Larry Suttman was one of those enthralled by fire trucks as a kid, but he had more reason than most.
“Actually, my uncle, a fellow named Frank Greisser, sold Ahrens-Fox fire trucks. When I was a little boy, he went down to pick up the fire trucks in Cincinnati, and he would stop in Miamisburg and give me and my brothers a ride,” Suttman said. “Ever since then, I wanted my own fire truck.”
About four years ago, that dream came true. Suttman bought a 1937 Seagrave pumper that was once in service in Charlestown, W.Va. A retired fire chief put it up for sale on eBay.
“He saw that I fell in love with it,” Suttman said.
The body of Suttman’s truck is original, but the engine was replaced with a 1952 Buick “straight eight, 170 horsepower, four-barrel carb.” Suttman was assisted in the restoration of the engine and transmission by Rick Knife of Casstown, Karl Koogle of Kettering and Dan Stine of Miamisburg.
That age-old love of fire trucks will be demonstrated at this weekend’s Antique Fire Apparatus Show in Germantown.
The free event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 11, in Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to the municipal building on North Walnut Street.
Bob McClain, treasurer of the Miami Valley Antique Fire Apparatus Association and his son, Matt, vice president of the group, said this is the 13th consecutive year for the event.
Suttman serves as newsletter editor and secretary for the group.
On display will be fire trucks and other apparatus from the 1850s right through the 1970s. There also will be a flea market for collectors and aficionados of fire equipment.
Bob McClain loves the antique fire equipment, too. He owns a 1950 GMC Mini-Pumper and a 1953 Lyman Fire Boat.
McClain expects about 40 pieces of equipment if the weather cooperates. “We were very pleased last year,” McClain said. “The weather was very nice.”
The Germantown Firefighter’s Association co-sponsors the event and will operate a food stand.
The park is handicapped accessible with plenty of parking nearby.
McClain calls the event “a step back in time adventure.”
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