Progress ... hanging sheetmetal!!

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Nov 17, 2012 | 10:10 PM

#796

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

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Thanks Grant!

I'll put you on the list for a copy.

Nov 19, 2012 | 02:26 PM

#797

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

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Gerald and I spent a few hours yesterday morning out at the truck. I had bought more paint to re-shoot the door panel and bows. The door panel came out good but the bows were still not flat enough so Gerald said he has some sort of flattening agent to spray on to dull it up. We also sprayed the new bench seat back that had to be re-done. I had tried to use a piece of plywood laying around the barn but it was too warped and the trim piece that goes on top of it didn’t lay right. Took the seat back to the upholstery shop this morning and they were cutting and forming the seat foam. The seats still might be done by the end of the week.

We got the diamond plate floor secured and were cleaning and painting up parts like the heater box and radio/speaker. The radio in the truck is a dated 1977 Motorola so obviously it’s not the original and I don’t have an original photo of one. Gerald said they really didn’t change that much during that time period. Interesting thing about the radio’s used by the Patrol. They had radio/telephones installed in all their truck in the mid-fifties. When a call would come in it would illuminate a light on the roof. The Patrolmen would see that light flashing and they would know a call was coming in. The Chicago Fire Department didn’t have these in their trucks yet so if they if they pulled up on a big fire and an alarm box wasn’t close, they would go to the Patrol truck and ask them to contact the Fire Alarm office to request more fire trucks. Before the radiophones were installed they would often go all the way to the fire scene only to find out they were not needed. Or they would have to ask businesses to use their phones to call the Patrol headquarters.

The radio has a mic on it so I am going to put a telephone receiver back on. I am currently bidding on a vintage phone receiver with a push-to-talk button on it. We are also going to wire the radio so the two lights come on all the time. The kids will have fun playing with it.

I also stopped at the metal shop on the way home from the upholsterer and they didn’t have time to fab the middle bins yet. They said by the end of next week everything should be done.
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Nov 19, 2012 | 02:53 PM

#798

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

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Likes: 13

Something like one of these!! I am going to email Ron, the driver to see what kind it was.

Nov 19, 2012 | 04:14 PM

#799

bobbytnm

Roast em' if you got 'em

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 21,976

Likes: 9,812

From: Rio Rancho, NM

Keith,
This has got to be my favorite thread on this forum. I always love your updates.

Keep at it
Bobby

Nov 19, 2012 | 04:24 PM

#800

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

Thanks Bobby!!

I always look forward to reading your comments.

Nov 19, 2012 | 10:45 PM

#801

51PanelMan

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 7,669

Likes: 13

From: San Jose, CA

51-52 Ford car radio - 5 ivory push buttons (will fit a 51-52 truck). 51-52 truck radios had six push buttons that were chrome as also had DELUXE written in the dial face (see picture below with the speaker bracket).

Ford truck radio/speaker adapter bracket. Needed to attach the speaker. Very hard to find. I was lucky enough to buy an NOS on eBay several years ago without really knowing what it was.

Nov 21, 2012 | 12:43 PM

#802

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

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Cool radio's Ilya.

The seats are done!!

They did a real nice job. Used the original french stitching and attached them with nails instead of staples. Here are the pics:

Nov 21, 2012 | 12:53 PM

#803

bobbytnm

Roast em' if you got 'em

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 21,976

Likes: 9,812

From: Rio Rancho, NM

Wow, that looks great.

I'm very glad that they stayed period correct and used the older methods to do the job. Its the little details like that that make this truck so special.

Bobby

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Nov 21, 2012 | 01:25 PM

#804

dennisb56

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 1,239

Likes: 53

From: Coatesville, PA

Those seats look great,the truck is looking better each time I check this thread.

Nov 21, 2012 | 01:54 PM

#805

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

Thanks guys!! Getting closer...

Nov 21, 2012 | 02:14 PM

#806

South of BC

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 851

Likes: 1

From: NE Washington

Seats are beautiful. And there appears to be enough room for all of us!

Nov 21, 2012 | 03:44 PM

#807

JimG1098

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 1,847

Likes: 37

From: Eastern shore,Salisbur,MD

Good job Keith. Perhaps we will have a virtual wet-down. Also, please save me a copy of your new book. I wish you the best.

JimG 1098

Nov 21, 2012 | 06:49 PM

#808

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

James - plenty of room on that 6 foot seat!

Jim - Thanks I'll be happy to put you down for a copy.

Nov 21, 2012 | 07:41 PM

#809

Jolly Roger Joe

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 6,599

Likes: 34

From: Rockingham, VA

Are you keeping a list of those interested in the book? How many do you have so far?

I think we need to promote the book somehow to drive the cost per book down for the printer.

What do you think?

Nov 21, 2012 | 08:03 PM

#810

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

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Joe,

I emailed most of the people who bought my Fire Patrol book and I got around 50 confirmed so far. I am not including any FTE members who have requested a copy. I spoke to my friend in the printing business today and he said to call him on Monday. Within 24 hours of my specs, he can give me some prices. Like you said the more copies, the cheaper the price. Too bad I can't use the printers that did my first book. They put out a quality book at a great price. The only problem is that they have a 1000 book minimum, way too many!!

Once a get a price I will ask the followers of this thread and the new thread I will start, who is interested in a copy. I am still thinking around 200. I will probably need some extra's when I start showing the truck.