Links to the Apparatus Manufacturer Logos and the Delivery Lists have been added back to the forums.
Quote from: Box2565 on November 17, 2006, 10:48:45 AMThe current craze for black-over-red comes out of the use of that color combination in Chicago. Chicago F.D. began using black, cloth tops on their chief's cars in the 1930's. When they began ordering closed cab apparatus a decision was made to paint the top of the cab black to match the automobiles. That color scheme was also widely used in the suburban areas in Illinois and Indiana. Living where you do I'm sure you see plenty of these rigs! :grin: In the 1960's and 70's you could find a few black-over-red paint jobs in other parts of the country, but it was rare. For example Madison Township, Ohio (Montgomery County, near Dayton) purchased a 1966 Pirsch pumper painted black-over-red. MTFD wasn't trying to copy Chicago, it just so happened that the pumper was a demo that had been displayed at the IAFC conference that was held in Chicago that year. Pirsch decided to paint the rig in Chicago colors for the convention.So, as far as I'm concerned, paint 'em red!SteveBlack over red seems to be gaining popularity in the "far east". Ridgeley, WV, New Creek, WV, and Smithers, WV all use black over red rigs. So do certain elements of Wincester, VA; which New Creek's color scheme copies them, as NC's asst chief is a Wincester firefighter. Raphine, VA uses it as well. Personally I think it just looks better than all red. Photo by me is by me of Smithers' Engine 67 in a parade in Oak Hill, WV. It appears as if they're not running their lights, but their strobes and I did it with an iphone, which you often can only see a think, transleuscant band of light representing the strobe.
The current craze for black-over-red comes out of the use of that color combination in Chicago. Chicago F.D. began using black, cloth tops on their chief's cars in the 1930's. When they began ordering closed cab apparatus a decision was made to paint the top of the cab black to match the automobiles. That color scheme was also widely used in the suburban areas in Illinois and Indiana. Living where you do I'm sure you see plenty of these rigs! :grin: In the 1960's and 70's you could find a few black-over-red paint jobs in other parts of the country, but it was rare. For example Madison Township, Ohio (Montgomery County, near Dayton) purchased a 1966 Pirsch pumper painted black-over-red. MTFD wasn't trying to copy Chicago, it just so happened that the pumper was a demo that had been displayed at the IAFC conference that was held in Chicago that year. Pirsch decided to paint the rig in Chicago colors for the convention.So, as far as I'm concerned, paint 'em red!Steve
Brian Smithers engine 67 is a mean black over red truck it has a 1000 gallon tank a 1250 gpm pump four crosslays 3 1 1/2 crosslays and one 2 1/2 crosslay i as 2000 ft of 5 inch supply line this truck is a beast and it doesn't matter what color the truck is as long as it does the job we two other trucks that have white over red.
While this question maybe obvious to many but anyway How did red become the primarly traditional color of fire engines? Fire itself is more than less an orange color so I doubt it has anything to do with that. My only other guess is red might catch someones eye when they are rushing to a fire.
Quote from: mikewisner on October 16, 2006, 07:29:19 PMWhile this question maybe obvious to many but anyway How did red become the primarly traditional color of fire engines? Fire itself is more than less an orange color so I doubt it has anything to do with that. My only other guess is red might catch someones eye when they are rushing to a fire.As most of you know, fire companies were very competitive in the 1700 and 1800's (and most still are). To show off and try to gain status as a good company, they would lavishly decorate their apparatus. Up until the mid-late 1800's, red paint wasn't widely available and wasn't that dependable. When they found a way to make a good red paint, it was expensive because of the manufacturing process. Departments started painting their apparatus red because it was the most expensive color paint (and generally still is...ask any paint expert). This eventually just became the norm for depts to paint their rigs red. The competitiveness at the time is also why we still have gold-leaf on our trucks today. Just another way to lavishly decorate your apparatus to make it a status symbol. Hopefully this answers your question.
