Restoration Project On 1951 Engine

Over the past several months members have been working on a restoration project of Engine 52. Engine 52 was the first new fire engine purchased by the department. The engine was the second in our fleet after the department was formed. The first engine was a 1940 Dodge that was purchased from the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department.

This excerpt from our history details the purchase of Engine 2:

"August 20, 1951 we were given approval to purchase a new fire engine. This was an American body on a Chevrolet chassis with a 500 gallon per minute front-end pump and a 500-gallon booster tank.

In the fall of 1951 we had our first basic training course. Training through the years has been provided through what is now the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) of the University of Maryland.

One of the most important highlights in this time of our Department came in April of 1952, when our new Fire Engine, E-2 was delivered."

In January of 2012 a committee was formed to look at the restoration project. The members felt that the engine should be put back to its original state as it was delivered. Along with some other very minor additions, the engine looks better than ever. We take pride in having our first new unit purchased and hope now that members throughout the years can take pride in the work put into the project.

The list of work completed to the engine includes but is not limited to a complete repaint of the unit, pump re-built, engine re-built, first siren replaced, interior dash re-painted, hose bed re-stained, 23k gold leaf, chrome on all original parts, and new tires.

Some of the local businesses that assisted us throughout this project were Hills Auto Repair, Abell Auto Glass, Shorty's Art and Signs, Pull and Tug Towing, Southern Maryland Power Washing, Nelkas Body Shop, Triton Metals and Guy Auto Parts

We would like to thank all the members who put the time in effort in making this project a great success. The below pictures show the engine from the time it was delivered and through the years along with the restoration.

Watch here when the lights and siren were tested for the first time. http://youtu.be/iQrL15X86wk