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As the project gets closer to done, I'll post some more pictures. Pictured here is a 200 gallon tank trailer with a booster reel that is towed by the jeep, that gives it a "pump and roll" capability. The trailer is 95% done, all thats left is the rear brake lights and hose connections to hook it to the Jeep.
I installed a non functional 1960's vintage Motorola Motrac radio in the Jeep.
I posted some of the literature from back in the day (1947-1950's) when they sold these jeeps. Some of it is pretty funny.
I guess this was the first "mini attack" of it's kind, decades before they got "popular".

It will be making the parade/muster circut next year. I'm almost ready for paint. Im still looking for some fittings and fire equipment for it, but every week it gets closer and closer to being done.

Unfortunately, it's not going to be done for this years muster season, but that just means it will be ready for next years! I need to contact the Hudson Valley Parade to see if they allow "privately owned" appparatus in the Lake George parade. I dont care about having it judged.

All,
Im now working on filling out the Hose Reel trailer that accompanies the 1954 Willys Fire Jeep. Im looking to make it look how a dept might have a hose reel trailer, with associated equipment and the like, back in the day. It is basically nothing more than a big reel that holds 600-800 feet of 2.5 inch hose and a equipment box.
I think I have most of the 2.5 inch appliances from yester year.. From top left to bottom right, I have the following:
2.5 hydrant gate, stack of 2.5 double males/females, 2.5 to 1.5 leader, 2.5 inch nozzle used with the Elkhart ground monitor (pictured above)
2.5 wye, 2.5 water thief, 2.5 inch clappered siamese.
Also on the trailer is the following: shovel, sledge hammer, 2 axes, 2 4 foot pry bars, a Huxtool, tin roof cutter, hose clamp, hose jacket, Elkhart ground monitor mount "Hose Control", 2 2.5 inch play pipes, 2 spanners and a hydrant wrench. It's still a work in progress, with some appliances not totalled finished with rehab yet, (like the water theif), but we're getting closer.
Is there anything else that you can think of that might be missing?
I have attached some other pictures to give you an idea of the scale of the trailer.

Another small victory today.. The equipment basket above the hose bed is finally mounted, after getting the correct straps made up.
One interesting side note.. I got the straps that support the basket off the cross pieces made on a multi zillion dollar Flow Jet machine.. Why?? Because anyone can make them out of stock and a drill press, so I had to be different, and have a friend who happens to run the Flo Jet and other milling machines for a very well equipped company he works for. Cool stuff...
One step closer to being done and ready for Muster season!

Thanks for the good words.
If you guys want, I'll post up pictures of the 1945 WWII Willys Jeep and Bantam trailer I restored a few years back.
Hose straps are a good idea. I have a bunch..
As for a modeling company, do you mean like Code 3? Thats a great idea..

A picture of the hose bed from a few weeks back, when I was test fitting the wood decking that was made by a friend who loves woodworking.
There is 100 feet worth of 2.5 inch on there. The other side will have a shelf 1/2 way up so 2 handlines of 200 feet are ready to go. Also visible is the over head rack that holds the 12 foot roof ladder, 20 foot extension ladder, 10 foot pike pole, and 2 lengths of 4 inch hard suction.
Whoever thought of the factory hose bed design, well, I dont know what they were thinking.. It came with 100 feet of 2.5 inch, and 700+ feet of 1.5 inch. Your not going to lay in very far with that.. I modified the position of the hose bed divider to get 2 200 foot hand lines, and according to my math, 500-600 feet of 2.5 inch. The reel trailer carries another 800 feet of 2.5 inch.

More work, more pictures.
The 1.5 inch handline set up all bolted together now. I can pack 200-250 feet of 1.5 inch in there, so not bad for 2 handlines on a hose bed that not even 3 feet deep.
The stop light on the back is not original, but I figure it cant hurt as far as being seen.
The Federal WL siren was originally 6 Volts and non working when I got it. It's now 12 Volts and very loud..

The "year and a half later" update... I work on my Jeep in my spare time, which between work, family, Fire Dept, Fire District, working on "quick" restoration of a M274A5 mechanical mule and life in general, there isnt much of.. After determining that the engine and drivetrain were working well and didnt need any internal work done to them, the body came off in early June. The frame was cleaned, degreased, primed, painted, and the brakes upgraded from 9 inch drums and single circut master cylinder to 11 inch drums and dual circut master cylinder. All body panels were sandblasted, cleaned and primed. The pump was removed and cleaned up. Prior to removal, it put out 490 GPM according to the Pitot Tube flow tester. Not bad for a 50+ year old pump rated for 500 GPM. With some luck, the paintshop should get the body stuff done by the end of July, possibly earlier. Once paint is done, reassembly will go pretty quick (week or two), as there is no removing rusted bolts, wire wheeling them, priming them, tagging/bagging and documentation of them and everything else that came off the Jeep. Some pictures of how it currently is.
I have also attached some other pictures of other restorations I have done. a 1945 Willys MB with 1944 Willys MBT trailer, and a 1969 M274A5 Mule. Both of which are in 100% functional "as it was back then" condition and in fine running condition. Both were in my town's Memorial Day Parade this year.

Thank you.. I enjoy bringing old vehicles back to life in their fully glory.. While the Fire Jeep has taken more time that I planned, I think it may be the best when it is all done.

Someone asked what I started with.. Here is a before picture of the 1969 M274A5 Mechanical Mule when I first got it. Alot of replacing of leaking seals, gaskets, some engine and transaxle work, all new fluids, finding or fabricating some missing parts, wire wheeling, sandblasting, primering, and painting went into it. And a ton of hours doing research: Reading the military technical manuals, looking at other mules, and some SWAGing. The 2nd picture is the day before I put the stenciling and reflective decals on it.

Thank you.. I enjoy bringing old vehicles back to life in their fully glory.. While the Fire Jeep has taken more time that I planned, I think it may be the best when it is all done.

Someone asked what I started with.. Here is a before picture of the 1969 M274A5 Mechanical Mule when I first got it. Alot of replacing of leaking seals, gaskets, some engine and transaxle work, all new fluids, finding or fabricating some missing parts, wire wheeling, sandblasting, primering, and painting went into it. And a ton of hours doing research: Reading the military technical manuals, looking at other mules, and some SWAGing. The 2nd picture is the day before I put the stenciling and reflective decals on it.

Someone asked what I started with.. Here is a before picture of the 1969 M274A5 Mechanical Mule when I first got it. Alot of replacing of leaking seals, gaskets, some engine and transaxle work, all new fluids, finding or fabricating some missing parts, wire wheeling, sandblasting, primering, and painting went into it. And a ton of hours doing research: Reading the military technical manuals, looking at other mules, and some SWAGing. The 2nd picture is the day before I put the stenciling and reflective decals on it.

The "year and a half later" update... I work on my Jeep in my spare time, which between work, family, Fire Dept, Fire District, working on "quick" restoration of a M274A5 mechanical mule and life in general, there isnt much of.. After determining that the engine and drivetrain were working well and didnt need any internal work done to them, the body came off in early June. The frame was cleaned, degreased, primed, painted, and the brakes upgraded from 9 inch drums and single circut master cylinder to 11 inch drums and dual circut master cylinder. All body panels were sandblasted, cleaned and primed. The pump was removed and cleaned up. Prior to removal, it put out 490 GPM according to the Pitot Tube flow tester. Not bad for a 50+ year old pump rated for 500 GPM. With some luck, the paintshop should get the body stuff done by the end of July, possibly earlier. Once paint is done, reassembly will go pretty quick (week or two), as there is no removing rusted bolts, wire wheeling them, priming them, tagging/bagging and documentation of them and everything else that came off the Jeep. Some pictures of how it currently is.
I have also attached some other pictures of other restorations I have done. a 1945 Willys MB with 1944 Willys MBT trailer, and a 1969 M274A5 Mule. Both of which are in 100% functional "as it was back then" condition and in fine running condition. Both were in my town's Memorial Day Parade this year.

I will be in the area, I will try and stop by with my son.

The "year and a half later" update... I work on my Jeep in my spare time, which between work, family, Fire Dept, Fire District, working on "quick" restoration of a M274A5 mechanical mule and life in general, there isnt much of.. After determining that the engine and drivetrain were working well and didnt need any internal work done to them, the body came off in early June. The frame was cleaned, degreased, primed, painted, and the brakes upgraded from 9 inch drums and single circut master cylinder to 11 inch drums and dual circut master cylinder. All body panels were sandblasted, cleaned and primed. The pump was removed and cleaned up. Prior to removal, it put out 490 GPM according to the Pitot Tube flow tester. Not bad for a 50+ year old pump rated for 500 GPM. With some luck, the paintshop should get the body stuff done by the end of July, possibly earlier. Once paint is done, reassembly will go pretty quick (week or two), as there is no removing rusted bolts, wire wheeling them, priming them, tagging/bagging and documentation of them and everything else that came off the Jeep. Some pictures of how it currently is.
I have also attached some other pictures of other restorations I have done. a 1945 Willys MB with 1944 Willys MBT trailer, and a 1969 M274A5 Mule. Both of which are in 100% functional "as it was back then" condition and in fine running condition. Both were in my town's Memorial Day Parade this year.

You may be right they are like the Elks Club or any service organization BUT when they send out letters that say "please send you TAX EXEMPT Donation to xyz fire company" the situation changes also on that note if the Fire Department send the letter out and recieves the donation and then distributes it to the Fire Companies that also changes the status.
Everyone here on this thread knows that fire companies need money to do things-- donations to little leagues--sponsors to other organizations--pay for bands at parades--company outings. that is all well and good and keeps members interested in belonging. All concerned must be carefull when dealing with public monies and how they are recieved and spent. But mosy if all we have to be concerned in how the public preseves us. They after all is said and done are the ones we are sworn to protect.

The public doesn't vote because they don't care/don't know. If you gave them a reason they would turn out.

If anyone knows anything, post it up here. The Iona Island FD will fade off to a few pictures and an old fire station if we dont try to collect/preserve the history of it. For such an important facility that produced most of the ammo for the Atlantic US and British naval fleets in WWII, that would be a shame to loose it.

The problem is that to have a countywide fire dept you would need to change the NYS Constitution.. I doubt that will happen any time soon with the way things work in Albany..

We got a happy letter today also

Great way to spend taxpayer dollars.......

Call for a "Tanker" on the East Coast, your going to get a lot of water on wheels. Call for a "Tanker" on the West Coast, your getting a lot water flying thru the air. We cant standardize on much of anything in the fire service...

Call for a "Tanker" on the East Coast, your going to get a lot of water on wheels. Call for a "Tanker" on the West Coast, your getting a lot water flying thru the air. We cant standardize on much of anything in the fire service...