Please help identify this Moscow ID Hose Cart

[Allison]

Hello,

I am looking for help identifying the make/model of this hose cart.  Below is a summary of the cart's history that I've pieced together over the months.  If any one has any information on this cart or the techniques used with it I would be very interested.  Thanks!

This cart belonged to Capitol Hose Company 1 of the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department located in Moscow, ID.  The cart and two others were ordered as a result of a meeting held at 7:30 PM on June 2, 1890.  The cart was placed in service 1891.  The department added two additional Hose Companies in 1905 and 1906 respectively.  After 9 years of competing with the motorized Co.6 and Co.7, Capitol Hose was retired April 15th, 1924.  This hose cart is 6' tall and is on permanent display at the MVFD Station #3 beside a much smaller hand pumper.

Records indicate that the first 3 hose carts were each equipped with "500' rubber hose, fire axe, prybar, two nozzles, a lantern, and two spanners."  Reportedly they were painted green in color with gold leaf.

Period fire reports indicate the hose carts operated directly off the city hydrant system at 80PSI with no mention of the hand pumper prior to a 1965 Apparatus Muster.

[magicitybill]

That is a nice looking cart and you know a good bit about it already.  I do not recognize it right off.  The sides of the reel are a little unusual for a hand drawn cart.  That might be a clue to the manufacturer.  Some manufacturers placed a small plack on the tool box with their information on it.  Some times the manufacturer would have its name or initals on some of the castings.  Take a look for these things.  Frequently the information about the purchase mentions who the equipment is to be purchased from and how much.  You seem to have that type of information.  There might be something in local papers about its delivery?

As you know these carts were pulled by hand and have a reel in the front for rope.  This is "drag line" and could be let out for additional men to help pull the cart with.  These carts also relied on a hydrant system to provide a water supply if they did not run with a pumper of some sort.  The hose could be loaded foward ( to lay to the fire from the hydrant) or reverse (to lay from the fire back to the hydrant.)  Either way they could make another trip and have two lines layed if they had enough hose.  That is why there are two or three nozzles.  The large wheels allowed them to travel over rough terrain better.  These carts were sometimes called "jumpers" because they allowed firemen to get a "jump" on the fire, by not having to form a bucket line!

Bill

Please post a photo from the front if you can. 

[Allison]

The reel stumps me.  I have never found a picture of a cart with sheet sides on the reel like ours.

I have several detail photos of the cart I can post, unfortunately I missed a overall front shot.  As the department's resident blacksmith several of the guys approached me last year about building a repro for parades and special events.  I discovered most of the cart is wrought iron and could be made by a blacksmith.  The axe and prybar mounts, and possibly the yoke handles are cast.  The wheels and the slats on the reel are wooden.

Ever since 1892 our fire companies have been limited to a max of 20 firefighters each.  Our archive has several parade photos from July 4th, 1911 that shows the companies pulling the carts by the lanyard with a file on the left and right side.

The plaque on the engineer's box is recent, and I have not been able to find a maker's mark on the metal work.

[Allison]

The top of the cart has a title plate and a bells.  I am not sure if it came from the factory like that or if the blacksmith with Neptune Hose #2 forged it.

[magicitybill]

Thanks for posting additional photos.  Yes the frame is rought.  Usually that indicates an older cart which is what you said.  Look how the toung attaches to the side pieces.  I was curious to see the tounge.  The hand holds etc. but I do not recognize them either.  I have seen horse drawn carts with sheet metal sides like this.  I love the bells!

[Box 2565]

I posted a message in the SPAAMFAA Yahoo Group regarding the reel.  Here is the reply that I received.

"Other than most of the colors being different, the hand painting decorations on the hose cart look remarkably like the hand painting that was done on a chemical cart that I used to own.  That cart was made by the W.S. Nott Co. of Minneapolis, MN.
 
The wheels on my cart had the same black banding around the spokes and the same style of vertical striping on the frame rails. 
I may still have some information on the carts that W.S. Nott built and I will try to find it.  The Minnesota Historical Society has more information on W.S. Nott.
 
Bob Dunn"

[Allison]

I appreciate everyone taking the time to look into this for me.

W.S. Nott is a lead I was not aware of and worth checking into.  I seem to recall reading the carts were delivered by rail, but that doesn't really rule anything out.

One thing that stood out to me is the wheel hubs.  The outer band on the hub (around the axle nut) is textured with several connected rows of pyramid shaped studs.  It looks cast to me instead of forge welded like tire irons and hub reinforcements usually are.  Due to the paint I am not sure if it is iron or bronze.  I'll have to take a magnet to it at some point and see if it reacts.

[magicitybill]

Just from the photos I fell certain that that cart has been repainted at some point.  The finish and lettering just do not match same period as the cart.