Mt. Pleasant Daily Tribune, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
Sunday, March 15, 1998
Where there's smoke, newly restored 1936 fire truck can still make scene
However main job will be exhibition
By ANN RUNDLE Tribune City Editor
On Aug. 17, 1936, the city of Mount Pleasant took possession of a brand new fire truck.
Today, more than 60 years later, the city still has the fire truck.
And thanks to some restoration work by public works welder Ronald Duncan and Jim Carroll, the superintendent of public works, the truck looks pretty much like it did six decades ago.
"By and large, it's pretty well original," from the silver bell that is attached to the right side of the truck right down to the tires themselves, Carroll said, explaining that the original tires were bought from a company in Dallas.
The "old, original, exempt four-digit license plate," also has been found, Carroll said, adding that the horn, too, is original.
As are the lights, Duncan said.
An old siren has been found, too, Carroll said.
"We found an old, old siren laying back here that we just cleaned up and put on it," Carroll said. "It's one of those old-timey kind.
"You can hear it coming down the street about four miles away," he added.
What couldn't be salvaged from the 1936 truck was rebuilt, Carroll said, explaining that Duncan built the windshield frame, as well as the brackets for the bell.
Half of the dashboard also was rebuilt, Duncan said.
"Everything that Ron rebuilt was just rotted completely out," Carroll said. And that includes the reel that held the hose.
"The hose reel was in such bad shape, we threw it away," Duncan said, explaining, "after we got it finished, it didn't look like a fire truck without the reel."
So, he found some books with pictures of old fire trucks to get an idea of how the hose reel should look.
"I knew we needed an old type reel," Duncan said. "But I wasn't sure if it should look like the spokes of a wheel or be a solid plate."
Carroll, meanwhile, rebuilt the wooden back part of the truck.
"The entire back portion is brand new. Everything from the seats back is new," Carroll said.
Duncan explained "you see, the way they used to build them was with a wooden structure covered with metal.
"Well, the wood rotted out, and Jim rebuilt that, and we came back with the outside metal parts," Duncan said, explaining, "It was in pretty bad shape.
"A lot of the body work was rusted through," he added, "and there were some pretty good sized dents."
It is believed that the truck was last used on a fire in the late 1950s, Carroll said.
"The last fire we think it fought was at a car dealership right across the street from the fire department," Carroll said.
Since that time, the truck has apparently been sitting at the fire station.
Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Larry McRae explained that when he first started with the department, the 1936 model was "cranked up every day to make sure it would run.
"And we would put it outside every day with the other trucks," he said.
"But then for lack of space, we had to move it outside, and it got run down and almost down to nothing," McRae said. "And now they've taken it on and brought it back to life."
Carroll explained, "We took it all the way down to the frame, took everything off, sandblasted it, had it painted and brought it back up."
And, now, Duncan said, it is "pretty much the original 1936 model.
"Ninety-nine percent was originally on it," he said, "or at least 90 percent is."
The fenders are new, having been obtained from McKelvey, Carroll said. The seats came from Braddocks, while the running boards will come from Stovall's, Duncan said.
The voltage also is not the same, Carroll said, explaining that the ignition was modernized.
"We converted over to modern ignition with 12 volts instead of 6 volts so we can find parts for it," Carroll said. "All of the headlights are 12 volts like a modern automobile.
The 1936 model also did not have chrome wheels or diamond plate metal, like that appear on the back of the truck, Carroll said.
"They didn't have that back then. It was wood covered in a real thin metal," Carroll said. "That's the way it was originally. And that was all rotted out and gone."
A few of the accessories also may be out of place from the original model, Duncan said, explaining that "our first mistake" was that a picture of the truck was not taken before the restoration began.
"We weren't sure where everything went as we started putting it back together," Duncan said. "A lot of it was put together by saying it looks nice here, let's put it here."
Finishing touches include running boards, a rail to run along the sides, a red light and the rebuilding of the carburetor, Carroll said, explaining that the truck does run and will pass inspection.
It's going to be used as a parade vehicle, as well as a tool for fire prevention programs, McRae said.
"We're looking forward to using it in our fire prevention programs and educations programs," McRae said, explaining the department is planning on taking it to the schools along with the department's Quint truck.
Ironically, he said, the Quint truck is a 1996 model, while the restored truck is a 1936 model.
"It's something we didn't realize until we started doing the restoration," McRae said, explaining that by having both trucks, "We can say to the kids that in 60 years, we have gone from this to this."
And just what are the differences over the last 60 years?
The 1996 version has power steering, for one thing, McRae said.
It also has air brakes as opposed to mechanical brakes, he said.
"It (the 1936 model) was a pumper, and it could carry two people in the front seat and a hose and that's it," McRae said. "This one (the '96 model) can carry six, and it has a 75-foot ladder, and it can do just a variety of things."
Another difference between the two trucks?
"The price tag," McRae said. "Obviously that's the big difference."
While the Quint is costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars. The truck bought in 1936 cost $3,450, according to minutes from the Aug. 17, 1936 city council meeting when the vehicle was purchased.
According to the minutes, which were signed by Mayor E.M. Lide and Secretary Charley Lilienstern, the council, which was made up of aldermen, J.D. Holland, F.W. Stephenson and Frank Henderson, agreed to pay a downpayment of $1,150 for the truck. The same amount would then be paid the next year, as well as the year after that.
"What makes this so interesting is the fact it is original as far as the city," Carroll noted. "The city is the one owner. It is the only one that ever owned it."
Duncan agreed.
"The good part about it is that the city bought it in 1936, and it's been in the city since 1936," Duncan said. "It wasn't like they found it in a dump somewhere."
Duncan has been restoring the truck on and off for about two and a half years.
"If we got a week sometime, we would work on it, and then we might not touch it for a month," he said, explaining "I'm real pleased with the way it turned out.
"It's turned out extremely well," Duncan added.
