Iron Firemen Wooden Ladders & Iron Firemen
I posted some time back about a friend of mine I call “snow bird”. His real name is Adam Fleming but “snow bird” works too. Anyway, in the previous post .. “A Helmet tip to our Northern Brethern” I mentioned how Snow bird was building a custom bar from a 1988 Pierce Arrow Fire truck. The truck once belonged to the Orange, NJ Fire Department.
He called the other day to tell me the bar is finished. All he has left to do is a little decorating.
WOW! I really don’t know how to describe the work Snow Bird put into this and do him justice. It’s unbelievable! The attention to detail is remarkable. The easiest way is to just show ya ….
Check this baby out..
just look at the detail here (click the picture and it will come up on a seperate page. Click it again and it will enlarge). The front suction … license plate … mounted nozzle … the “343” and FDNY stripe. And YES .. that’s the actual light bar mounted above and yea … it works! You open the door to get behind the bar …
He used the dash from the rig to control all the “gadgets” on the bar ….
He even included the “master switch”. Talk about a wiring nightmare …
The sink is a 2 1/2 outlet with gauges …. yep … they work too
Fiber optic lighting that can change to several different colors…. all of which can be operated by remote control! The back wall of the bar is just as cool. Custom cabinets, drawers and handles. He used the pump discharge handles and the “D-ring” handles from compartment doors.
Multiple layers of glass … laminated and plate, all raised and surrounded with the hidden lighting strips. Some sand blasted to give that “frosted” look … some shattered for a really cool look..
It has a working radio, head sets and air bottles …
He threw a little humor in as well …
The main theme was attention to detail … he didn’t just add a cross lay .. he connected it …
A real wheel … an actual tire … he even kept the valve stem …
With a project this size, Snow Bird called in a little help. He had a lot of contributors but 2 friends became instrumental. Robert Shumate took the lead on the the custom cabinets and wood work. He even used Chicago Bar rail! Robert is a shop teacher in the Roanoke County school system.
The 2nd major contributor handled the radios, lights, wiring and electronics. Joe Amato works for Pro Com out of Blacksburg, Va. Heres a pic of Robert and Joe …
Pretty cool huh? Actually, it’s AWESOME! I can’t wait to belly up and have a drink or two. Reckon he’ll stock my brand??? Old Milwaukee..
Probably not but I snuck a few in the fridge just in case … Shhhhhhhhh (lol)
Snow Bird should be extremely proud of the end result. True craftsmanship. Pride in his work and for his profession. WELL DONE BROTHER …. CHEERS!
I’ll check back in as soon as possible … until then, stay safe and in house!
Captain Wines