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ENGINE COMPANY 413
In 1922 we purchased our second engine. It was a Twin six Packard pumping engine assembled by Northern Fire Apparatus Company.
A Reservoir holding 300,000 gallons of water was constructed in 1930. The Fire company needed a way to get the water from the reservoir to a fire. A Hose Tender was constructed to carry the hose needed. The hose wagon cost $30.54 to build. As City water was continued into the Reisterstown area, this hose tender was disbanded and used at the carnival grounds.
In 1937 the fire company purchased its fourth fire engine. This pumper was a Packard built by General Fire Truck Corp. of Detroit at a cost of $7,500. It was powered by a 8 cylinder Packard gas motor. It was equipped with a 600 gallon per minute pump. This pumper was the first to have an enclosed cab. The cab was similar in appearance to a Ford Coupe. This pumper was also delivered with double faced white wall tires. This engine replaced the 1922 Packard pumper.
Major steps forward were taken in 1953. The fire company purchased a new pumper built by Mack. This pumper was notable for many firsts. It was the first piece of apparatus painted white and black for the company. It was also the first 1000 gallon per minute pumper in Baltimore County. This pumper was small in today’s standards, but it was extremely large for its time. A large number of people called this pumper the “Great White Elephant.”
In 1970 the fire company bought a Mack CF-600 pumper. This Mack was the first pumper we owned with jump-seats. This pumper has a 1000 gallon per minute pump and a 750 gallon water tank. This engine replaced the 1953 Mack.
In 1979 the fire company decided to purchase two new engines. These two engine were soon nicknamed the twins. The contract was awarded to Grumman Fire Apparatus in Roanoke Va. They would utilize a Ford C-8000 cab. Each engine cost us $72,000 for a total of $144,000 for the two engines.
As the Ford got older it became evident that the steel body was deteriorating. In 1993 we contracted the Swab Wagon Company to completely refurbish engine 413. The engine returned with the new paint scheme identical to newly built rescue squad.
In 1997 the company decided to have a new engine designed and built by Seagrave Fire Appartus in Clintonville WI, at a price of $304,000. This engine would be nicknamed “TOP NOTCH”. This engine alleviated the safety issues of an open cab fire engine.
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