It has been approximately nine months since we last reported that our 1939 Chevrolet pumper was located in a salvage yard outside of Blue Ball, Pennsylvania. Since the last report, the fire company decided to purchase this pumper back and hopes to restore it to original condition in the coming years.
The pumper was picked up at the salvage yard with a flatbed tow truck from Miller's Towing in Downingtown. The pumper was taken directly to Miller's Automotive where mechanical work was performed to the braking system and motor to ensure it is in proper working condition. After the work was completed the 1939 Chevrolet was returned to Thorndale in November of 2009.
Fire Chief Donald Taylor requested for the company to appoint a committee that would plan and oversee the restoration process of the 1939 Chevrolet. The committee consists of Engineer Rich Rissel (Chairman), Firefighter Miles Arnold III, President/Firefighter John Cordisco, Captain Dan Donnachie, Firefighter Justin Fillhart, and Chief Engineer Lance Groff. The committee has had its initial meeting and has began the brainstorming process for the restoration.
In addition to restoring the 1939 Chevrolet pumper, the committee is also looking to track down as much history as it can on the pumper to assist in the restoration. Chairman Rissel and Captain Donnachie recently met with Sam Moore, who joined the fire company in 1942. Sam served as a Firefighter, Township Commissioner, and Township Manager as a longtime Caln resident. Most of the history of this apparatus up to this point was kept by local fire apparatus historian Bruce Anderson. From what Bruce knew, the 1939 Chevrolet chassis was purchased from F. Hoffman in Coatesville for $669.00 and the body was built by U.S. Fire Apparatus out of Wilmington, Delaware. Sam confirmed that the chassis was purchased from F. Hoffman, but said that the body actually came off a 1931 International pumper that the fire company purchased used from a fire company in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. After the body was removed and placed on the 1939 Chevrolet, firefighters then made custom modifications such as manufacturing running boards, rear fenders, and a tailboard at a local radiator shop owned by member Walter Lawn. This history of the 1931 International is unknown at this time, but Sam reported that sometime during the life of the 1939 Chevrolet he re-upholstered the seat and under it he found owner's manuals for a 1931 International. Captain Donnachie attempted to located the history of fire apparatus in the Langhorne area through fire apparatus historian Bruce Anderson, but Bruce's files did not indicate any history of 1931 International fire apparatus in the Langhorne area.
On Saturday February 13, 2010, Engineer Rich Rissel and Captain Donnachie met at the station to photograph the 1939 Chevrolet pumper prior to performing any work. The committee has decided to begin removing items off the pumper that were added in the later years, which will not be included in the restoration process. The committee wanted to document the condition of the pumper prior to removing any items, so a large library of photos were collected to serve as record of the work.
The future plans for the 1939 Chevrolet are still in the works, but the members of the company are relieved that we were able to get our first piece of fire apparatus back after all these years. Stay tuned for further information on the restoration of our 1939 Chevrolet fire engine.
Special thanks to Miller's Automotive for the transport and repair as well as to Kirk Smith of Wiggins Auto Tags for all the hard work.
Thank you to Fire Apparatus Historian Bruce Anderson for the research efforts put forth.
