My name is Keith Seafield, I am a 25-year vet of the Miami-Dade Fire Department. I just finished a 5-year restoration of my grandfather's fire truck. He actually used this vehicle in the early 50's when he was a member of the Chicago Fire Patrol. It’s a 1951 Ford F7 with a custom body built by the Schukraft Company of Chicago. While writing a book about the Chicago Fire Patrol, I met members of the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago who had 3 former Fire Patrol trucks in their collection. When it came time to downsize their inventory of fire trucks in 2007 they offered me first shot at buying my grandfather's truck. The price was $800!! This past April, my grandfather's original driver, former Patrol member and retired CFD Batt Chief Ron DiRenzo, drove my family in our cities annual parade. Here are some links to the event and to my website on the Chicago Fire Patrol. I also just finished writing my second book entitled, " Chicago Fire Patrol #5 The Story and Restoration of My Grandfather's Fire Truck."
My website: http://chicagofirepatrol.com/
The restoration of the fire truck documented on the Ford truck Enthusiasts website: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...heetmetal.html
Youtube videos of the truck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVtenzz5F1Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3U0YZ1Du8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKtxAL76Zxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LirA61jiDQ
Colorized photo taken in 1954
Photo taken May 2013
My website: http://chicagofirepatrol.com/
The restoration of the fire truck documented on the Ford truck Enthusiasts website: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10...heetmetal.html
Youtube videos of the truck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVtenzz5F1Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3U0YZ1Du8c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKtxAL76Zxk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LirA61jiDQ
Colorized photo taken in 1954
Photo taken May 2013