Guys thanks so much!! As this journey nears the end I want to thank each and everyone who has taken an interest in the restoration and story of my grandfather's fire truck. I will miss all your very nice and heartfelt comments and your great advice. I hope to meet some of you guys in person one day, hopefully for a ride in the truck. Its not over yet. I still have some more work to do and of course I will keep everyone informed. Thanks

 

You're not going to continue to give us daily updates? Maybe you could set up a live webcam so we can just look at the truck whenever we want!

 

Ok I have some cool pics to share. We got the striping done today and it came out really nice. Here are the pics.

 

Keith,

Its amazing how much of a difference a few stripes makes. That really brings it all together

Bobby

 

Beautiful Keith, but not quite finished. Is your striper guy going to put a black outline along the edges (top & bottom) of all the stripes? And the wheels. There needs to be a piece of stripe on each spoke of all wheels, placed out near the outer part of the spokes. There should also be a full black outline on all lettering, and possibly a white top highlite ( opposite the black shadow) on all the letters too. And, where is "No. 5"?

Sorry, but I am still trying to get you some pictures of a few of the engines I did when I was striping apparatus. I had an operating system (Vista) crash and I am having trouble finding many of my pictures. I will send some as soon as I find them.

Anyway, your truck looks fantastic. I would be very proud of all you have done. Wish I could have helped. Nothing better than working on an old piece of fire apparatus. Keep it shiney.

Aloha

 

Thanks Bobby!

Oldebrush- Thanks for your nice comments. The Patrol didn't number their trucks so there won't be a #5. There was also no markings on the wheels. There may be some black borders around the stripes but its hard to tell from my vintage pictures. I may have some black borders added later maybe hand painted.

 

That looks excellent!!!!

 

That looks GREAT!

 

WOW!!! Very nice.

 

Thanks Guys. I was looking at the truck yesterday after the striping was was done thinking to myself, I can't believe I own it. Its really looking so good now. Gerald said, "its been a long time coming"!!

 

LOL
Yup, nows the time to step back and soak it all in. Reflect back on what it looked like when you got it and how far you've come.

Enjoy it, you deserve it. You've done an amazing thing here

Bobby

 

Gorgeous doesn't adequately describe the results. Your truck is excellent!

You have much to be proud of. Congratulations!

 

Thanks so much guys!! We were at the truck today doing a few small things. I found out why the siren rope broke. When I tightened the retaining nut on the threaded brass tube it created a 1" sliver that was sharp as a knife so with each pull it started to saw right through the rope. Also I found out one of my horns is shot. The larger of the 2 doesn't work. The small one works fine. We also got the gas tank sending unit put in. My hood now latches so I can get rid of my bungee cord

I received an email from one of the former owners today (1985-1995). When I first spoke to him he said he used the truck for tailgate parties at Soldier Field. He said you could see the truck in a photo of Soldier Field taken by a professional photographer. I asked him if he could take a photo of the picture and get the info on the original photographer so I could get a copy. He sent that today. Unfortunately it is a copyrighted photo so I can't post it here. He did send this pic from the mid-eighties of the truck at his sons high school football game. I am going to try and get a better copy of it so I can put it in the book.

 

That is definitely the icing on the cake! Sets it off beautifully.

 

The poor old truck had some dark days didn't it. I mean it started out fresh, clean and polished performing its noble service with the Fire Patrol, the put out to pasture to a small town fire department. Not so bad, still a noble profession for the truck, but then came the dark years, being battered around from tailgate parties to a clown car before being stuck off in a corner and relegated to the "running when parked" category.
I, and I'm sure the truck feels the same way, am sure glad you stumbled onto it and rescued it, restoring it to is noble state.

Thanks for sharing the pic
Bobby