THE ALTOONA, WISCONSIN, FIRE DEPARTMENT’S first motorized fire truck was custom built in the town’s carriage and blacksmith shop on a new 1929 Ford Model A truck chassis.  The pumper served the town for over 30 years, retiring from active service in the 1960′s.

Since that time, it has been used in parades and ceremonial activities, but still showed the scars of time and usage until it had to be retired completely a few years ago.  The decision was made to strip the truck down to the frame and completely restore it to new condition.

Ron Tietz, one of the restorers and whose family
owned the  blacksmith shop that built the pumper,
shows off the restored truck at yesterday’s spaghetti
fund-raiser.  (Leader Telegram photo)

Relying heavily on volunteer labor and donated parts and money, a group of older members, some of whom had Ford Model A and Model T experience, worked dilgently on the task and their efforts were put on display yesterday (Sunday) when the pumper was unveiled to the public and taken out for a drive by the men who restored it.

The Eau Claire Leader Telegram has a good story that tells of the extensive restoration effort and a bit of history HERE.

Altoona Fire Department WEBPAGE.