Antique Firetrucks
2005 National Convention and Muster
Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America
Syracuse, NY
August 6, 2005
firetruck

A beautiful morning.
We began in Binghamton at the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally.
An hour and a half later, we arrived at the Long Branch Park in Liverpool (north of Syracuse).
There was a "muster" of antique fire apparatus for the national convention of SPAAMFAA, Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America
Their website is at:  http://www.spaamfaa.com/
We got there just as the parade was arriving at the park.
Driving the firetruck into the park
There were lots of firetrucks and other equipment.   Some are owned by individuals and some are owned by existing fire companies.
Deputy Chief car

The earliest firetrucks are from the 1920s.  All lovingly restored.  Looks like a fun but expensive hobby.

This ladder truck appears to be in original condition.  The wooden ladders are varnished and have paint or decal decoration.
ladder trucks

There were also booths selling items of interest to the conventioneers.

You can spend a lot of money on this hobby!

Fireman hats
This is a hand-pulled chemical pumber from the 1920s.
We got interested in why there would be hand-pulled equipment so recent.
A bit of research, and we learned that "chemical carts were particularly suited to the requirements of smaller communities. Many of these rigs remained in use up until relatively recent times, when it became impossible to any longer obtain the hand-made glass sulphuric acid bottles required to activate the chemical system".
(from http://home.cogeco.ca/~phc/docs/bicklestory.pdf)


The most dramatic sight was the line of pumpers along the water.

line of pumpers
The firetrucks drew water from the lake and pumped it in graceful arcs.
Some were hand-held nozzles, and some were fixed to the truck.
We enjoyed the beautiful day. 
There is lots to do in central New York.

Where will the next adventure take us?

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Here's a link to all the rest of the grandkids' pages.

This has been a spring and summer of getting around.

You can see those pictures:
Antique Firetrucks in Liverpool.
Balloons at the Spiedie Fest.
A trip to Utica to see Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum and Fountain Elms
We rented a canoe at Nathaniel Cole Park.
 A visit to Hanford Mills and the Lumberjack Show
Hancock Shaker Village.
A trip to Pixley Falls and Delta Lake.
We watched them set up the Big Top at the Circus
We went to the Utica Zoo
Then we went to the Syracuse Zoo
Wickwire House in Cortland
A trip to babysit the grandkids
A visit to Boston to see a Red Sox Game
Drive through Edmeston area to see the animals
Ithaca Herbert F. Johnson museum trip
Skaneateles
And there are lots of pictures of our trip out west.

Hot adventures
from other summers:

Chittenango Falls
Fort Stanwix
Carousels
Home

Other interests: 

Retirement
 

Leslie designed a webpage for:
Stride of Central New York

 Flower and Garden 
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dandelion
Pink and Purple 
June 6, 2000
July, 2000 

JackGoToBed

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robin baby
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Tree Disaster
In Autumn    Before/After Exterior		 Family 
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Christmas 98
Liz/George Wedding
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Wendy & Sam

Links to all the Baby pages for Frankie and Peri

Peri
Published 8/06/05
Photos by Leslie or David


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