Hose Wagons

[fireguybayless]

While cleaning out an old desk before moving into our new station, I found what I thought to be an old piece of cardboard stuck to the back of another picture from the late 50's. Upon removing it, found this undated picture of Hillsboro Ohio's Horse drawn Hose Cart. Fantastic find.... No other pictures of this unit is said to exist.

[Box 2565]

York, Nebraska
Nice looking chemical & hose with a few firefighters and the mascot on board.

[Box 2565]

Scenes of the horses being hitched are pretty rare.  I really like seeing the drop harnesses in place. This interior photo is at the quarters of Seattle Engine 6 on August 7, 1916.
Photo via Start Water.

[MFDPhoto1]

Childress, Texas

Apparently this was shot after a total loss fire...somewhere, sometime in Childress?

No date on this one, but obviously late 1800's

photo courtesy of: The University of North Texas / Texas History

[MFDPhoto1]

Washington, D.C.
1915 "staged after a fierce storm"

One of the best photos of a Chemical / Hose showing the actual "hose-load" that I have seen

Harris & Ewing photo

[magicitybill]

Is that a split load? Clearly a coupling coming from the bottom of the load is connected to a line leading back up to the top?
Could they break that & lay two lines?

[MFDPhoto1]

magicitybill:

Is that a split load? Clearly a coupling coming from the bottom of the load is connected to a line leading back up to the top?
Could they break that & lay two lines?

I attempted to re-focus the picture...is this any better ?

Your guess is as good as anyone's, and I doubt if there are many left from WDCFD (of 1915) that could answer your question, but it sounds logical in my humble opinion.

[magicitybill]

You are right! It is a great photo. I noticed that it is a three hourse hitch. Hose wagons are usually two & sometimes one. That is a two tank wagon and might be a little heavyer. If that hose load extends all the way up to the chemical tanks that is quite a load of hose. Could be the territory too.

That looks like an ambulance on the other side?

[FAO25]

You are right! It is a great photo. I noticed that it is a three hourse hitch. Hose wagons are usually two & sometimes one. That is a two tank wagon and might be a little heavyer. If that hose load extends all the way up to the chemical tanks that is quite a load of hose. Could be the territory too.

That looks like an ambulance on the other side?

Steam fire engines were frequently described by size, such as First, Second, Third etc. There were even Extra First Size Steam Fire Engines. I have a repro of a fire apparatus builder catalog from the late 1800's. It shows the hose wagons also designated by size like the steamers. First, Second and so on. It was based on hose bed capacity. It's possible that the First Size could have a 3 Horse Hitch I suppose. Especially for weather or hilly terrain. That being said the two chemical tanks would seem to put this apparatus in the Combination Wagon category. And as noted that could require the three horse hitch.

[MFDPhoto1]

magicitybill:

You are right! It is a great photo. I noticed that it is a three hourse hitch. Hose wagons are usually two & sometimes one. That is a two tank wagon and might be a little heavyer. If that hose load extends all the way up to the chemical tanks that is quite a load of hose. Could be the territory too.

That looks like an ambulance on the other side?

Look at Massillon's 1901 C.T. Holloway...it also had a (apparently rare) "3-horse hitch."  Yes, that is an ambulance on the right of the WDCFD H/W.

[Box 2565]

This chemical and hose wagon is the apparatus for Hose 12 in Dayton, Ohio.  I don’t believe the fire apparatus is the star of this picture.  Check out the features surrounding the wagon.  Windsor style “firehouse” chairs, just a little piece of the rail around the watch desk, a spittoon on the floor, wainscoting on the walls, decorative borders on the wall, and my favorite – the drop harnesses in place.  A glimpse of the modern fire station ala 1905!

[Box 2565]

The first photo shows the wagon assigned to Hose 1 in Beverly, Massachusetts while the second picture is Hose 2 at some unknown location.

[Box 2565]

Liberty Fire Co. #5 - Reading, Pennsylvania
Image from eBay

[MFDPhoto1]

Atlanta, GA
circa 1900 - Hose No. 1 in front of Central
Image courtesy Atlanta History Central

[MFDPhoto1]

Tampa, FL...at Station No. 1