JasonC wrote:Fire departments who put bells on their apparatus usually will put it on only one truck (usually their best "show truck") for use in parades and such, mainly for purposes of nostalgia and "making noise" close to people without all the sirens and horns.
Oh. That makes more sense. I thought they meant it as a warning device.
JasonC wrote:Some bells are electrically operated, but there are bells on modern equipment (2006 E-One for example) that actually do have a "string" run up into the cab in the officers seat. Those bells are nice, and they are quality made.
Yes, I have rung one with a rope on a 50s Mack.
JasonC wrote:Putting K5LA train horns on a fire truck, I believe, is a bigger waste of money than a bell. Stuttertone horns work just fine and they have a "fire truck" sound to the public. Train horns are just pointless on an apparatus running code 3 (though I'd be one happy person riding in that officers seat responding to a structure fire!)
Far too loud. You don't need to scare and annoy the whole town. Only warn the next intersection you're approaching.
If I was unfamiliar with the town, I'd think a train was near, and continue on my merry way not thinking I may need to yield to a fire truck. That should be illegal. Only fire truck-sounding Stuttertone horns or the like should be "alloud".
JasonC wrote:As far as a waste of money, there are a LOT of other money pits on apparatus I'd be more concerned about. (i.e. a fully digital computerized pump panel $200k+)
What could possibly be the justification for that? I know how to pump water with just the dials we already have. Sickening.
JasonC wrote:Usually if a department has an antique apparatus, you will almost always find a bell on it, though its probably original.
Yes. That is fine and nostalgic.