1922 REO Speedwagon
Owned/Restored by
Captain Paul R. Schneider
Captain Howard R. Schneider

Engine --- 4 Cylinder, 30 Horsepower Gasoline Engine
Fire Pump --- Hale, 500 GPM Rotary Gear Positive Displacement
Chemical Tanks --- Two 35 Gallon Soda Acid Tanks
Top Speed --- 30 Miles Per Hour
Restoration Time --- 3 Years
Restoration Cost --- 15, 000 Dollars. (Free Labor)

History --- Built in March of 1922 by the REO company, ( Ransom Eli Olds, Oldsmobile ) Shipped to the Los Angeles factory march of 1922. Unknown which Fire Department it served with at this time. Many Fire Departments in the Los Angeles area used the REO. They were known as one of the fastest Fire Engines built at that time. They also were the cheapest to produce; using the same frame and engine components as any other vehicle REO produced.

The Chemical Tanks used on early Fire Apparatus were used extensively in the late 1800s as well as into the early 1900s. The tank was mixed with water and Soda Bicarbonate. Inside of the tank was a bottle filled with acid that was kept separate from the water. When the Fire Apparatus arrive on scene, the Firemen would mix the two together and this would produce a chemical chain reaction, which would pressurize the tank, expelling the contents through the fire hose.

The Chemical tanks worked so well that sometimes a Fire Engine from another district would beat the closer Engine to the fire and extinguish it. This happened because it took time to extend fire hose from the hydrant to the fire and hook it up to the engine. The problem with Chemical Tanks though, was that once you ran out of water from the tanks, you were in trouble. So the fire had to be small enough to extinguish and the Firemen had to know how to fight the fire.

Chemical Tanks started to be replaced with water tanks in the 1930s. These tanks were plumed directly into the main Fire Pump of the Fire Engine. This allowed the Firemen to do a quick attack on the fire while other firemen hooked up a supply hose to the hydrant. This method still applies today with modern fire Apparatus.

Chemical Tanks came in different styles. The ones on this Engine are your poor mans version. The expensive tanks were all Brass and Copper, Nickel Plated with hammered ends. They were very ornate and are very scarce today.