Old, but still in Service O.O

[Wolfie]

I was at a Wildfire Fighting class at my Fire Dept today. Other departments were invited, and some came from Monticello-Placitas Volunteer Fire Dept. I thought we were running some pretty old rigs, but their firefighters showed up in the beauty pictured below. I would call that a Federal Twinsonic on there, wouldn't you? Yes, this vehicle is still in service.

 

[ryan]

Diets omnichief or cheetah bar. Def. it a twin. I know a guy whose really into twins and he said nope.

 

[Wailer]

Looks like a Sireno Condor light bar to me.

 

[CrownVic97]

Looks like a Sireno Condor light bar to me.

I concur. Sireno Condor. Here's a comparison

 

[Wolfie]

Whatever it is, I like it. That truck has to be 40 years old too, I am guessing. I am not really a chevy guy though.

 

[801]

Whatever it is, I like it. That truck has to be 40 years old too, I am guessing. I am not really a chevy guy though.

the pickup is a 68 to 71 Chev based on the grill. And its great that they keep a period correct lightbar on the truck. Definitely a Sireno Condor. Sweet old truck, but I know there are grants out there for a newer vehicle, I just got one for our County Dept.

 

[Wolfie]

If it ain't broke, why fix it? That may very well be the original bar put on that truck when both were new. Did anyone catch that siren on the fender?

 

[jph2]

The bar, the siren, and the truck are just really cool! It's a blast from the past and it's great to see it still in service and looking really good. That says a lot about that department right there.

 

[MRFD715]

We still have this in front line service. Not period correct lighting on it though.

1975 Dodge/Pierce W-300 Mini-Pumper

 

[SBFD-E-9]

I missed the siren and par 36 strobes the first time I looked lol. Neat truck.

Dan

 

[Wolfie]

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just leave this pic of my own department's Engine No. 2 (still in service) right here...

 

[Doyle257]

My Last company still has this...not in full service...Ive Responded to a call in it...but not full service...
...but it causes a stir in the pants none the less...

 

[Wolfie]

...but it causes a stir...

Yeah did that to me too ^////^

 

[JazzDad]

That bumper looks like a toy car I had as a kid. You'd roll it into the wall, and it would pop into 5 pieces.

 

[cmb56]

Whatever it is, I like it. That truck has to be 40 years old too, I am guessing. I am not really a chevy guy though.

As other members have suggested it is a Sireno Condor.
It is easy to spot.
More or less straight sided lenses in comparation with the TwinSonic that have slightly sloped sides.
The lenses are higher than on the TwinSonic.
Independent rotators in black plastic that rotate in the same direction in comparation to the TwinSonic that has synchronized rotators in metal that counter rotate.
Both lightbars has similar stepped mirrors that make them look similar in flash effect except that the Condor is independant and do not have the inboard to outboard flash effect because of the rotation in the same direction.
All this was probably because of the Federal patent of the TwinSonic.
Sireno could most probably change the polarity of the motor to have the lightbar counter rotate at a later date when the TwinSonic patent had run out.
I have never seen that but I have a four sealed beam Sireno beacon that have insulators on the motor so the polarity is changed on the motor that makes the light rotate in the opposit direction than original.
It looks factory installed and not home made so I think it might have been a possibility from Sireno if ordered.

Michael

 

[coop359]

Doyle's old engine looks like a FS model 16 beacon. A tow company in the 70s had the Sireno Condor with front cascade mirrors and rear PAR 46 alternating sealed beams with Amber domes. Very bright

 

[CrownVic97]

Independent rotators in black plastic that rotate in the same direction in comparation to the TwinSonic that has synchronized rotators in metal that counter rotate.

The one thing that these Sireno Condors and later TwinSonics had in common was that the same Type 3 motor used in AeroDynics, JetSonics, and TwinSonics was also used with Sireno's independent rotator modules. That's about it for similarities of the two companies.

 

[Doyle257]

Doyle's old engine looks like a FS model 16 beacon. A tow company in the 70s had the Sireno Condor with front cascade mirrors and rear PAR 46 alternating sealed beams with Amber domes. Very bright

It is a FS beacon...but along the last 40 years or so, some genius stripped the original internals out, and replaced them with a teardrop base and rotator. Still irritated by that.
Also, on the officer side, there is a Sterling Sirenlite model 30. Glass lens is cracked, in case anyone has a line on a replacement...

 

[JFRD10925]

We still have this in front line service. Not period correct lighting on it though.

1975 Dodge/Pierce W-300 Mini-

We still have this in front line service. Not period correct lighting on it though.

1975 Dodge/Pierce W-300 Mini-Pumper

We still have this in front line service. Not period correct lighting on it though.

1975 Dodge/Pierce W-300 Mini-Pumper

Pumper

What make/model are the "A" post double-side spotlights. Had these on Modulance Ambulance Corp. (Grand Prarie,TX) in '75.

 

[MRFD715]

What make/model are the "A" post double-side spotlights. Had these on Modulance Ambulance Corp. (Grand Prarie,TX) in '75.

We were actually approved to replace that truck about a month after I posted that so we don't have it anymore. I'm not sure what make those spotlights were but they didn't work very well.

 

[JFRD10925]

Roger that. Thx

 

[Wolfie]

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just add on here. I took this old girl out for a spin today. 1980 Ford F700. 496cid gas, 5sp trans, 2sp rear-end. I am not good with Whelen models, but it's a Whelen strobe bar on the roof. The red/blue wig-wags on the front bumper look identical to the ones on the truck I started this thread with. (Same station.) There are a pair of par 36s in red on the back that flash simultaneously. I am gonna have to get in there and either wig-wag them or put in a second flasher so the rear can be more attention getting. Some of the wiring for the roof bar got damaged so I am gonna have to go in and fix it too. Still, while she may be old and tired, she is still in service. None of the in-service trucks I post are parade only or anything like that. They are all subject to dispatch 24/7.

 

[Wolfie]

I guess I should mention that, since the original thread started, I have joined this department. I am still with the other one...just doing both now.

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

I was just over in NJ this weekend near Netcong/Budd Lake.. one of the local VFD units still runs a 1978 GMC 6500(?) It's still Active 24/7. Apparently it had a 184 Powerlight on it until just recently and they just did an LED upgrade package to it.. so no it's not going out of service anytime soon!