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Your truck looks super in the parade. And the bridge picture is pretty cool.

Thanks. I like that picture as I came over the top of the bridge. First time I ever had the truck out there.

Check out this video(sorry about the commercial) of my trucks history: Thalia Truck video on Fire-Rescue TV

That was a really well done video on your truck. I hope you are able to get a copy of the video to keep with the records and documentation for your fire truck. Neat stuff.

I do not have a copy of the video. I've seen it just like you all have.

I just checked out your video...Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see it for real.
Do you have the truck on display at the station?

Yes. I keep it in the fire station. It is on loan to the station as long as they have a volunteer FD OR create a fire history museum when the new fire station is built in the next couple of years.

I hope to use the truck to create a local fire history museum when the city career firefighters close the current one and move out to a new location. A new site location and building plans have been obtained so it gets closer everyday.

The grey "square" flashlight that is mounted on the truck.. Whats the info on the dataplate? Also, can I get a picture of the mount they attach to? I'm looking for 2 of those lights and the 2 mounts, but am only going off pictures. Your truck is the first I've seen them mounted on.

Thanks!

I just looked at the video also. That is way cool!!

Was the chrome grille something you added, or was that done along the way? It sure adds a lot to the truck.

Yes I added the chrome grill after seeing one on a rig in MD.

And 38FF: I'll send you pictures of the box light and mount.

Bill Bailey

38FF: I emailed two photos to your email account. One is the Carpenter Light and the other is the mount.

If you need more, let me know.

Bill

Thank you!!!!!!
I now know who made the lights, which is a huge step in finding 2 of them!

I added a few more photos (from today) as I removed the hard suction couplings from the hose to get them rechromed and finally installed the high pressure booster pump handle to the pump panel. I think that is about the last piece I needed to have made for the truck. I would like to say "thanks" Carl Maurice of Fredricksburg, Va. for all his help with getting the booster handle built for my truck. Without his assistance, I'd never got this part accomplished as I'd still be looking for a part that I had never seen! :-)

Photo link: Photo link to high pressure handle and hard suction hose photos

Latest Update: I added a few more photos (from today) as I removed the hard suction couplings from the hose to get them rechromed and finally installed the high pressure booster pump handle to the pump panel. I think that is about the last piece I needed to have made for the truck.

I would like to say a special "thanks" to Carl Maurice of Fredricksburg, Va. for all his help with getting the booster handle built for my truck. Without his assistance, I'd never got this part accomplished as I'd still be looking for a part that I had never seen! And I still want to thank each of you for your help, posts and parts. I read this web site almost everyday and love to read the comments from each of you. Even if you will never know it, I've likely read and used your posts during my research and restoration of this truck. So once again, thank you to all of you!:-)

Photo link to handle and booster hose photos

Hey VFT,

How do the couplings come off of the hard sleeves? I'd like to redo mine...

Thanks,

Mike B

Super job on creating a handle from scratch. Make sure you keep the number for Carl in your file. That is a service that could come in handy for the amount of custom handles and such on the old fire trucks. Boy the handle looks like it has been there right from the factory. Nicely done!

Mike: The first one I took off was hard but the rest came off easy once I learned how to do it.

First: I cut off the pressed in brass ring inside the coupling that holds the hard hose against the outer coupling. Look inside the hose end and you will find a brass part that is pressed inplace to keep the couplings from coming off. It is flat and you can see where it ends and the hose starts inside each end of the hard suction hose. Once that was cut thru(I used a sharp metal chizel), I used a screw driver to force the brass into a smaller size(I bent it in half) so I could lift it out of the hose. Next, I used a flat chizel to cut thru the hose on one side of the diameter from front to back( Don't go past the end of the couplings). Using that cut, I took a long screw driver to go completely around the interior of the hard hose so as to loosen it from the coupling. Mine were bonded to the couplings interior when they were built back in the 1950's. I don't know it that is standard or not.

Anyway, once I loosened up the hose from the inside of the couplings, I wacked it with a rubber mallot until it started to slide off the hose. Once it started to move, it was easy to remove. I had a hard time with the first one as I didn't want to damage it but it was not hard once the first one came off. So I followed that procedure for the other three couplings and I was done in under an hour.

I hope that is clear...

Thanks. Carl created a plaster cast of his handle which I took to the machine shop to recreate. It was a real nice thing to do and it makes mine all the more "originial."

VFT,

Did you ruin the hose taking them off? Are the brass rings available and does it take special tools to re-install the hose ends? I want everything to still work if I do mine.

Thanks

Mike B

Mike: No I didn't ruin the hoses and I've got the replacement hydralic press in brass fittings. Yes it does take a specialized press to mount them back on the hoses. The inner brass fittings have to be expanded back inplace to secure the couplings to the hose ends. Mine are 4" in size.

Fortunately, I have access to a full-time career fire department hose shop to mount my couplings back on the hard suction hoses. The guys down at the fire maintenance shop told me I could use their equipment to remount the couplings when they get back from the chrome shop.

I do not know if you have access to a like maintenance facility in MD. You might ask your local FD if you can use their tools and presses to break it down and the remount the couplings. I know I am lucky here in Virginia Beach.

BTW: The fire shop guys tell me with the modern hoses, they just cut off the couplings on each end to remove them. I didn't want to cut them off as it would shorten my hoses and they wouldn't fit like original in my truck hose trays.

VFT,

I agree with you, I will leave my couplings scratched and dinged before I shorten the hose.

I'll ask around regarding the hose press tool, thanks! FYI my hose is 4-1/2".

Happy New Year!

Mike B

Good luck. Link to hose expansion rings: Darley hose catalog

Since it is winter and cold outside, I took the hard suction hose mounts off the truck to get them chromed like they came from Oren back in 52. Photo link to four new pictures: Pictures of brackets for hard suction mounts

I got all the hard suction hose mounting brackets and cuplings back from the chrome shop and mounted them back of the truck. They look great!!!! I'm excited to see the change as the chrome brings out the red and black on the hose even more. Link: Flicker views

I have suction hose envy....

That's funny!!!

Here is the finished cupling pictures: Cupling reinstalled It looks better with Flicker as you do not have to see all the ads: Flicker show

It is sunny and about 67 degrees this afternoon so I got to take the firetruck out for a couple hour ride!!! Thanks for all the support.

Bill

Bill(Virginiafiretruck)....the more I see,the more impressed I am.
I was wondering if,with your permission I could copy a picture of your firetruck.

I have a friend who has retired from active service with Strathclyde Fire Brigade on health grounds.
He is an avid collector of all things related to his profession.
I would like to print and frame a picture to present to him to add to his collection.
I thought I should clear it with you first.
Thanks.
Jock (John)
Hope to see you in July.

Yes you and anyone else can use my pictures. My point was to save and share this truck for others to enjoy for years to come. It seems that my goal is being achieved!

I'm glad you like it. Thank you.

Bill

Jock,
That truck has been on several of the Stovebolt calendars. What if you got one of those and framed that picture? Or better yet, give your buddy the whole calendar!!

No Thank you Bill for preserving this fine old firetruck.
I admire your commitment!

Rich...Good Idea,thanks for the input. What the heck, I'll do both!

Two new pictures of the old Sun Tach and sending unit that I had restored a few years ago. I finally hooked up the wires and got it working like new!

Photos: Sun Tach Working and Wires on Coil

I took a few more pictures this afternoon beside the Chesapeake Bay: Newest Thalia Slide show on Flicker

BTW: I drove it 128 miles (round trip) to a parade today!!!!

Added new pictures from Apple Blossom, Pungo (Virginia Beach) Strawberry Festival(29 May 2010) and Portsmouth, Virginia's 126th Memorial Day parade(31 May 2010):


http://www.flickr.com/photos/23954745@N02/show/ Thalia Flicker slide show

Looks like you are giving the truck a good work out already this year with shows and parades.

Are you all set for the Boy Scout parade in July?

Yes except that I blew a tire out on the way to Richmond on 5 June for the Fallen Firefighter's Memorial service so I need to replace that tire. It really was shocking how that thing blew up with the firetruck on the trailer at 60 mph. It competly blew apart except for the bead around the rim. Sideall and all just shattered and the steel belts look like a brillow pad... Didn't hurt the firetruck or trailer but my tranquility was really shaken.

I am considering replacing all the tires on the trailer. However, I am still really looking forward to the trip to Washington DC.

FYI: I have replaced all the tires and rims with 110 psi load range G Goodyear tires so I'll be back on the road for the July Boy Scout parde in Washington D C. Happy 4th of July to All of you.

BTW: My firetruck is unit#83 in the parade on Sunday which starts at 1 PM. It should be a very hot and possibly very wet event!

Added two photos from the Boy Scout's 100th Grand Centennial parade on 25 July 2010. It was a heat index of 116 degrees and a huge thunderstorm blew thru with winds about 60 mph before the parade ended... I wish I have more photos, but it was just too hot and I was busy with the passengers! 1951 Chevy/Oren Thalia Photos

You need a parts truck? I have a complete 1953 that I picked up a few years ago and have never done anything with. It is located in Winchester VA. I can send you pics direct if you have interest.

I wish it looked like yours ;-)