Woodsy,
Here's a short follow-up to Bill Ev's snorkel post. I know this isn't a snorkel but as a kid this Eldon Junior Chief set with its hook-&-ladder truck and pumper were among my most awesome toys. The set picture was culled off of fleaBay. The pumper photos are mine.
The pumper photos are old as I sold it off years ago. Trying to get one of these Junior Chief sets with all the bits-&-pieces was just more than I really wanted to pursue, and my truck was missing parts anyway. However, the set still remains as a very fond childhood memory.
From Vegas Fire Station
Ed
That is a fantastic set. With all firemen, and the helmet. Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful set and BIG! Those trucks were some big suckers. It was full of play value and meant a lot to me as my uncle worked in the fire station on the next street over!
DeleteI love that plastic fire engine Ed! Classic long open design. And the set itself is incredible. I had the helmet as a kid. Some of them have red lights on.
ReplyDeleteI sold this truck off a couple of years ago but after re-looking at my photos, I guess this actually was an engine with a snorkel. There is a water tank built into the body and apparently the snorkel device was just behind the hose reel. It looks like it was designed to spray out water from somewhere. Again, trying to find these engines in good complete condition is hard - and they cost a lot. I wonder how many kids dress up in costumes like we did as kids: firemen, policemen, cowboys, army men. Uniforms and costumes were all the rage back in the day and I remember having several as a kid. Role play nowadays seems to be more of an adult thing with cosplayers being so popular.
DeleteThe fire engine was similar to a real open cab truck that was stationed in the firehouse on the next street over. That one wasn't a Seagrave like the toy though.
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to work for a plastics manufacturing company called "Welsh Plastics" and I had an identical fireman's hat complete with badge manufactured by them.
ReplyDeleteWelsh plastics were managed by a very nice gentleman called Reg Solder, although the company was shut down sometime in 1965.
Interesting Bill! Didi she ever bring toys home from the factory? Those firemen helmets seemed to be everywhere in the '50s and '60s and made by a plethora of companies. It was so much fun back then.
DeleteWow, having a great set like that, and an Uncle who was a fireman, must have made that really special.
ReplyDeleteIt was Paul! I have a vivid memory of him at work. We lived two blocks from the north end of the 27th St viaduct which spanned the Menomonee River Valley and connected the north and south sides of Milwaukee. I can remember a fire at a tire warehouse just below the viaduct on the north end where I lived. We went to the viaduct to watch the fire below and could see Uncle Eddie walking around the structure and directing his firemen to the hot spots. Our neighborhood kept him busy!
DeleteHow many Pauls? Paul asked you, your Uncle's Paul and I'm Uncle Paul too here in Blighty! and I'll try saying Menomonee after a couple of beers! Or maybe not!
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