janki Posted December 31, 2010 Share #1 Posted December 31, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just before Christmas, Michael Geschlecht had some fascinating posts about historic fire stations in Metuchen EDISON N.J. Metuchen Fire Department For people with an interest in photographing, especially those smaller distinctive local fire stations along the east coast of the United States will be wonderful photo objects. Neither the buildings nor the machinery that is located there has its equal in the world. And, there are plenty of details for those who want to create photographic art. Ever since Norwegian fire departments was motorized, and until the early seventies, they were in all essentials equipped with U.S. truck vehicles. I still remember well how impressed I was as a child, of this massive raw sound, that came from these large American petrol powered V-8 engines. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these fire trucks were scrapped after completing service. But some were taken care of, and the interest in these historic fire trucks is increasing. Photo No. 1-5 shows some examples of these old "Americans" who fought fires in this country during the first fifty years with motorized equipment. The eldest of these fire trucks were imported fully equipped from the manufacturers in the U.S. Later they were equipped in Norway, but with a completely American look. Historically, my hometown Stavanger consisted mainly of wooden buildings. This has led to many large fires. Just before World War II, the city got its own fireboat with preparedness around the clock. This boat, now retired, had pumping capacity as high as 14,000 liters (3600 US gallons) of water per minute. Brannbten Nkk Here she makes a turn in front of some of the many large wooden houses she once helped save from fire. In a picture we can also see the watchmen’s fire lookout tower from the middle of eighteenth centuries. The first guard tower was from the middle of sixteen centuries, and built of wood. This town's first fire station was of course also built of wood. It was demolished in connection with city modernization after World War II. Now, it’s soon also time for closing down of the big beautiful fire station from the early fifties. Here are pictures of the now rare hose tower, in sunset, and the truck-hall unit. The fire trucks can drive throughout the great hall from the back. And the fire truck pitches have "slide poles" from the crew’s lounge on second floor. Hopefully, this unique building will be permanently protected. Best regards and a happy new year to all viewers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 31, 2010 Posted December 31, 2010 Hi janki, Take a look here A little Norwegian fire history. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pauledell Posted January 1, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 1, 2011 Janki, An excellent series and interesting narrative. Thanks for posting. Paul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janki Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted January 2, 2011 Thanks Paul! Thanks to all viewers! Through these new HD TV channels, it is possible to follow lots of exciting restoration work on classic cars, which takes place in the United States. Although we in other parts of the world are unable to compete with America in this area, I know that many get inspiration from what they see on TV from the U.S. Here have some guys decided to save the old 1949 GMC ladder that was in service until the end of the sixties. GMC'en It is with new fire engines, as it is with new cameras. Gone is all the brass and levers and handles for manual operations. Today, of course also digital microprocessors and sensors control fire pumps, and all the settings are through touch buttons. The power is there, but all the romance is gone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted January 8, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 8, 2011 Hello janki, Nice photos all. We have a picture of a firetruck similar to the second one in your second picture taken in front of our building. If you remember we are the Washington Hose Company in the photos you were nice enough to provide. Our picture was probably taken in the 1930's. The firetruck may be older. One small point: Metuchen is actually a separate political entity from Edison. It is physically in the center of what is a somewhat lumpy donut. Edison is the name of that somewhat lumpy donut entirely encircling Metuchen. The confusion comes about because the name of the local historical society providing the website is the Metuchen Edison Historical Society. Sort of Like saying the Stavanger Sandnes HIstorical Society. BTW: Altho I have been to Norway a number of times I have never been to Stavanger or anywhere much south of Bergen except for the Oslo area. I would like to visit one day. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janki Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted January 9, 2011 Happy New Year Michael! It is nice that you liked the pictures. Since the pictures are taken with film, I had to scan them in order to create web images of them. It usually gives good results scanning film, even as a base for printed "copies" up to the A4 format. In the same way it worked with these images. But sometimes it is as if the images cannot bear to be reduced to the so-called WEB size. After I created WEB pictures of these fire trucks it is revealed that the shutter speed probably has been too slow. We always have to fight against the dim light in this country. My camera is usually set in shutter speed estimated on standstill objects. The day these old fire trucks had their parade, I was fitted with “dozens” of rolls of film to really spend time on documentation of details. But, I had obviously read the program wrong. When I arrived on location, the gathering was unfortunately over, and the vehicles on the their way home in pretty good speed. The pictures became some kind of point and shoot pictures, for at least save something. Since I am not an expert, I cannot decide which brand that is pictured in front of your beautiful "Washington House. " But the vehicle is probably older than year 1930. I think it is possible that the Eagle Hooks' “ladder vehicle” can be of the brand Peter Pirsch, built in Wisconsin. It is very similar to "our" Peter Pirsch running first in my photo no 2. All the veteran fire trucks that participated in this parade have served in Norway, except for one, the "jewel" American la France that is no 2 in picture no. 2. A wealthy oil-businessman imported this vehicle to Stavanger, Norway, in its original edition, as it had served with the Washington fire department before World War II. In a Norwegian song it is said that there probably are many more "cowboys" in Norway than in the U.S. The story of this fire truck is one of several examples that it may be right. Veteranbrannbiler.com - Bilde Galleri You are impressively well informed Michael! I take your hint about Stavanger / Sandnes vs. Edison / Metuchen. Our town rival Bergen, with its historical connection to Europe, is generally considered to be more sophisticated and fine cultural than Stavanger. Here is the Norwegian equivalent of the historic fire stations in Metuchen, a tribute to BERGEN city, the historical Skansen fire station. Google Image Result for http://www.visitbergen.no/imagebank/norway-bergen-attractions-skansen-brannstasjon-firestation_img_3498.jpg Best Regards! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted January 11, 2011 Share #6 Posted January 11, 2011 Hello janki, Don't be so overly self critical. Your photos are fine. If you are worried about slow shutter speeds & don't have the ability to use a large firm tripod w/ a large ball head & cable release you might try a small strong table tripod w/ a large ball head & cable release. When I use one against my chest I find it gives me @ least 2 stops. Against a tree, wall or firetruck it gives me many more stops. Of course you should make sure it has soft non-streaking rubber or plastic feet so it will not scratch firetrucks or anything else. The firetruck I was talking about was not in the photos in the Metuchen website. We have a copy of an original photo here of the firetruck which is like yours in front of here & another copy of an earlier hand pulled firewagon in front of this building being pulled by people. The firewagon photo was taken when it was the new firewagon for Metuchen. Since I do not know how to Post pictures if you PM me your address I will mail you some copies. The same for anyone else reading this who is interested. Best Regards, Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
janki Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted January 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the excellent advice Michael. They appear to be sensible. I'll definitely take them into consideration. Many thanks for the generous offer. I'll have that in mind. Quite busy and complex work-related period, for a while, you see. :) Best regards! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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