Many of us in our youth couldn’t see much further than wanting to be a fireman as we grew older. If a firehouse was in the neighborhood, during summer break from grade school, you and your friends would stop by to visit the men you aspired to become, but the main attraction was the big, beautiful red trucks. While the majority of us never did turn a wheel from the driver’s seat or climbed aboard a fire truck as it headed out the door to do battle; scores can appreciate the history and gallantry of both the men and machines that were there to do so. This lives on with big smiles from enthusiasts of all ages whenever a vintage fire truck shows up for shows and parades.

This fire truck comes well-equipped and this begins with an inline six-cylinder engine that is paired with a floor-shift four-speed manual transmission. The offerings become more job-specific apart from the essentials of power needed for all emergency vehicles. According to reliable sources, the vehicle’s identification numbers indicate that the “LQ” designation within the sequence equals this being a 1-1/2-ton truck.

Among the equipment that was necessary to put out fires, then as now, includes two wooden ladders, an ax, spud bar, fire hoses, hose nozzles, three fire extinguishers, a water tank, a two-hose pump mounted at the front, sirens, redlight and spotlights. The sirens and lights are all reported as operational. Other features include a large brass bell, gold stripes and details that include “Edgerton Fire Dept.” in script on the top of the hood, Chevrolet Moto Meter, wood-rimmed steering wheel, metal disc wheels and Firestone blackwall tires. To better monitor the engine when in use, there is an aftermarket Stewart-Warner temperature gauge mounted underdash. One of the pumps has a Barton tag on it; Barton American is listed as one of the builders of Chevrolet fire trucks in this era.