Antique fire engine being restored in Brooklyn

By Rita A. Leonard

The Bee, Dec 24, 2009

Rita A. Leonard / THE BEE

This historic 1923 fire truck is being restored to street running condition for its McMinnville owners at Majhor-Murray Ltd in Brooklyn.

An antique fire truck is in the midst of being restored at Majhor-Murray Ltd. in the Brooklyn neighborhood, although it’s owned in Yamhill County – by the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at Linfield College in McMinnville

Alumnus Chris Ratto, a Delta Rho Chapter member, says the historic piece of fire equipment was acquired from the Corvallis Fire Department, but has been generally out of commission since 1980. “Although I studied History and Music at Linfield, I’ve always liked old cars,” he explains.

“The auto industry changed a lot between 1920 and 1935, so this is really more of an antique, due to its systems and motor. It was in pretty poor running order, so we plan to get it restored to top street-running condition.

“When I contacted Bruce Murray at Majhor-Murray Ltd. in Brooklyn, and asked about restoring it, he already knew a lot about the vehicle. I could tell immediately that they knew how to do things right there, so the fire truck sits on their lot, and they've been working on the various systems.”

Bruce Murray has worked on vehicles old and new at the Majhor-Murray site for over 40 years. He tells THE BEE that although he is fascinated by classic and performance models, he simply enjoys working on interesting vehicles of all sorts. Loyal customers bring him their cars from all over Oregon and southwest Washington.

Although the old fire engine does not compare in its capabilities with the advance fire equipment of today, Ratto reflects that at the time it was built, it surely was a technological leap forward from the horse-drawn water wagons of only a few years earlier.

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