Fire truck ‘link to the past’

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This article was published 06/10/2023 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For 24 years, this Brandon beauty roared to life every time a call came in and firefighters jumped on board with hoses, axes and ladders as they raced to the scene of a fire.

The 1929 red Bickle fire truck was in service in the Wheat City from 1930 to 1954.

It is now retired, refurbished and is the show piece at the museum in Brandon’s No. 1 Firehall at 120 19th St. North.

The city was offered a two per cent discount if it purchased twin pumper trucks at $11,172 each. So they both rolled into Brandon from the Bickle Fire Engine Company in Woodstock, Ont., in April 1930.

When they were put into service, the twin pumpers could carry hoses, but they didn’t have water tanks or the ability to carry water like modern-day fire trucks, said Marc Lefebvre, deputy chief with Brandon Fire and Emergency Services.

“It pumped 625 imperial gallons per minute, with the capability of pumping 120 pounds per square inch. And when these ones were replaced, the unit that we have on display was used as a backup unit from 1954 to 1966,” Lefebvre said.

One of the twin trucks was used for parts to rebuild other fire trucks, and the Bickle was entered into the odd parade, but was eventually put in storage, said Tom Sherb, who retired in 2001 as captain, after serving 22 years with the fire department.

It was in the 1990s, Sherb said, when the city decided to improve the appearance of the truck if it was going to be on display in public so, he volunteered.

“I’m mechanically inclined, but it was a challenge,” Sherb said as he laughed.

The truck was stripped down, and the pieces were sent away to have them re-chromed. And when all the parts returned, Sherb said, “The six or seven guys who took it apart, said to me, ‘Put it back together,’ and I did.”

“I didn’t do the engine, it never got changed. But the dashboard was all rotten, so I took it apart and rebuilt a new one. I talked the lumberyard into giving me an inch and a half of oak for the running boards. I did the back end, the floorboards, and the deck in the back of the truck itself,” Sherb said.

The red paint and the labour supplied to do the job, was donated by then owner of Advance Auto Body, Ron Ryan, according to Lefebvre.

Ryan’s father was a firefighter, and now his son has followed those footsteps as a rookie in Brandon.

After the paint job and Sherb’s refurbishing, the Bickle was show-and-shine-ready, but it was put in storage at No. 2 Firehall on 13th Street and Queens Avenue.

It didn’t see the light of day unless there was a special request, such as someone who wanted to take wedding or graduation photos on, or in front of it.

“It was stored there for years and years and years, until we were building the new number one firehall in 2010,” Lefebvre said. “That’s when we decided to incorporate a museum. We wanted to blow the dust off many of the items that were stored and put them on display. And the focal piece is the Bickle.”

A glassed-in museum was built for the vintage fire truck, which is steps away from where firefighters perform their duties on the modern trucks and equipment, while they wait for the next call.

The Bickle holds a special meaning for Lt. Kevin Garrioch, who had his wedding photos taken on it with his wife Fiona on a warm July day in 2005.

“It’s also about tradition and history, and a link to the past — that’s what this truck means to me. Tradition is very big in our department,” Garrioch said.

Capt. Marv Janzen agreed.

“It’s also about honouring those who were firefighters before us. And this is a cool truck because it was actually used in our department,” he said.

As Janzen pointed out the pump lever, hand brake and gearshift, he described how two would ride up front and maybe a couple in the back hitching a ride — something that’s not done anymore for safety reasons.

And he may not know it, but Janzen is now part of history, being one of the last people who drove the Bickle before it was enclosed as a museum piece.

“Just after it was refurbished, I had the opportunity to drive it and feel what it was like to be one of those guys back in the day.

“It’s got a manual transmission, and no power steering, so, it was really a bear to steer. You had to be moving to try and steer it, otherwise it was your feet on the dash and hanging on to the wheel to try and steer it,” Janzen said as he chuckled.

People are welcome to come to No. 1 Firehall to see the Bickle, but are encouraged to call first, said Lefebvre.

He said they’re honoured to show it off.

“We really enjoy having the Bickle here, because of how it ties into our history at the fire department. Especially since it was actually in service and serviced the city of Brandon for many, many years. We’re very proud to have it on display.”

For more information on museum hours at No. 1 Firehall, 120 19th St. North, call 204-729-2400.

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