SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER, SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION AND APPRECIATION OF ANTIQUE MOTOR FIRE APPARATUS IN AMERICA


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Last update: 2010-02-27

-Resources for Club Members

Privately owned fire apparatus operated at Crown Firecoach Enthusiast club sponsored events must abide by National SPAAMFAA rules outlined in the Safety Manual

Click here to view & print out the club safety manual

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Adobe Reader is used to view downloaded PDF files

 

 

CFE APPAREL AND MERCHANDISE ORDERING INFO

Due to the demise of the previous vendor, CFE has found a new, local, vendor for shirts, hats, etc., with the CFE logo on them. Watch this space for new information about how to place orders, coming soon.

 

CROWN FIRECOACH PHOTO BOOK

Long-time CFE member Chuck Madderom is the author of this excellent Iconographix photograhic history of the Crown Firecoach from its beginnings in 1951 until the company ceased building fire rigs in 1983. Photographs show a coss section of the full line of Crown Firecoaches, including pumpers, aerials, Snorkels and more. Click on the photo of the book for purchasing information.

NEW WINDSHIELDS AVAILABLE FOR FIRECOACHES

Coach Glass, an Oregon company which specializes in glass for many types of vehicles, including buses and fire apparatus, now has windshields for Crown Firecoaches, including both narrow body and wide body models. Windshields are $265 for each side, crate $75, freight $90 (shipping prices may vary depending on destination). Compared to the prices that some individuals and salvage companies have been asking for used windshields, this is very reasonable. For more information, visit the Coach Glass website, or call them at 800-714-7171.

 

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CFE Members Elected to National SPAAMFAA

CFE member Bill Dundas is the new Vice President of SPAAMFAA. Election results were announced at the 2010 SPAAMFAA Winter Meeting and Convention held February 17-20, 2010, in Tampa, Florida. The National board of directors also selected CFE member David Kromka as the new Western Region Representative, the position previously held by Bill Dundas. Congratulations to both Bill and David.


Mark Your Calendar for 2010 CFE Events

The Annual CFE Banquet will be held on Saturday March 27.

The next CFE Board and General Meeting will be April 25 in Camarillo, CA

The CFE Spring Pump-In has moved to June and will be held on June 6 in Perris, CA

Click here for complete updated 2010 Calendar of Event


Former Orange County, California Crowns still providing fire protection in three very different locations

1964 Crown pumper, ex-Orange Co., CA. still doing the job with volunteer fire department in Argentina

(The complete version of this article with many more photos appeared in the December, 2009 issue of the CFE Newsletter. You say you don't get that (color version by email; B&W verison by U.S. Mail)? It's one of the benefits of being a club member (click on the "membership" button to the left on this page).

Many old Crowns never die, they just go on to new careers providing fire protection in far away places, across the nation, and in a few cases, across the world. Shown in the photo above is Crown Firecoach S/N F1372, a 1965 pumper that ran as 9222 with the Orange County, CA, F.D. at the Laguna Hills station during the late 60s and 1970s (see photo below).

Through this website, I (the webmaster) received an email from Mauricio Yannucci, a volunteer fireman in the town of Firmat, in the province of Santa Fe, in Argentina (South America). The email was written in Spanish and included several photos of this Crown pumper. Maurico said in his email that their Crown was an excellent machine and still in service at their headquarters station.

I wrote back to Mauricio in Spanish and asked him if he could confirm the serial number and shop number. I told some of the history of the rig and also sent several photos of how the Firecoach had looked when it was with Orange County Fire. I also told him it had been sold at auction in 1992 and asked how long his department had owned it and how they got it.

Mauricio replied back saying he was very surprised to have found someone who knew about their Crown and even more surprised to receive photos of it from its early days. He said the pumper was purchased in 1992 and donated to the department by businessman. He sent along photos of the builders plate confirming the serial number of F1372 and even the gold shop number "5148" still on the windshield.

CFE member Dave Hubert recalls "Crown engine 9222, (5148) was my first duty engine, when I was transferred to Laguna Hills in 1969 as a Fireman. My seat was #2 (right behind the engineer)....Engineer Rick Malsack taught me how to drive & pump on that rig, The silver (painted) rings on the rims, I did."

1966 Crown pumper used to protect ranch during major southern California wildfire in fall of 2009

Above is Crown Firecoach S/N F1450, former Orange County FD shop 5160, a 1966 1250/500 pumper. CFE member Randy Marsile, who is the Fire Management Program manager for Southern California Edison, and formerly an apparatus engineer wih the Orange County Fire Authority, writes: "While I was working on setting up Edison's Fire Camp in Big Tujunga Canyon, to rebuild our electrical system that was devastated in the Station Fire (September 2009), we leased a 10 acre ranch that had a lot of horse corrals, barns, and trailer homes. As I was driving the property I found a Crown parked near one of the homes. It looked familiar, like a old Orange County rig. As I examined the rig a came up with a VIN and called Don Croucher and he confirmed that it was old ORC Engine 21, 221, 223, etc. It is very weathered but the property caretaker stated it saved his house (a double wide mobile home) during the Station Fire. The numbers all over the engine are the old ORCO vehicle (shop) number, "5160."

The photo below was taken by Chuck Madderom at Orange County Fire Station 21 in Tustin, CA, and shows what S/N F1450 looked like in the mid 1970s when it was in service as Engine 9121.

1970 Ford/Crown, ex-Orange Co., CA. serving Utah volunteer fire department

Pictured is Crown Firecoach S/N F1658 which currently serves the Virgin Volunteer Fire Department in Utah. This 1970 Ford 900 series tilt-cab-over-engine pumper has a 750 GPM Waterous pump and 500 gallon tank. It was one of three identical units originally purchased by Orange County, California. This unit was first assigned to the Trabuco Canyon volunteer station as 9218 along with it's twin sister rig 9118 (S/N F1659), seen below in a mid-1970s photo. F1658 later served as E40 in Coto De Caza. It was sold at public auction in the early 1990s.

The photo above is from the Flickr page of phil/las, aka Matthew Goldberg of Henderson, NV, an avid fire service photographer. Click on the above photo to go to his Flickr page and see more of his photos of this rig and others.



January 2010 CFE Meeting

Escondido, CA

The first CFE meeting of 2010 was held at the new Escondido Fire Station 1. The 28,340 square foot facility includes a 6-story training tower, calssroom facilities and a museum to store their restored 1926 American La France pumper. The staiton houses a paramedic engine company, truck company, brush engine, two ambulances and batalion chief. Following the board meeting, CFE member Mike McDonald drove those in attendance to lunch in the club's Crown Fire Bus. After lunch, CFE member kevin Johnson gave the group a tour of the facilities. Click on the image above to see more photos.


IN MEMORIUM

ART THOMPSON, 1922-2009


Long time CFE friend and member Art Thompson passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2009. As some of you know, Art had successfully battled cancer, but after some months in remission the cancer returned. Art owned several Crown Firecoaches including the ex-Anaheim/Valley Center pumper (F1502, seen in the photos above and below) that previously belonged to CFE member Mike McDonald. Art attended many of our events including the SPAAMFAA convention in Pomona last February.

Art's memorial service was held Saturday, November 14 at the Colton High School Auditorium and attended by hundreds of friends, including many CFE members. Following the service, Art's casket was carried on his 1955 Crown, escorted by the Colton Police and Fire Departments which led a procession of CFE apparatus and ATHS trucks through the streets of Colton on their way to Art's final resting place at Montecito Memorial Park. Click on the photo below to see more photos.


ArArt was born on August 28, 1922, a life-long resident of Colton. He was one of the city's most well-known and respected residents. He worked his entire life in trucking. He worked for Matich Corp. for 20 years before starting his own company, Tom-Son Tank Lines in 1984. Art was a member of the Grandview Baptist Church, the Colton Kiwanis Club, American Truck Historical Society, California Trucking Association, and Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts. Art is survived by his wife of 36 years, Linda, his daughter, Jennifer, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. Art was proceeded in death by his daughter Debbie Mathews. Art was very active in his church and the local community and a supporter of many charities and local civic events. He began collecting Crown fire engines after acquiring a Crown pumper and refurbishing it at his own expense to donate to a church camp in the San Bernardino Mountains. Art was so impressed with how well made the Crown was he decided he wanted one for himself.

CFE member Mike McDonald says of Art, "besides being a great person and friend since my tenure at Matich Corp. in the late 60's, Art had been a very active CFE member these past several years. He attended each and every event he could and if he didn't feel up to it, his drivers (Jim and Ron) would bring his rigs. Art overhauled CFE's club-owned 1971 Crown Pumper and as recently as two weeks ago furnished a very hard to find power steering pump for the CFE's Hall-Scott Powered Crown Bus. As usual, this was done without any reimbursement requested."

CFE member Jim Conrad, a good friend of Art and frequent driver of E373 supplied the above and below photos, saying the bottom photo "depicts what Art loved best - the fire engine at a school with kids on it."

I personally considered Art a good friend. He was the kind of exceptionally kind and generous individual that is rare these days. He will be greatly missed.

- Mike Britt, CFE Webmaster


1963 Crown still proudly serves northern California volunteer fire department


Pictured is Crown Firecoach S/N F1287 which currently serves the Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department on the northern California coast in Humbolt County. This 1963 pumper was one of three identical units purchased by Eureka, CA. Read about the history of this rig and see more pictures by clicking on the photo above.


More Crown Videos on the web

JCFE member Bill Hoeft is featured behind the wheel of his 1970 Crown (S/N F1643, ex-Mt. View, CA) rolling Code 3 in a Denver Post video called "Fun at the Firehouse," an event recently held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of old Denver Fire Station 1, now home of the Denver Firefighters Museum. Bill restored this Crown to look like a Vernon FD Crown, where his dad served. To watch the video, click on the photo above. To see what the exterior of F1643 looks like, click here and then click on the top left photo.

JA YouTube video posted August 10, 2009, shows a firefighter turning on the lights on this Crown at a recent emergency services display in Scotland. Yes, that's Scotland in the U.K. The notes with the video state "1967 Crown Fire Engine doing a light test, note the lights arent very effective on this appliance as it is about 40 year old." (Actually, it is exactly 40 years old since it is a 1969, not a 1967). For those unfamiliar with the story, in 1996, Pleasanton, CA donated Firecoach S/N F1579 to its sister city, Blairgowrie, Scotland, who maintains it as a parade "appliance." For veteran club members, see the 1997-3 newsletter. To see the video, click on the photo above.

JYet another YouTube video now online which features a Crown pumper is the unsold pilot for a 1959 TV show called 'Where There's Smokey," starring Soupy Sales as a bumbling but good-hearted fireman and Gale Gordon as his brother-in-law and the fire chief. You only need to watch part I of the 3 parts posted on YouTube to see the Crown. If you watch all three parts of this Desilu Production, you will realize why it never sold. It really has nothing to do with the fire service, that is just a setting for this sitcom.

Richard Yokely brought this to our attention and after carefully examining the footage, Don Croucher determined it is a Downey Crown and fire station, and I narrowed it down to one of Downey's 4 identical 1957 pumpers (F1109-F1112). Several editing flubs I guess they assumed people would not notice include, the rig used in the studio shots is an open cab 1958/59 C series Mack, and in the scene of the Crown returning to the station they have flipped the film backwards so the rig is on the wrong side of the road and the driver is on the righthand side (maybe it was in Scotland!). To see the video, click on the photo above.


2009 American Heroes Air Show

JThe annual American Heroes Air Show & "Rollin' to the Rescue" event was held Saturday July 11, 2009 at Hansen Dam Recrecation Area in Valley Terrace, CA. Members from both CFE
and the Southern California Chapter of the Professional Car Society participated in a display of emergency vehicles at the park, which included CFE member Jim Koenekamp's ex-Nevada Dept. of Forestry 4x4 Crown.

CFE Members Put on display for Inland Empire Cub Scouts at Auto Club Speedway

Five CFE members brought rigs on Saturday, June 5 to the Inland Empire Cub Scout Pinewood Derby District Championship at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Over 100 boys ages 6 to 10 attended and enjoyed looking at and climbing on rigs brought by members Frank Sealy (1985 Pierce/Chevy, ex Chino FD), Jim Conrad (1967 Crown, ex Valley Center FD), Tom Ryan (1976 Mack, ex Long Beach FD), Mike Britt (1970 Crown, ex Culver City FD), and Carl Lucey (1976 Ford/Van Pelt, ex Tulare County FD)

Click on the photo below to see more photos from the event

 

CFE Members Participate in 2009 Firefighters Quest Run For Burn Survivors

The 2009 Firefighters Quest For Burn Survivors Burn Run was held from June 1-5, 2009. Over $180,000 was raised. Several CFE members participated and a couple of Crowns were in the run.
CFE Board Member/Rec. Secretary, Len Zlotorowicz is one of the event coordinators.

Click on the image below to see more photos from the event


CFE Club Crown Firebus wins first place in Valley Center Western Days Parade

CFE’s 1958 Crown Firecoach Bus won 1st Place in the Emergency Vehicle Category at the Western Days Parade held Saturday, May 23, 2009, in Valley Center. The Firebus, which also served as a shutle bus during the 3-day annual Western Days, was among about 8 other entries with Hewy & Ruth Wick’s LAPD / Adam-12 Car coming in 2nd. According to Mike McDonlad, "Valley Center is kind of a magnet for Retired LA City and County FD people." No less than four retired LA County guys came up to Mike during the weekend to say that they had either ridden on the bus or had seen it in L.A. County while it was in service. One was retired Capt. Ron Rayhawk who recalled the Jim Page story about Jim responding to an accident call with the bus while loaded with camera-laden visiting Japanese fire chiefs, and going on scene before the first in engine and ambulance arrived.

CFE’s Ex-North County Fire 1971 Crown Pumper (freshly detailed with new gold leaf door lettering) carried an entry for the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce. The California Fire Museum’s Ex-Fallbrook FD 1957 Dodge-Howe 4X4 Brush Engine opened up the parade in front of the Escondido Police Color Guard and Mounted Posse.

Click on the image below to see more photos (courtesy The Valley Center Roadrunner)


CFE May 2009 Meeting Report

The May 16 CFE meeting was held at member Justin Aldi's warehouse in Burbank. Justin and his business partner, who started "First Security Lending" in the mid-1990s, bought the warehouse to store all of their "toys." Justin collects trucks and Triumphs.  He got into Triumphs because his Mom owned one that sat in the garage for years.  When Justin was 16 and wanted a car, his Mom said "you can have it if you can get it to run."  Justin drove this car to high school and learned to repair it (weekly, as it's British), and soon became hooked on the little roadster.  He got into trucks because a neighbor of his had a rig.  His business partner collects motorcycles, go-carts and muscle cars.  Justin owns 4 fire rigs - an early 1940s Mack, a 1952 Seagrave quad and a 1958 Diamond-T/Van Pelt that is for sale. He also has a 1930s Moreland that he got from L.A. County as a future restoration project.
 
Justin also provided a deli and cold-cut tray and all present made sandwiches for lunch.  After lunch, the group went over to Burbank's Headquarters for a tour. Burbank Engine 11, a 2009 Seagrave, was just put in to service on May 15th and they have two others just like it.

Click on the photo below to see more photos from the May CFE Meeting


CFE 2009 Pump-In

Click on the photo of the 2009 CFE Pump-In dash Plaque, below, to read an article and view photos from the Pump-In held on April 26, 2009, including the 2009 Brian Dierkens Award winner.

 


CFE Members Participate in 2009 AARBF Southern California Burn Relay

The Annual Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s Southern CA Burn Relay took place on Saturday, April 24th, 2009 with several CFe member's rigs participating. The relay wasl broken into two legs, one doing the coastal cities and the other heading inland, each with CHP escort. Both groups departed from the Santa Monica Airport where even an airplane wanted to join in! Money was collected at each stop, with both groups meeting back up at Los Angeles county F.D. Station 118 for diiner and closing festivities.

Click on the image below to see more photos from the event


CFE Rigs in L.A. St. Patrick's Parade

The Los Angeles St. Patrick's Day Parade was held on Tuesday, March 17th and CFE member rigs were again invited to participate. Members Mike Briel, Brian Grimes and Jim Konekamp each brought a rig, and commenting on his Laker girls passengers, Brian grimes said, "Of course I got to haul the best cargo!"


Thanks to all who attended and helped make the 2009 Winter SPAAMFAA Conference a Success!

VIEW VIDEOS ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:

Click here to see the news video story about the 2009 SPAAMFAA winter conference, by Reporter Barbara Brooks of Fire Department News Network (FDNNTV.com)

Click here to see the second story the FDNNTV team filmed at the SPAAMFAA Convention which is about the steam-up demonstration by the CSFA Steamer Team.

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW CFE's CONFERENCE PHOTO PAGES

 

CFE's club-owned 1963 Crown/Snorkle is featured on the official 2009 SPAAMFAA Winter Convention Dash Plaque. Crown S/N F1313, this 1000 gpm quint with a 350 gallon tank originally served the Stanton, CA FD and later became Truck 46 with the Orange County Fire Department when the City of Stanton contracted fire services to the County of Orange in 1988. A limited number of these collector dash plaques are still available for purchase for $5.00 each plus S&H. Contact the Webmaster for details.



- Classic Crowns on the Web -

CLASSIC CROWNS ON YOUTUBE

There are several clips currently on YouTube showing classic L.A. and Honolulu Crown Firecoaches.

The short video entitled "LAFD Crown Firecoach, Auckland, New Zealand, 1 Dec 07" shows former LAFD shop 60086, a 1961 Crown that ran as W10. It was given to New Zealand by LAFD in 1993 and is now part of the collection of the Museum of Transportation and Technology in Auckland. Click on the image below to go to the YouTube video.

There are also some clips taken from the 1960s television drama "Hawaii Five-0" on YouTube that show some classic Crowns. The first clip shows two different Crown pumpers, a 1960s triple rolling out of a station and then a 1950s Crown responding down a street. These are actually LAFD rigs filmed on the streets of Los Angeles but edited in with footage filmed in Hawaii to make it appear they are in Honolulu. Click on the image below to go to the YouTube video.

The other clip is from the opening of the episode "The Sunday Torch" from season 6 of the "Hawaii Five-0." It shows the very first 85-foot Snorkle that Crown built (S/N F1224), which was mounted on a 1961 International-Harvester chasis with only two axles. This beast was a one of a kind rig! Click on the image below to go to the YouTube video.