Engine 1 - 1942

Engine 1 1942 Chrysler Skid Mount 1937 Studebaker In late 1942 or early 1943 the Wise Avenue Volunteers received their first piece of apparatus, a Chrysler skid mount Civil Defense water pump mounted on a two wheeled trailer, with 800 feet of hose. In the event of a fire the unit was towed to the scene by one of the member’s cars. Later it was realized that the pumper-trailer combination was not satisfactory for firefighting, so a 1937 Studebaker trash truck was purchased. The Company obtained permission from Civil Defense to mount the pump on the truck and a 400 gallon water tank was constructed on the rear. The engine remained in service until 1949 when it was sold to Mr. Charles Lund of Chase, Maryland for $350.00.

Engine 2 - 1928

Engine 2 1928 American LaFrance The Wise Avenue Volunteers purchased their first real fire engine in 1948. This engine, purchased from a company in Pittman, New Jersey, was a used 1928 American LaFrance. Built on a special General Motors Truck chassis (type 199), it was powered by a 6 cylinder Buick engine, and equipped with a 500 gpm single stage rotary gear pump with a 250 gallon tank. When the engine was originally purchased it was painted white, later that same year it was re-painted red courtesy of Bethlehem Steel. On February 4, 1952, it was decided by the membership to dispose of the unit, this due to the fact that the upkeep costs outweighed the cost of insuring the vehicle. Almost one year after the original motion was made, the American LaFrance was sold to an undisclosed buyer for $75.00.

Engine 271 - 1949

Engine 271 1949 Dodge OREN-Roanoke The 1949 Dodge, designated Engine 271, was the first new engine owned by Wise Avenue. Built by the OREN-Roanoke Company, the Dodge was equipped with a 500 GPM HALE two stage centrifugal pump and a 300 gallon booster tank. The unit was powered by a 6 cylinder gasoline engine with a 5 speed manual transmission and a two speed axle. When the engine was first delivered, the ladders were mounted over the hose bed, however due to the numerous injuries the ladders were moved to the side of the engine in March of 1951. In October of 1952, a radio was installed that allowed two-way communication with fire dispatch. The Dodge remained in service until 1962 when it was traded in on the Maxim. The engine later became part of a Company in Rosman, North Carolina until it was placed permanently out of service in 1990.

Engine 2 - 1951

Engine 2 1951 Ford Pickup The 1951 Ford Pickup was purchased used in 1953 from the International Harvester Co. for $650.00. Designated for Company business, the truck was panted red by Captain Ed Moore. It featured stake sides, a step bumper, and was later equipped with Indian Cans and a hose reel to extend the booster line on the Dodge engine. The E2 license plates from the American LaFrance were used on the truck. The truck remained in service until 1956.

Engine 272 - 1956

Engine 272 1956 Mack In 1956 Wise Avenue once again became a double engine Company with the purchase of a 1956 open cab B model Mack. The Mack, designated Engine 272, was powered by a 707 cubic inch 6 cylinder gasoline engine and a 5 sped manual transmission. The Mack was equipped with a 750 gpm Hale pump, a 300 gallon water tank, a 30 gallon foam tank, and a 30 gallon wet water tank. The foam tank and wet water tanks were never used and were later added to the water system. The cost of the unit was approximately $26,000.00, and was the first to be painted in the red and white paint scheme which has become standard for Company equipment. The Mack remained in service until 1974 when it was sold to the Cheraw Fire Department of Cheraw, South Carolina.

Floodlight 273 - 1952

Floodlight 273 1952 Dodge Stakebody In 1959, the Company was in process of building its first Floodlight unit. The Floodlight, designated 273, was constructed on the chassis of a 1952 Dodge Stakebody truck that was purchased from government surplus. The box body of the truck was built by the membership, and during the building process, the roof was cut down three times due to its height and looks. The unit was equipped with lights, electric cords, ropes, and an Onan 5kw gasoline powered generator that was also purchased from government surplus. The Dodge Floodlight remained in service until 1967 when it was replaced with the second Floodlight, a 1967 GMC.

Engine 271 - 1963

Engine 271 1963 Maxim On November 22, 1962, the Company placed in service a new 1963 Maxim engine. The Maxim was an open cab S model powered by a 6 cylinder gasoline engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. Equipped with a 750 gpm Hale pump, the Maxim was also classified as a tanker due to the fact that it carried 500 gallons of water in its tank. The purchase price of the engine was over $20,000.00 with the trade in of the Dodge engine, and was painted in the new red and white paint scheme. The Maxim remained in service until 1974 when it was sold to the Weavertown Fire Co of Lebanon, PA