Identifying 1920s Cadillacs in recently discovered local 1938 Photograph

J

Josh Noiles

PCS Member
Hello gang! I also posted this over at the Cadillac & LaSalle club forum.

This photo is of our local fire department's fleet, and was taken in 1938. I discovered it in a closet of the small funeral home I work at. The original owner of the funeral home, Undertaker Mr. Ira B. Lohnes is standing on the truck holding his hat, and was a local politician at the time. We believe this was his copy of the photo. The photo was badly crushed flat after being rolled up for many decades, and was just recently carefully mounted in this frame for display to funeral home visitors. I have scanned it so you guys can see, as I believe at least two of the trucks are on Cadillac chassis: am I correct? Any information is welcomed!

-Josh A. Noiles
Registered Funeral Director & Embalmer

WFD.IraLohnes.1938 by Josh Noiles, on Flickr
 
Looks like all "Fire Trucks" were donations can you spell tax write off. Very well done note the double whitewalls on the one rig must have come from a well to do home. I agree great to see American craftsmanship at work. Something not seen today.
 
Great save Josh,note the sign 150th anniversary,? the union jacks and the banners must be Dominion day or celebrating something else,note the man second on right of the politician,not fire uniform guessing either military or salvation army or chaplain.Walt McCall would love to see this picture.
 
I'd bet that Walt could identify most, if not all, of the chassis used for these rigs and then...tell you more about who built the bodies as well.
 
Wayne: that is the local Salvation Army Chaplain!

Keith: I hope Walt gets a look at this and can help us out! :)

Thanks for all the input thus far, guys! :)
 
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