IT THEY RODE ON THE TOP OF THEIR RIG.

THEN THE APPARATUS MANUFACTURERS MADE RUNNING BOARDS THAT THE FIREMEN STOOD ON

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU

THAT THE FIREMEN OF REAL OLD TIMES HAD TO RUN AT BREAKNECK SPEED, PULLING A

FIRE ENGINE, LADDER TRUCK OR HOSE REEL / WAGON AND BEING TOTALLY EXHAUSTED

FROM THIS RUN. THEN HAVING TO SECURE WATER FROM A BUCKET BRIGADE / CISTERN,

RIVER, POND, HYDRANT AND THEN PUMP AT 60 STROKES A MINUTES ( UNLESS THEY WERE

TRYING TO "WASH" ANOTHER COMPANY AND THEN PUMP THEIR HEARTS OUT TO 120

STROKES A MINUTE

DID YOU KNOW

ON THE VERY EARLY LADDER TRUCKS THERE WASN'T A NEED FOR A TILLERMAN AS THE BUILDINGS

WEREN'T TALL ENOUGH TO REQUIRE LONGER LADDERS. AS THE BUILDINGS WERE BEING BUILT HIGHER

IT REQUIRED LONGER LADDERS. WITH LONGER LADDERS THE NARROW STREETS OF THE EARLY

COMMUNITIES MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN CORNERS. THE STEERING OF THE REAR AXLE WAS

DEVELOPED AND THE TILLERMAN

DID YOU KNOW

ON SOME OF THE EARLY HORSE DRAWN AERIAL LADDER TRUCKS

THE TILLERMAN WAS LOCATED UNDER THE THE AERIAL LADDER

AND HAD A OBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE ROAD.

ALSO THE HORSES HAD TO BE MOVED TO RAISE THE AERIAL.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOMETIMES THE NARROW WHEELS OF THE OLD AERIAL TRUCKS GOT CAUGHT IN THE STREET CAR

TRACK GROVES

DID YOU KNOW

WITH THE COMING OF THE HORSES THE FIREMEN HAD TO START RIDING THEIR RIGS . THEY JUST

COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE SPEED OF THE HORSES. GRADUALLY THE RIGS HAD TO BE MADE TO CARRY

THE MEN AS WELL AS THE FIRE EQUIPMENT

DID YOU KNOW

SINCE THE EARLY VOLUNTEERS WERE VERY INFLUENTIAL MEN THEY WERE ABLE TO PREVENT THE CITY

OFFICIALS FROM PROPOSING THAT THEY CREATE A PAID DEPARTMENT . THE VOLUNTEERS WERE A

VERY POWERFUL POLITICAL FORCE. THE VOLUNTEERS FOUGHT AGAINST THE PAID DEPARTMENT AND

THE INSURANCE COMPANIES FOUGHT FOR ONE.. THE CITIES WERE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THEY

RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GO AGAINST THE VOLUNTEERS.

DID YOU KNOW

THE NAME " FIRE PLUG"

FIREMEN DUG DOWN TO A WATER SOURCE WHICH WAS A HOLLOWED OUT LOG. THEY DRILLED A HOLE IN IT

AND FILLED THEIR BUCKETS TO SUPPLY THEIR ENGINES. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT THEY STOPPED UP THE

HOLE WITH A FIRE PLUG "THE BIRTH OF THE WORD "FIRE PLUG" WHICH BECAME OUR FIRE HYDRANT.

THE PRESSURE MUST HAVE BEEN LOW TO ALLOW THEM TO PLUG UP THE HOLE.

.
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

IN 1631 IN BOSTON TO TRY TO PREVENT FIRES THE CITY LEADERS OUTLAWED WOODEN CHIMNEYS

AND THATCHED ROOFS

THE WOODEN CHIMNEYS WERE CLAY LINED WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME DRIED OUT AND FELL

OFF THE CHIMNEY INTERIOR. THEN THAT RAISED THE CHANCES OF IT CATCHING FIRE.. ALSO SPARKS

FROM THE CHIMNEY FIRES FELL ON THE ROOFS PRODUCING EVEN MORE FIRES. MANY OF THE HOMES

HAD LADDERS PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THEIR ROOFS TO ENABLE THEM TO WORK ON THE FIRE

EASIER.

IN 1648 IN NEW AMSTERDAM, FOUR FIRE WARDENS WERE APPOINTED TO INSPECT ALL CHIMNEYS

AND ISSUE FINES IF NEED BE.

THEY APPOINTED EIGHT CITIZENS TO THE "RATTLE WATCH"

THESE MEN PATROLLED AT NIGHT CARRYING THE WOODEN RATTLES THAT THEY SPUN UPON SEEING A

FIRE. LATER MUFFIN BELLS WERE ALSO USED.

THIS SOUND ALERTED OTHER TOWNSPEOPLE AND ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNITY, BELLS WERE RUNG

SHOTS WERE FIRED, WHISTLES AND /OR HORNS WERE BLOWN, DRUMS WERE BEAT UNTIL THE WHOLE TOWN

WAS ALERTED.

EACH HOMEOWNER HAD TO HAVE THEIR OWN BUCKETS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES . BUSINESSES HAD TO

HAVE A NUMBER BASED ON THE SIZE AND / OR TYPE OF BUSINESS IT WAS .

THERE WERE ALSO LADDERS AND POLES PLACED AROUND THE COMMUNITY

THEY THEN FORMED THE CITIZENS INTO A BUCKET BRIGADE

THE CITIZENS WOULD RUSH TO THE FIRE WITH THEIR OWN BUCKETS OR WITH ONES SUPPLIED

BY THEIR COMMUNITY. ANY EXTRA BUCKETS THAT THEY HAD WERE THROWN OUT ON THE STREET TO

BE USED BY ANYONE RUSHING TO THE FIRE.

A DOUBLE LINE WOULD BE FORMED.

ONE LINE WAS TO PASS THE FILLED BUCKETS TO THE FIRE WHERE THEY WERE THROWN ON IT. THIS

LINE WAS MOSTLY THE STRONGER MEN

LATER ON WHEN THEY ACQUIRED HAND TUBS ( HAND PUMPING ENGINES) THE BUCKETS FILLED THE

TUBS . THEN THE MEN PUMPED THE WATER ON THE FIRE..

THE SECOND LINE WAS USED TO PASS THE EMPTY BUCKETS BACK TO THE SOURCE OF WATER. THIS

LINE WAS WHERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND OTHERS THAT COULDN'T PASS THE FULL BUCKETS OF

WATER WERE.

THE BUCKETS HELD ABOUT 3 GALLONS OF WATER.

AT THIS STAGE IT APPEARS THAT FIRE BUCKETS REALLY DIDN'T DO MUCH GOOD IN EXTINGUISHING A

FIRE AS MUCH AS TRYING TO NOT HAVE IT SPREAD.

YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU HAD A THREE GALLON BUCKET OF WATER AND PASSED IT DOWN A LINE

OF EVEN JUST 20 MEN FROM THE SOURCE OF WATER TO EITHER THROW ON THE FIRE OR YOUR

HAND TUB TO PUMP ON THE FIRE .

HOW MUCH WATER WOULD BE LEFT IN THE BUCKET AT THE END.

THAT'S WHEN THE PEOPLE HAD TO AT TIMES PULL DOWN THE BUILDINGS NEARBY .

THEN THROUGH THE USE OF PIKE POLES, GRAPPLING HOOKS AND THE "PULL DOWN HOOK" THEY TOOK

THE BUILDINGS DOWN. THEY USED A TEAM OF HORSES WITH THE PULL DOWN HOOK TO TAKE THE

BUILDINGS DOWN.

NOTE IN 1963 WHILE I WAS AT LADDER 22 I SAW THAT A GRAPPLING HOOK WAS KEPT ON THE APPARATUS.

AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT THE BUCKETS WERE GATHERED AND BROUGHT TO A CENTRAL LOCATION.

THE TOWN CRIER WOULD YELL "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, CLAIM YOUR BUCKETS

ALL THE BUCKETS HAD TO HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM.

MANY TIMES CHILDREN WOULD LOOK FOR THE PROMINENT CITIZENS BUCKET SO THEY COULD RETURN

THEIRS AND GET SOME SMALL REWARD

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

TWO "TOOLS " THAT WAS USED WAY BACK THEN MOST OF US NEVER HEARD OF.

THE "BED KEY"
&
THE SALVAGE BAG

THE BED KEY WAS CARRIED TO TAKE APART THE BED IN THE HOUSE ON FIRE.

BACK THEN A PERSONS BED WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF FURNITURE. USUALLY HE

WAS BORN, LIVED AND DIED OWNING THE SAME BED. EVERYTHING ELSE COULD BE CARRIED OUT BUT

THE BED WAS BOLTED TOGETHER UNLIKE OUR BEDS THAT THE SIDES ARE JUST HOOKED INTO THE HEAD

AND FOOT BOARDS

THE SALVAGE BAGS WERE LINEN BAGS THAT THE FIREMEN PUT ANYTHING THAT THEY

DEEMED VALUABLE INTO. THEY THEN STOOD GUARD OVER THEM TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING

STOLEN

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN THE BEGINNING WITH NOBODY IN CHARGE AT A FIRE IT WAS AN UNORGANIZED ATTEMPT

TO DO THE BEST THEY COULD WITH WHAT THEY HAD. THE COMMUNITIES LEADERS REALIZED THAT

THERE WAS THE NEED FOR SOME SENSE OF ORGANIZATION.

FIREWARDS, ALSO CALLED FIREWARDENS WERE APPOINTED. TO DISTINGUISH THEM AT THE FIRE SCENE

THEY WERE ISSUED A FIVE FOOT RED STAFF WITH A BRIGHT BRASS SPIKE ON TOP. THEY USED THIS

STAFF AS A SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY AND ALSO AT TIMES TO PROD UNRULY CITIZENS.

HE WAS THE PERSON IN CHARGE AT THE FIRES.

FIREWARDS / FIREWARDENS

BECAME

OVERSEER OF FIRE ENGINES

BECAME

ENGINEER

BECAME

CHIEF ENGINEER

BECAME

CHIEF

IN THE YEAR 1762 THE HEAD OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS WAS STARTING TO BE KNOWN AS

"CHIEF"

DID YOU KNOW

THAT AS TIME WENT ON THE FIREMEN WENT FROM RUNNING AND PULLING FIRE RIGS

TO RUNNING ALONGSIDE HORSE DRAWN RIGS. WHILE THIS WAS EASIER THEN PULLING

A RIG THEY FOUND OUT THEY COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH A HORSE DRAWN ENGINE.

HOSE WAGONS AND RUNNING BOARDS ON LADDER TRUCKS PROVIDED PLACES FOR THEM

TO NOW RIDE.

THE CHIEF LATER ON WAS GIVEN A HORSE AND BUGGY TO MAKE HIS ROUNDS.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

BESIDE THE TRUMPET BEING USED THERE WAS AN EXPERIMENT USING A MEGAPHONE IN ONE

DEPARTMENT. BELOW IS THE SECOND PART OF AN 1900 SPECIAL ORDER

"On all occasions in the future, when at a fire, a megaphone will be taken to the roof, for the purpose of conveying messages from the roof to the street by members of the Department, and the practice heretofore existing of shouting orders will be discontinued. Whatever orders are necessary to be given, will be sent through the megaphone, in a slow, loud and distinct voice. Chief officers issuing orders from the street, while in command of a fire will also use the megaphone wherever possible, instead of shouting their orders, or sending messengers."

NOTE IT APPEARS THIS EXPERIMENT DIDN'T WORK OUT

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IF YOUR HOUSE HAD TWO CHIMNEYS YOU HAD TO HAVE....................... ONE BUCKET

MORE THEN TWO CHIMNEYS............ TWO BUCKETS

BAKERS..................... THREE BUCKETS

BREWERS.................... FIVE BUCKETS

THE AMOUNT OF BUCKETS A PLACE HAD TO HAVE CARRIED OVER TO LATER TIMES AS TO THE

AMOUNT OF EXTINGUISHERS YOU HAD TO HAVE.

A BUCKET HELD APPROXIMATELY 3 GALLONS OF WATER AND WOULD WEIGH ABOUT 20 LBS

THE EARLY HAND TUBS (ENGINES) HELD ABOUT 170 GALLONS OF WATER

AFTER A CHIMNEY INSPECTION, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT CLEANED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE

YOU WOULD BE FINED.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE FIRST FIRE HOSE WAS MADE FROM BOTH COW AND BUFFALO HIDES.

TO PRESERVE IT THEY RUBBED IN A MIXTURE OF BEEF TALLOW AND NEAT'S FOOT OIL.

AT FIRST THEY STITCHED THE SEAMS BUT IT COULDN'T STAND UP TO THE HIGHER PUMPING

PRESSURE SO THEY WENT TO RIVETING THE SEAMS

DID YOU KNOW

NOW WITH AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR HOSE THEY WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP A SUCTION HOSE . THEY

COULD THEN DRAW WATER FROM A CISTERN, WELL, RIVER, HYDRANT AND RELAY IT TO ANOTHER

ENGINE AND DELIVER WATER TO THE FIRE.

THERE WOULD NO LONGER BE THE NEED FOR THE BUCKET BRIGADE.

PROGRESS AND THE END OF AN ERA

DID YOU KNOW

ANOTHER NAME FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WAS "MUTUAL AID SOCIETY"

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN ACCEPTED AS A VOLUNTEER THAT PERSON IN SOME COMPANIES HAD TO DONATE A BUCKET

TO THEM

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE TWO COMMON COLORS FOR FIRE APPARATUSES IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS WAS

BLUE & GREEN

RED WAS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO MAKE.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN HORSES FIRST CAME INTO BEING USED THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES JUST RENTED THEM.

THEY WOULD AT TIMES CONTRACT OUT TO MORE THEN ONE SOURCE.

UPON AN ALARM WHOEVER SHOWED UP AT THE FIREHOUSE WITH THEIR HORSE FIRST WAS THE ONE

THEY WOULD USE.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT AS THE HORSE ERA ENDED, OR THE HORSE JUST GOT TOO OLD TO MAKE THE FAST FIRE

RUNS THEY WERE SOLD TO VARIOUS BUSINESSES. THEY WERE BOUGHT FOR MILK DELIVERY WAGONS

, RAG PICKERS, JUNKMEN ETC.. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A NUMBER OF CASES IS THEY WOULD BE AT

THEIR NEW JOB AND UPON HEARING THE CLANGING OF THE FIRE BELLS AND SEEING A FIRE ENGINE

RACING DOWN THE STREET, THEY WOULD DASH TO THE FIRE AS THEY HAD SO MANY YEARS BEFORE..

THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

WHEN THE STEAM ENGINE FIRST APPEARED ON THE SCENE IN AMERICA IT WERE OPPOSED BY THE

VOLUNTEERS AS THEY FELT IT WAS A THREAT TO THEM..

WITH HAND PUMPERS. MANY MEN WERE REQUIRED TO PUMP THE WATER.

THIS WAY THEY HAD THEIR EXCITEMENT, GLORY, PRESTIGE, POLITICAL POWER, CAMARADERIE,

PARADES SOCIAL FUNCTIONS, STANDINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY WERE SOMEONE THAT PEOPLE

LOOKED UP TO. THEIR WAY OF LIFE WAS BEING THREATENED.

BUT STEAM ENGINES JUST REQUIRED ONE MAN TO OPERATE THE PUMPER. THEY WOULD JUST

PULL IT AT FIRST AND COULD PROBABLY FORESEE THE FUTURE WHEN A HORSE COULD PULL IT.

A STEAMER COULD DO THE WORK OF 50 MEN, NO WONDER THEY WERE OPPOSED TO IT.

ACTUALLY WHEN HORSES PULLED THE STEAMER IT TOOK
THREE MEN TO MAN IT.

THE DRIVER DROVE THE HORSES. UPON GETTING TO THE FIRE HE UNHITCHED THEM AND

LED THEM A DISTANCE AWAY AND SAW TO THEIR NEEDS. AT TIMES HE WENT TO THE VARIOUS COAL

SHEDS AROUND TOWN HOOKING UP HIS TEAM TO A COAL WAGON AND SUPPLYING COAL TO THE

STEAMERS

THE STOKER RODE ON THE BACK END. UPON ARRIVING AT THE FIRE HIS JOB WAS TO SHOVEL COAL FOR THE STEAMER

THE ENGINEER ALSO RODE THE BACK END. HIS JOB WAS TO OPERATE THE STEAMER

NOTE (1) IN SOME SMALL COMMUNITIES HE AT TIME WAS HIS OWN STOKER.. THIS WAS PROBABLY DUE

TO MANPOWER

NOTE (2) IT WAS JUST LIKE IN THE EARLY 60S WHEN THE ENGINE RODE WITH 5, THE 2 DECKIES

STRETCHED THE LINE AND THE SENIOR MAN, AFTER HELPING THEM STRETCH HELPED THE ENGINEER

HOOK UP TO THE HYDRANT. AS MANPOWER DECREASED THE ENGINEER HOOKED UP BY HIMSELF.

NOTE (3) AT TIMES THE DRIVER OF THE HOSE WAGON BECAME THE STEAMERS STOKER.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE VERY EARLY STEAMERS VIBRATED SO MUCH THAT THEY HAD TO BE STAKED DOWN

DID YOU KNOW

WHILE WE HAD OUR
BIG THREE

GENERAL MOTORS
FORD
CHRYSLER

BACK THEN THEY ALSO HAD THEIR
BIG THREE

WHO WERE THEY

GUESS, YOU OLD TIMERS, BEFORE YOU SCROLL DOWN

SCROLL A LITTLE MORE

AHREN FOX

SEAGRAVE

AMERICAN LAFRANCE

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT WE MAKE THAT HUNG FROM THE THE BACK OF THE ENGINE?

BUNDLE STRAPS MADE FROM CLOTHES LINE

NOTE: WHEN WE HAD ACTUAL BUNDLE STRAPS MADE OUT OF LEATHER WE DIDN'T HAVE SPARES TO HANG FROM THE BACK. IF WE DID SOME OTHER COMPANY WOULD "BORROW' IT.

IF YOU STRETCHED IT WAS UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THE BUNDLE STRAP. YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT IT IN YOUR FIRE COAT POCKET BUT IN THE EXCITEMENT IT SOMETIMES DIDN'T MAKE IT THERE.

THE BETTER BUNDLE STRAPS HAD AN EXTRA PIECE OF LEATHER LOOP THAT WENT AROUND THE LINE SO IT STAYED WITH THE LINE AS YOU STRETCHED.
THE CHEAPER STRAP WAS JUST ONE PIECE LEATHER BELT.

HEY OLD TIMER REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" AND THE WET 2 1/2 LINE WAS ALL ROLLED UP ON THE BACKBOARD, THE WET 1 1/2 LINE WAS ALL STREWNED IN THE CENTER ISLE.

YOU BACKED IN QUARTERS AND UNLOADED THE LINE , DROPPED DRY LINE FROM THE TOWER AND THE BOSS ASKED YOU FOR THE BUNDLE STRAP................................................................................
AND YOU HAD TO SAY YOU FORGOT IT AT THE FIRE..................................

SOMETIMES YOU GOT IN THE RIG AND WENT BACK TO THE FIRE LOOKING FOR IT.................................
.
BUT OTHER TIMES THE BOSS MADE YOU DRIVE IN YOUR CAR TO THE FIRE AND SEARCH FOR IT ON YOUR OWN..............................YOU NEVER FORGOT THE BUNDLE STRAP AGAIN

WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE, HAVEN'T WE, OLD TIMER.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT WAS KEPT IN THE HARD SUCTION? THERE WERE TWO ITEMS.

COME ON OLDTIMER YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE BUNDLE STRAPS YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT YOU KEPT IN THE HARD SUCTION.

OK, A HINT

ONE, YOU USED ALL THE TIME.

THE OTHER, YOU PROBABLY WENT YOUR WHOLE CAREER AND NEVER USED. I HAVE SEEN IT

USED BUT NOT TOO OFTEN........HINT.................YOU DID USE IT ON EVOLUTION'S.

SCROLL DOWN SOME MORE

THE PIKE POLE
&
THE FIRE ESCAPE HOOK

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE GUY THAT CAME AROUND WITH HIS ART BRUSHES AND

THAT LONG STICK, WITH THE RUBBER TIP (MAHLSTICK) . HE DID ALL THE

"GOLD LETTERING" ON ALL OF OUR APPARATUSES. I DON'T KNOW IF HE ALSO DID

THE "SCROLL WORK". I JUST SAW HIM LETTERING OUR COMPANY NAMES ON THE

RIGS.

DO YOU REMEMBER

YELLING........"BUTT COMING ON"..................OR JUST.....................
"BUTT..............WHILE LOADING LINE.
&
"DON'T DRIVE OVER THE BUTTS"

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE FIRST "SQUAD" IN DETROIT WAS CALLED A

"FLYING SQUADRON" AND THAT IT WAS CAME IN SERVICE IN THE YEAR

1908. IT ROAD WITH 15 MEN ON IT.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT PRIOR TO 1854 THERE WASN'T ANY ATTEMPT

TO EITHER PREVENT OR INVESTIGATE ARSON.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE FIRST FIRE BOAT WAS JUST A BARGE

WITH A HAND POWERED PUMPER ON IT.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

22          Get     22           Pull Box       2nd Alarm
33            ''       33                 ''             3th Alarm
44            ''       44                 ''             4th Alarm
55            ''       55                 ''             5th Alarm
66-1         ''      66-1               ''            1 Extra Engine
77-1         ''      77-1               ''            1 Aerial Ladder

Trailer number must follow 66 or 77 to indicate number
of pieces of apparatus needed.

4             ''      4                     ''             Rescue Co.
5             ''      5                     ''             W. Tower
6             ''      6                     ''             Ambulance
7             ''      7                     ''             Police Amb.
8             ''      8                     ''             Foamite
9             ''      9                     ''             Light Unit
1-2-1      ''      1-2-1               ''             All Companies
                                                             Return to Qtrs.
C.O.       ''      34                   ''             Call Central

DID YOU KNOW
THAT DUE TO STARTING PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF THE FIRST MOTORIZED RIGS THERE IS MENTIONED OF A

COMPANY THAT BACKED THEIR ENGINE UP ON A RAMP. WHEN AN ALARM CAME THEY JUST PUSHED IT

FORWARD IN GEAR TO START IT

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME CITIES THE INSURANCE COMPANIES SET UP A "SALVAGE CORPS" ALSO KNOWN AS

"FIRE INSURANCE PATROLS"

AT FIRST THEY WERE SET UP IN THE HIGH VALUE DISTRICT , THEN LATER IN SOME CITIES THEY WERE

EXPANDED TO INCLUDE LARGER PORTIONS OF THE CITY. THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE FIRE ALARM

SYSTEM SO THEY COULD RESPOND WITH THE FIRE RIGS. THEY CARRIED SALVAGE COVERS AND VARIOUS

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE WATER. THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP LOSSES DOWN BUT DUE TO BUDGET

THIS PRACTICE WAS DISCONTINUED AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS WENT TO THE LADDER TRUCK CREWS. NOW

WITH FURTHER CUTS EVEN THE TRUCK CREWS DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO PUT SALVAGE COVERS ON

PEOPLES PROPERTY OR ROUTE THE WATER AND SHOVEL ALL THE DEBRIS OUT.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT CHEMICAL ENGINES WERE ALSO IN USE. THEY WERE LARGER VERSIONS OF OUR SODA AND ACID

EXTINGUISHERS. . THE SOLUTION WAS 150 % HEAVIER THEN AIR SO IT HAD A SMOTHERING

EFFECT ON THE FIRE.
THE MAKER OF ONE OF THESE ENGINES CLAIMED THAT SINCE CARBON DIOXIDE WAS 30

TIMES HEAVIER THEN AIR 200 GALLONS OF THE SOLUTIONS WAS EQUIVALENT TO 6000

GALLONS OF WATER

THERE WERE SINGLE AND DOUBLE TANK VERSIONS. THE DOUBLE TANK ENABLED YOU TO RECHARGE THE

EMPTY TANK AS YOU WERE USING THE FULL ONE. THE 1" HOSE ON THE CHEMICAL ENGINE KEPT WATER

DAMAGE TO A MINIMUM COMPARED TO THE REGULAR ENGINES 2 1/2 " HOSE. THE TANKS HAD A WATER

AND SODA MIXTURE JUST LIKE OUR EXTINGUISHER AND A CONTAINER OF SULFURIC ACID WAS

INTRODUCED BY VARIOUS WAYS TO CHARGE IT. ONE BAD FEATURE OF THESE WAS TO CLEAN OUT THESE

TANKS AND RECHARGE THEM. ESPECIALLY AT 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WERE TIRED . YOU

REMEMBER THOSE DAYS OF JUST RECHARGING THE CO2 EXTINGUISHER AS A YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPER.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SOME OF THE EARLY GASOLINE PUMPERS ALSO HAD PUMPING HANDLES IN CASE THE MOTOR DIED. THIS WAY THE MEN COULD THEN OPERATE THE PUMPER BY HAND.

DID YOU KNOW

FROM A WEB SITE

The late 1950s also saw the introduction of the air horn on fire apparatus. This was a natural extension of the pneumatic brake systems that were becoming popular. The air horn added to the audible warning capability of apparatus, and many feel, ultimately led to the elimination of the bell.

Electronic sirens began to appear on fire apparatus during the early 1960s. At first, they were installed in addition to the older, louder mechanical sirens. In some cases they replaced the mechanical sirens. Today, the old-style mechanical siren is making a comeback, to supplement the quieter electronic models. Over the years, improvements in automobile soundproofing, coupled with auto entertainment systems, have severely limited the effectiveness of electronic sirens.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

OK GUYS WE ALL HAVE SEEN A FIRE ENGINE WITH THAT BIG SHINY BALL ON IT ,
BUT HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BALL??????????????????????????

FROM WHAT I COULD FIND OUT IT WAS AN "AIR PRESSURE CHAMBER" TO REDUCE THE PULSATION OF THE STREAM OF A PISTON PUMP. THE COMPANY THAT MADE THESE WAS "AHRENS FOX"
ALL THE REST OF ENGINES HAD CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
ACCORDING TO ONE BOOK THE ENGINES DID A DANCE DUE TO THE PISTON PUMP.
NOTE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THAT BALL WAS EITHER
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

Fire extinguisher bottles are containers that held chemicals ( CARBON TETRACHLORIDE) The bottle was thrown at the base of the fire so the bottle would smash and release the chemicals - putting out the fire. Most were made after 1870 and until about 1910.

DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST MEMBERS OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE PAID IN THE EARLY DAYS OF A
VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
THE DRIVER
THE ENGINEER
THE STOKER

DID YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN THEY WENT FROM A VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT TO A PAID DEPARTMENT SOME OF THE

VOLUNTEERS WENT OUT WEST TO COMMUNITIES THAT STILL HAD HAND PUMPERS.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE HAND TUBS DIDN'T HAVE BRAKES SO THERE WERE ROPES ON THE BACK THAT THE MEN PULLED

ON TO SLOW IT DOWN.

DID YOU KNOW

TWO AND FOUR WHEEL HOSE WAGONS CAME INTO BEING AS THE ENGINE WERE HEAVY ENOUGH WITH

THEIR PUMPS WITHOUT THE ADDED WEIGHT OF HOSE. WITH WAGONS THEY COULD HAVE MUCH MORE

HOSE AT THE SCENE OF THE FIRE.

DID YOU KNOW

WHILE MOST OF THE HORSES WERE TRAINED AT THE FIRE STATIONS BY THE MEN,

DETROIT HAD A HORSE COLLEGE. IT CONTAINED THE APPARATUS THAT THE HORSES WERE TO PULL,

TRAINING STALLS , TRACK, HANGING HARNESSES , FEED ROOM AND EVEN A HORSE HOSPITAL.

FROM A WEB SITE

The middle to late 1960s saw the wide-scale introduction of crosslay hosebeds and pre-connected hoselines. Up to this time, most hose was carried in the rear hosebeds. Pre-connected crosslays offer an option that allows for rapid water application under certain fire conditions.

In the early 1970s, Ward LaFrance created what was probably the most controversial issue ever to hit the apparatus field. By aggressively marketing a new color for fire apparatus, lime green, as being more visible and therefore safer, a wedge was driven into the fire service. Traditionalists stood behind the old standard red, while "progressive" fire service personnel preached the advantages of the new color. At one point, there were actually more apparatus being delivered in the new color than the traditional red. Many fire departments, both large and small, switched to the new color. But after about a decade, departments began to switch back to red. Many apparatus were repainted. Virtually every large department that had gone to the new color returned to red. Currently, few new apparatus are being delivered that are painted lime green.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

FROM A WEB SITE

FROM NEW YORK

The Rules and Regulations   stated that a maximum of three men were permitted to ride on the steamers, only two on the hose

tenders and only the driver and tillerman on the ladder trucks. Everyone else, including the chiefs, ran alongside the apparatus

when responding to alarms. . None of the volunteer rigs were horse drawn and everyone was needed to pull the apparatus hence

there were no riding positions on the rigs   When these apparatus were converted to horse drawn at the Repair Yard, there was no

prior reason to have riding positions added for the men because the men never rode on the apparatus before. Realizing that their

men, now responding to more alarms than the volunteers ever did, were arriving at the scene physically exhausted, the

Commissioners directed the chief in charge of the Shops to devise a method for the men to ride to fires rather than run.

1868.

Repair Yard began installing "running boards" on the side of the ladder trucks so that the men could ride the apparatus to

alarms. It is interesting to note that the term "running boards" was used instead of "side step" or some other term as the boards

were used in place of running.      The running boards themselves survive on newly designed tillered apparatus to this day.

While the ladder trucks were upgraded with little difficulty, there was no practical way to have any more men ride on the

steamers. The answer to this problem was to totally redesign the hose tender. An "improved" hose tender was constructed by

modifying an existing hose tender, placing four seats topside and a step for two or three men across the rear. . The rear step which

had been placed on these tenders eliminated the fuel box which necessitated establishing separate fuel wagons as the volunteers

had used.
. The assignment cards designated engines that had responded to the fire who were responsible to provide fuel supply. After

arrival at the fire, the hose tender driver of these engines would unhitch his team and proceed to the firehouse where the fuel

tender was kept and return to the fire with it.

WHY IS IT FDNY RATHER THEN NYFD

The Metropolitan Fire Department continued to be the object of politics. On April 5th, the "Tweed Charter" was passed in Albany.

The Tweed Charter abolished all state control over New York City. Among other provisions, it wiped out the Metropolitan Fire

District, established a new Board of Fire Commissioners and the

Metropolitan Fire Department became the "Fire Department of the City of New York". This act,

indirectly, was responsible for the "F.D.N.Y." logo on apparatus instead of "N.Y.F.D."

. Most departments place the city or town initials prior to "F.D." but as a direct carry over of the provision to create

the "Fire Department of the City of New York", "F.D." was placed before "N.Y." on the apparatus, a tradition which

lasts today.

On May 21st, the new Board of Fire Commissioners ordered the removal of "MFD" from all apparatus to be replaced by "F.D.N.Y."

NOTE . "Fire Department of the City of New York" CONSISTS OF BROOKLYN, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND, BRONX AND MANHATTAN

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

ON THE STEAMERS

FROM A WEB SITE

The pear shape dome behind the horse blankets was an air suppression chamber. This chamber

helped even out the pulsation's caused by the pumping action of the pistons. The air chamber is partially filled

with air. Water which is considered as non-compressible would compressed the air trapped in the chamber.

As the pistons would reach the end of their stoke length the compression created by the action of the pistons

would drop and so would the water pressure. The air in the chamber would expand as pressure drop pushing the

water back out of the air chamber and back into the pump discharge piping or header. This in effect would even

out the pulsation's of the water stream into a smooth action. This was important so that the firemen could

maintain control of the hose lines. This is a common feature on most steam powered pumps .When a steam

engine is pumping, the violent up and down motion of the pistons is transmitted to the frame and the wheels.

After arrival at a fire scene, the tie down locks or percussion stops were locked into place. These were used to

secure the boiler and pump to the frame instead of free floating during travel on the springs. When locked,

this transmitted the force to the springs. These locks were common to most later steam engines

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE HORSES WOULD BE GOOD FOR ABOUT 1/2 OF A MILE OF RACING PULLING THEIR RIGS. THEN

DUE TO THEIR WEIGHT THEY WOULD HAVE TO SLOW DOWN

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THERE IS STILL SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE "CENTER HORSE" OF A THREE

HORSE TEAM. THE STORIES MOST OF US HEARD THROUGH OUT OUR CAREERS WAS THAT THE

CENTER HORSE WAS THE DUMBEST AS HE DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS. HE JUST WENT THE

WAY THE TWO OUTER HORSES TOOK HIM. THEN I WROTE ABOUT TWO VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE

HISTORIANS STATING OTHERWISE AND CALLED HIM THE SMARTEST. NOW I READ WHERE

ANOTHER HISTORIAN MAINTAINED HE WAS THE DUMBEST. SO I GUESS WE'LL NEVER REALLY KNOW FOR

SURE. THEY'RE BOTH PROBABLY RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HORSES AND DRIVERS AND CREW.

IT IS PROBABLY JUST LIKE ASKING 100 YEARS FROM NOW WHICH UNIT HAD THE BEST FIREMEN , OUR UNIT

OR THE "OFU"

DID YOU EVER WONDER WHO TOOK THE TEST FOR THE "OFU" GUYS TO GET ON THE JOB????????????????

DO YOU REMEMBER

ON A FLAT ROOF THE SIGHT AND SMELL OF BUBBLING TAR

ON A PITCHED ROOF THE SIGHT OF MELTED TAR ON THE SHINGLES EDGES AND HOW THEY SQUISHED

AND SLID AS YOU WALKED ON THEM

THE FEEL OF HEAT FROM THE FIRE BELOW ON YOUR INSULATED BOOTS AS YOU WALKED ON THESE ROOFS.

YOU KNEW IF IT WAS BURNING YOUR FEET THE GUYS INSIDE MUST BE BAKING AND YOU BETTER "OPEN UP THE ROOF" BEFORE THEY BURN UP. YOU JUST HOPED YOU DIDN'T STEP IN A

SOFT SPOT AND FALL THROUGH.

"SOMETIMES YOU DID".

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT YOU SCROUNGED FROM AN OLD ABANDONED REFRIGERATOR THAT YOU FOUND OUTSIDE?????????

MAGNETS, REMEMBER OLDTIMERS UNDER THE RUBBER SEALS OF REFRIGERATOR DOORS THEY HAD

STRIPS OF MAGNETS THAT KEPT THE DOOR SHUT.. YOU SLIT THE SEALS TOOK THE MAGNETS AND USED

THEM TO HOLD NOTES, BULLETINS, DEATH NOTICES ETC. TO THE METAL LOCKERS IN THE OFFICE.

SEE OLDTIMER, NOW YOU REMEMBER

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

FROM A WEB SITE

The Fire Horse's Prayer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To thee, my Firefighter Master, I offer my prayer. Feed me, water and care for me, and, when the fire is put out, provide me with shelter, a clean, dry bed and stall wide enough for me to lie down in comfort.
Always be kind to me. Your voice often means as much to me as the reins. Pet me often, so that I may serve you the more gladly and learn to love you. Do not jerk the reins, and do not whip me when going uphill. Never strike, beat, or kick me when I do not understand what you want, but give me a chance to understand you. Teach me gently not to fear the smoke and flames and clanging of the fire bells. Watch me, and if I fail to do your bidding, see if something is not wrong with my harness or feet.

Do not check me so that I cannot have free use of my head. If you insist that I wear blinders, so that I cannot see behind me as it was intended I should, I pray you be careful that the blinders stand well out of my eyes. Do not overload me, or hitch me where water will drip on me. Keep me well shod. Examine my teeth when I do not eat; I may have an ulcerated tooth, and that, you know, is very painful. Do not tie my head in an unnatural position, or take away my best defense against flies and mosquitoes by cutting off my tail.

I cannot tell you when I am thirsty, so give me clean, cool water often. Save me, by all means in your power from that fatal disease - the glanders. I cannot tell you in words when I am sick, so watch me, that by signs you may know my condition. Give me all possible shelter from the hot sun, and put a blanket on me, not when I am working, but when I am standing in the cold. Never put a frosty bit in my mouth; first warm it by holding it a moment in your hands.

I will pull the steamer or hose wagon without a murmur, and wait patiently for you long hours of the day or night as you save lives. Without the power to choose my shoes or path, I sometimes fall on hard pavement which I have often prayed might not be of wood or brick, but of such a nature as to give me safe and sure footing. Remember that I am ready at any moment to lose my life in your service, for I now am also firefighter.

And finally, OH MY FIREFIGHTER FRIEND, when my useful strength is gone, do not turn me out to starve or freeze, or sell me to some cruel owner, to be slowly tortured and starved to death; but do thou, My Friend, take my life in the kindest way, and your God will reward you here and hereafter. You will not consider me irreverent if I ask this in the name of Him who was also born in a stable.

AMEN--Author Unknown

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW
A common pumper can pump 1,000 gallons per minute (gpm).

The NYC Super Pumper can pump 8,000 gpm.

Your typical fireboat pumps 8,000 gpm, although some can do 22,000 gpm.

DID YOU KNOW
Left unchecked a fire will double in size every 30 seconds

DID YOU KNOW

Most fire apparatus prior to 1928 were made with open cabs, the reason being it

was easier to view the fire scene

and position the apparatus. These cabs were also doorless, to allow firefighters in

the cab to go to work as soon as possible

CAN YOU IMAGINE IN EITHER A SNOW OR RAIN STORM OR 10 DEGREES BELOW ZERO AND

RESPONDING TO A FIRE. YOU WERE BEAT BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT TO THE FIRE.

DID YOU KNOW

SOME OF THE CALLS THEY MADE WITH THE "TRUMPET"

"PULL HEAVY" , "PULL TOGETHER"...................TO FIREMEN PULLING AN ENGINE

"WILL YOU TAKE OUR WATER".............FROM THE FIRST ENGINE THAT WAS DRAFTING AT THE

RIVER TO THE SECOND ENGINE

"MAN YOUR BRAKES"......"START YOUR WATER".............TO THE MEN HAND PUMPING (BRAKES)

THE ENGINE

"MEN UP TO THE ROOF"..................ORDER TO OPEN THE ROOF UP.

DID YOU KNOW

THERE WERE HOOK AND LADDER OPERATIONS BEFORE THERE WERE HOOK AND LADDER TRUCKS

THE COMMUNITIES INSTALLED HOOKS AND LADDERS THROUGH OUT THE AREA IN AND OUTSIDE VARIOUS

BUILDINGS.

THEY WERE CARRIED MANUALLY UPON ALARM OF FIRE

DID YOU KNOW

ANOTHER NAME FOR THE STEAMER WAS "MASHEEN"

DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST HAND TUBS (PUMPERS)

WERE ONLY ABOUT 4 FEET HIGH AND 2 FEET WIDE

DID YOU KNOW

NOT ALL COMMUNITIES BOUGHT A STEAMER WHEN OTHERS WERE REPLACING THEIR HAND PUMPERS.

SOME JUST COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

ALSO SOME DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FIRES TO WARRANT SPENDING THEIR TOWNS MONEY, EVEN IF THEY

COULD AFFORD IT . THEY STILL RELIED ON THE HAND PUMPER WHICH IN MANY CASES SUITED THEM JUST

FINE.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT SINCE THERE WASN'T ANY GOVERNORS ON THE EARLY FIRE ENGINES THE ENGINEER HAD TO

CONSTANTLY MANUALLY ADJUST THE PRESSURE AS THE LINES WERE OPENED AND CLOSED

DID YOU KNOW

WHAT THE

"F"

IN THE MIDDLE OF

OUR SIRENS

STOOD FOR ??

"FEDERAL"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES A PERSONS PRIVATE HORSE COULD BE COMMANDEERED INTO PULLING A

FIRE RIG IF THEIR REGULAR HORSE WASN'T AVAILABLE FOR SOME REASON.

IT WAS BETTER THEN LETTING THE TOWN BURN TO THE GROUND.

DID YOU KNOW

FROM THE MANY PICTURES I HAVE VIEWED IT APPEARS THAT

THE DRIVER OF THE HORSE DRAWN RIG IS THE PERSON THAT CONTROLS THE ROPE PULLEY

SYSTEM IN LOWERING THE HARNESS ONTO THE HORSES..

THE ENGINEER LIT THE BOILER.

THE REST OF THE CREW HITCHED UP THE HARNESSES TO THE HORSES.

THAT WHILE THE USUAL HORSE COLLAR SLIPPED OVER THEIR HEAD THE ONES THAT WERE USED FOR A

FIRE HORSE WAS OF A SPLIT DESIGN THAT SNAPPED OVER HIS HEAD MAKING FOR A FASTER HITCH. ALSO

WHILE THE STANDARD HITCHES HAD BUCKLES THE FIRE HITCHES HAD SNAPS, AGAIN FOR THE SPEED OF

HITCHING AND GETTING OUT.

DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE STEAMERS USED COAL BUT IF THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE THEY USED WOOD.

THE PROBLEM WITH USING WOOD WAS IT THREW MORE SPARKS IN THE AIR THEN WITH USING

WOOD. THESE SPARKS AT TIMES STARTED FIRES IN ROOFS AND AWNINGS. IN THAT CASE THEY HAD TO ALSO

PUT THESE OUT.

SOME OLD STEAMER HAD TO PUT SCREENS ON TOP TO TRY TO PREVENT THESE SPARK PROBLEMS.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT AHRENS FOX GOT ITS NAME FROM CHRIS AHRENS AND

HIS SON-IN-LAW CHARLES FOX IN FORMING THEIR COMPANY.

DID YOU KNOW

SOME REASONS THAT A MOTORIZED RIG WAS WANTED OVER A HORSE DRAWN ONE.

A MOTORIZED RIG ONLY CONSUMED FUEL ON A RUN

A HORSE HAD TO BE FED EVERY DAY

THE COST OF FOOD ANNUALLY ALONG WITH THE OTHER EXPENSES WERE MORE THEN WHAT A

MOTORIZED RIG NEEDED.

A MOTORIZED RIG DIDN'T NEED ANY REAL MAINTENANCE OTHER THE THEIR DAILY CHECKS IF THEY

DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIRES

A HORSE HAD TO BE EXERCISED EVEN IF THERE WEREN'T ANY RUNS. THIS TOOK MANPOWER AND AN.

EXERCISE BUGGY

A MOTORIZED RIG IF BROKEN DOWN COULD USUALLY BE FIXED IN A SET AMOUNT OF TIME

IF A HORSE GOT SICK OR CAUGHT A DISEASE HE WAS OUT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

THE DISEASE "EPITZOOTICS" WIPED OUT HUNDREDS

OF HORSES IN THE EAST COAST IN THE YEAR 1872

DID YOU KNOW

THAT THE WORD "RUN" INDICATING OUR RESPONSE TO A FIRE APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FACT OF EARLIER FIREMEN RUNNING TO FIRES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW

THAT DURING THE ERA WHEN THEY HAD BOTH THE HAND PUMPERS AND THE STEAMERS,

THEY WOULD HAVE CONTESTS BETWEEN THE TWO.

THE HAND PUMPER WOULD USUALLY WIN "1ST WATER"

THE STEAMER WOULD WIN WHO COULD PUMP THE LONGEST

DID YOU KNOW

THAT IN DETROIT IN THE 1850s THE FIREMENS SHIRT WAS "RED".

DID YOU KNOW

MOST DETROIT RIGS DIDN'T HAVE SIRENS UNTIL THE 1950s

THEY HAD AN EXHAUST WHISTLE AND BELLS .

DID YOU KNOW

THAT EVEN THOUGH PNEUMATIC TIRES WERE BEING USED BY OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS SOME

DEPARTMENTS STILL WANTED TO USE THE HARD RUBBER TIRES. THEY KNEW THE

PNEUMATIC ONES WOULD GIVE THEM A BETTER RIDE, BUT THEY WERE BEING CAUTIOUS OF THE

PROBLEM OF FLAT TIRES AND NOT BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TO A RUN.

DID YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THE REASON THAT THERE WASN'T ANY SHUTOFF ON THE OLD SODA / ACID EXTINGUISHER,

UNLIKE THE AIR PRESSURED ONE WE HAD LATER ON , WAS ONCE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN THE ACID MIXED

WITH THE WATER SODA MIXTURE CREATING THE PRESSURE. THERE SEEMED TO BE THE DANGER OF

THE PRESSURE BUILDING UP TOO MUCH IF CONTAINED. THEREFORE ONCE YOU "DUMPED THE CAN"

ALL WATER AND PRESSURE HAD TO BE RELEASED.

DO YOU REMEMBER

ON THE LEFT RUNNING BOARD OF THOSE OLD SEAGRAVES ENGINES THERE WAS

A ROUND SILVER CYLINDRICAL TUBE ABOUT 8 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND

10 TO 12 INCHES HIGH

WHAT WAS IN THERE

ANSWER BELOW

ACETYLENE BOTTLE WITH TORCH

WHAT WAS IT USED FOR

ANSWER BELOW

TO MELT FROZEN BUTTS AND/ OR IF YOU WERE FROZEN TO A

HYDRANT.

NOTE, I NEVER USED OR SAW IT USED AS WE UNFROZE THE BUTTS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND AS A YOUNG

"WHIPPER SNAPPER" I WAS LOADING LINE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENGINEER EVER USED IT.

NEXT TO THE ACETYLENE BOTTLE WAS A SMALL STEEL OPEN END BOX

WHAT WAS KEPT IN THERE

ANSWER BELOW

THE OLD SMALL HYDRANT GATE AND WRENCH.

DID YOU KNOW

THAT ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS FROM SOME

BELL MANUFACTURER THE BELL WAS TO ROTATED

PERIODICALLY TO PROVIDE A MORE EVEN WEAR

FROM THE CONSTANT CLANGING OF THE CLAPPER.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DID YOU KNOW
THAT ON THE OLD AHREN FOX RIGS BESIDES THAT BIG SILVER BALL BEING USED AS AN

AIR PRESSURE CHAMBER
THERE WAS ALSO ANOTHER AIR PRESSURE CHAMBER. IT WAS A SILVER CYLINDER IN

THE FRONT .

THE SILVER CYLINDER REDUCED WATER HAMMER AND EVENED OUT THE

IN FLOWING WATER TO THE PUMP

THE BIG SILVER BALL BALL EVENED OUT THE OUT FLOWING WATER

DID YOU EVER WONDER

WHY DID THE EARLY RIGS HAVE RIGHT HAND DRIVES???????????????

AND THEN WHY DID THEY CHANGE TO LEFT HAND DRIVES???????????????

RIGHT HAND DRIVES CAME FROM THE STAGE COACH ERA.

THE ROADS ( IF THERE WERE ROADS) WERE ALL DIRT AND MUD.

WITH THE DRIVER OF THE STAGE COACH BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE HE COULD BETTER JUDGE

THE DISTANCE TO THE WOODEN WALKS IN LETTING OFF HIS PASSENGERS.

THERE WERE IN MANY CASES ALSO A UPPER SHELTER / AWNING OVER THE WALKS TO

PROTECT THEM FROM THE RAIN.

WITH THE PASSING OF TIME AND MORE TRAFFIC IT BECAME MORE IMPORTANT TO BETTER

JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC .

THEREFORE THE SWITCH TO THE LEFT HAND DRIVE.

DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU

THAT ONE REASON, BESIDES TRADITION, WE PACKED OUR OLD 2 1/2 " LINE ON EDGE RATHER THEN

THE FLAT LAY WAS THAT ON EDGE THERE WAS MORE AIR SPACE TO ALLOW FOR

BETTER AIR CIRCULATION. THEN THERE WAS LESS CHANCE OF A MILDEW PROBLEM. WITH THE

NEWER LINE ,WHERE MILDEW WASN'T SUCH A PROBLEM, YOU COULD FLAT LAY IT . IT WOULD PACK RIGHT

DOWN WITH MINIMUM CIRCULATION. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN ABOUT THIS BUT WAS

JUST WONDERING

DID YOU KNOW

ANOTHER NAME FOR A TWO WHEELED HOSE CARRIAGE WAS

JUMPER

ANOTHER NAME FOR A FOUR WHEELED HOSE CARRIAGE WAS

SPIDER

DID YOU KNOW

THAT DETROIT'S HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM COULD PUMP 2500 GALLONS PER MINUTE AT 300 LBS.

IT WENT OUT OF SERVICE, AS A PUMPING ENGINE WAS CHEAPER TO OPERATE THEN A

HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM

DID YOU KNOW

THERE WERE JUST 4 SQUADS TILL 1946

SQUAD 5 CAME IN SERVICE IN 1947

SQUAD 6 CAME IN SERVICE IN 1951

SQUAD 7 CAME IN SERVICE IN 1951

THE WORDS "RESCUE SQUAD" WAS USED UNTIL THE EARLY 1950S

THEN THE WORD "RESCUE" WAS DROPPED AND IT BECAME "SQUAD"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE