Excerpts from wqad.com: Silvis firefighters are now embarking on a unique and meaningful project: bringing an 84-year-old fire engine back to life. The vintage American LaFrance fire engine, originally purchased by the city in 1939, served as a frontline unit until 1964. Its faded paint still reveals that it was once engine #2, a piece of local history that has now captured the hearts of the community. "It was traded in and kind of disappeared," said Silvis Fire Chief John Winters. "We think it ended up with a farmer who used it for watering crops or giving water to animals. It was discovered years later in a barn." The fire department first learned about the engine a few years ago when a man reached out, planning to restore it himself. While researching its history, he found a plaque on the side listing the names of the 1939 mayor, fire chief, and aldermen. Recently, he decided to sell the engine back to the Silvis Fire Department, making this restoration possible. The goal is to restore the engine as close as possible to its original condition, preserving its historical value while ensuring it can be showcased properly. "We’re going to have to take it apart, sandblast it, and repaint it," Winters explained. "We’ll meet soon to check the mechanics and see if the motor still turns. If it does, that’s a big step forward. We can then rebuild it and get it running again. If not, we may need to look into other options." Most of the restoration work will be handled by the firefighters themselves, but they plan to hire a professional to hand-paint the original gold leaf flake design, which is an essential part of the engine's historic look. To fund the project, the department is organizing fundraisers and accepting donations through their “Silvis Fire Department Brotherhood Fire Engine†account at Black Hawk State Bank. The community has already shown strong support, and the team is excited to bring this piece of history back to life for future generations to appreciate. Bending Products,Thick Steel Plate,Circular Steel Plate,Corrugated Metal Sheets Suzhou Gold ant Precision Sheet Metal Co.,Ltd , https://www.jmysheetmetal.com