Finnish vintage rigs on american / canadian chassis

[jk]

Here is some vintage rigs from my country. It was very common in Finland to build fire trucks on american or  canadian chassis from 1920´s to 1970's .  That was the time of gasolin powered fire engines. From mid 70´s all of our fire trucks has been with diesel engine on european chassis.


- Reo Comet F-20-3-C pumper 1956
- Ford F-250/4x4, mini pumper, 1961 (in service until 2003!)
- Fargo 4x4, pumper, early 60´s

[jk]

- Ford, pumper, late 1950´s  Pauli Söderholm photo
- Dodge Power Wagon 4x4 pumper , 1966
- Plymouth Valiant  chief's car, 1969
- Ford F-700, pumper, 1963

[wfdstation42]

Very cool rigs. Is there a reason the wheels are painted black/white/black/white?

[SixbyFire]

Wow, neat stuff!

Jeff

[jk]

Very cool rigs. Is there a reason the wheels are painted black/white/black/white?

The idea was to increase visibility with the optic effect of rolling wheels. It doesn't really work.  Anyway this painting style was quite long time in fashion. Especially when some little Fire Departments repainted their older rigs, they often paint the wheels with this "progressive & modern" pattern...

[jk]

- Ford F-600, pumper-tanker, 1958
- Dodge Power Wagon 4x4, pumper, 1967, ( pump: circa 380 gal./min. water tank 132 gal.)

[jk]

- Fargo FH4-60, pumper, 1939
This apparatus have a special history. It belongs to the vol. fd. in Helsinki. 1939 Soviet Union attacked Finland. The first fire call for the rig was the blaze after air raid.  When the war was continuing the army took the rig. It was serving in the east front. War took  years and after it, the rig was given back to the vfd.  It was full of bullet holes and some bigger grenade scratches, but the chassis and engine was ok. The poor vfd. had to make a new coach for it.

It's still running as museum vehicle without big restaurations.

[jk]

Chevy, pumper, 1938
Dodge 4x4 ( ex US army??), light pumper, (1939)  
Photos:jk

[FAO25]

Incredible! Thanx for sharing.

[jk]

Ford V40, Foam unit with foam mast. City of Helsinki FD. (year put into service 1941)

First this was a hose wagon, then converted  as a foam tender in the department workshop ( 1959).

Willys 4x4, light pumper (1950´s)

photos: jk

[boardmansteve]

- Ford, pumper, late 1950´s
- Dodge Power Wagon 4x4 pumper , 1966
- Plymouth Valiant  chief's car, 1969
- Ford F-700, pumper, 1963

(top) 1957 Ford
(bottom) 1965 Ford

Neat stuff...thanks for sharing!

[boardmansteve]

- Ford F-600, pumper-tanker, 1958
- Dodge Power Wagon 4x4, pumper, 1967

The Ford is a '57...

[jk]

- Ford F-600, pumper-tanker, 1958
- Dodge Power Wagon 4x4, pumper, 1967

The Ford is a '57...

Yes, the model could be 57 . The information what I have could also mean the year when it was purchased. Also the Dodge could be earlier model than 1967...

[jk]

2 Chevrolet pumpers from late 1940's

[jk]

Ford F3135, ladder (Metz) 100 ft.  1958