SEAGRAVE APPARATUS

Paterson's Seagrave Apparatus

Seagrave Fire Apparatus LLC is the longest running fire apparatus manufacturer in America that specializes in pumper and rescue units, as well as aerial towers. Seagrave was founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1881 by Fredric Seagrave and moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1891. Seagrave was acquired by the FWD Cororation in 1963 and moved their corporate headquarters to Clintoville, WI.

Starting in 1951, on their 70th anniversary, and then continuing through 1969 Seagrave called their apparatus the Anniversary Series (had horizontal chrome grill strips). Pre-1951 models were considered as the Classic Series with Waterfall grills (vertical chrome strips).

Circa 1903: Engine Company 5 on Water Street had a Seagrave Hose Wagon with a Hart Water pump. It was transferred to Engine Company 6 on Martet Street in 1912.

In 1903 Engine Company One received a new Seagrave Hose Wagon (pictured below)

August 30, 1904: New Seagrave 75' aerial truck arrives and sent to quarters of Truck 1 on Jackson Street

Paterson Daily Press

Truck 1 at Jackson Street Firehouse - Captain Ed Cusack wearing summer hat

September 1903: Truck Company 2 received a 75 foot Seagrave Aerial with a Hose Tower attachment pictured below. In 1912 the truck received a Christie Front Drive Tractor and in 1917 a Commercial Truck Company Electric Drive hook and ladder replaced the Seagrave truck.

77 Prospect Street: horse drawn aerial

Christie Tractor at 115 Van Houten Street

February 7, 1953: PFD announces arrival of new pumpers

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 1953: Six new Seagrave 750 GPM pumpers via a Federal Civil Defense Grant acquired and assigned to Engine Companies 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10. They are shown below at Headquarters with Chief Strathearn and Mayor Titus. Riot roofs were installed in 1968.

May 1953 Seagrave Advertisement in Fire Engineering

Engine 2 77 Highland Street

Engine 2

photo by Joe Hloucek

Captain Nate Salmanowitz and driver Joe Bushnauskas

FF Tim Donovan, Bill Leonard, Joe Bushknauskas, Captain Nate Salmanowitz

Engine 6 operated at Market Street FH

Engine at 17th Avenue FH

Engine at (operated at 71 Wayne Avenue)

Front View of Engine 10

Post 1968 photo of Engine 8 with FF Hank Kettman

Unknown Seagrave Company

Seagrave of Engine Co 9 at Southside FH with Captain Rotella

Engine Company 8 Hancock Collection

Engine 8 with riot roof (attached July 1968)

Men of Engine 8 with Seagrave

Men of Engine 10 with Seagrave

Engine Company 11

circa 1968 Engine 11 Seagrave at fire scesne - Frank Malzone photo

Below is the specification sheet of Engine Company 8's pumper

January 7 1969: Engine Company 10 and Truck 1 sustained serious damage in a collision at Park Avenue and Summer Street. Engine 10 was responding west on Park Avenue to a two alarm fire at 178 Market Street while Truck 1 heading north on Summer Street was relocating to Headquarters after responding to a false alarm at Straight and Essex Streets.

Parkin Collection

June 30, 1969: Engine Company 1 and 5 received new Seagrave 1250 GPM pumpers (Serial #s R4476 and R4478 respectively) and Truck Company 2 a new Seagrave 100' Aerial (Serial # R4475). Engine Company 3 also received a new Seagrave pumper (Serial # RR4477). The apparatus are shown on the day they arrived at Lakeview Firehouse on Trenton Avenue.

1969 Seagraves - displayed at Lakeview Firehouse

Engine Company 1 1969 Seagrave 1250 GPM Pumper Serial R4476 (Hancock collection)

'69 Seagrave R4476 in action as E1 (Hancock Collection)

Engine 1 1969 Seagrave and Engine 11 1953 Seagrave in action

Engine Co 3 Serial R4477

Engine 3 at Riverside FH Serial R4477

Engine 3 Serial R4477

Engine 3 Serial R4477 at Riverside FH

Engine 3 Seagrave at fire scene - Frank Malzone photo with edit by Vincent Marchese-

Engine Company 5 - Serial RR 4478

Engine 9 1969 Seagrave R4477 at Southside FH June 1971 - January 1978

R4476

Engine Co 6 Serial R4476

Engine 8 R4476 In bay at Hillcrest FH

Engine 8 at Hillcrest - Vince Marchese photo

Engine Co 8 Serial R4476 at Hillcrest

E8 69 Seagrave with Truck 2 1975 Pirsch

Joe Hloucek photo

Engine Co 9 Serial R4476 at Highland Street

Engine 9 when it operated out of 77 Highland Street. The # is blue tape

Engine 10 Seagrave (serial R4478 - former Engine 5) in bay at 17th Avenue Firehouse - served from 1971 to 1978 - (Todd Hollritt photo enhanced by Bruce Griff

Engine Co 10 Seagrave (serial R4478 - former Engine 5) and Ambulance Unit 93 at 17th Avenue firehouse

Engine 10 (serial R4478) at fire

August 8, 1969: A Seagrave tillered 100' aerial, Serial R4475 went into service at Truck Company 2 at 115 Van Houten Street. It was transferred to Truck Company 3 on June 28, 1975 at Riverside Firehouse. In 1983 it was painted white.