Now the work begins in earnest...

Russell Street

Russell Street

We've purchased a beautiful combination, and we're very proud to have it. Our intent now is to put it together as it would have been when it was new....an ambulance run by a funeral home, or an upstart ambulance service. It has several "appearances" scheduled where we will be able to "educate" or jog the memories of a lot of folks.

History...I started in the business in 1963 as a senior in high school. Got my American Red Cross First-Aid card and worked for an upstart ambulance service (guy came into town and bought up all the funeral home rolling stock, and perfromed all services requiring a vehicle) part-time.

I remember quite well that everything that converted a Consort Hearse to an Ambulance fit on the cot, backboard, resuscitator, and the lights off the roof. What I don't remember is what all other things we carried, hidden away, that we used. For instance, would we have had "soft" cervical collars or did they come later. I remember the padded board splints, and I think we carried a set of Jobst Air Splints in a cardboard case. Other than that, I'm not real sure what all was carried in that time frame.

Confession...at the ripe old age of 17, my mind was concentrating pretty much on cars and "ladies" IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!

Soooo, Skip, Paul, Ed and some of the other "old-timers" on here, please assist a fellow old-timer complete this thing as realistically as possible.

BTW, I conducted a pretty good history lesson last evening with both our sons. They are both Firefighter/EMT's and really were having a hard time imagining how we functioned in those vehicles.
 
I have an excellent article written by Craig Stewart that appeared in the PCS magazine many years ago but still holds true today. Its title is "How To Stock Up Your Vintage Ambulance or Combination". Unfortunately, I cannot attach the .pdf file to this message, so anyone interested in reading this article must request a download from me. Jim
 
Jim Staruk said:
I have an excellent article written by Craig Stewart that appeared in the PCS magazine many years ago but still holds true today. Its title is "How To Stock Up Your Vintage Ambulance or Combination". Unfortunately, I cannot attach the .pdf file to this message, so anyone interested in reading this article must request a download from me. Jim
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Jim, do you know what issue was that article in? If we had the issue number we could look it up.
 
S Tube

You need a S tube airway. All it was was two oral airways pieced together with a flange. Was the resuscitator pretty intact, to tell the truth I didn't look in there after I dropped it on my foot.
 
here is the 75 list right click and print it out someone here shared it with the group so keep it passing on. back it down a little for your car. remember if there is not room for it don't put it on. they really carried vary little. with only a small tackle box for a jump kit
 

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Russell Street said:
Our intent now is to put it together as it would have been when it was new....an ambulance run by a funeral home, or an upstart ambulance service.
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I hope you keep her as a fully functioning combination.

Do you want to equip her as she was new in 1964, or later on in life? Here are some threads that might help:

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4026

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4023

As I'm sure you know, combinations generally didn't carry as much equipment as an ambulance; (a) because there wasn't room in the car, and (b) because too much equipment carried meant longer conversion time (and storage space in the garage) to and from hearse duty.

If you like, we'll do our best to find a pair of correct window inserts as well as a beacon (or at least a skirt) cut for your car.

Have fun!
 
Congrats Russell on your new car.

It's a beauty and it's found another good home.

Equipping as an era correct.combination is great idea. Let us know what equipment you're searching for an I'm sure we al have some extras that will work for you.

You'll need to find an older main cot...that model 30 you have in there is from the mid 80's on.

Keep the pictures coming!
 
Ron Devies said:
You need a S tube airway. All it was was two oral airways pieced together with a flange. Was the resuscitator pretty intact, to tell the truth I didn't look in there after I dropped it on my foot.
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Haven't checked out the Emerson yet, scared the damn thing will "attack" me too!! Like you said, "there's a reason it's got 3 handles, it takes 3 men to carry it". Copy on the "S" tube airwayas.
 
Steve Loftin said:
I hope you keep her as a fully functioning combination.

Do you want to equip her as she was new in 1964, or later on in life? Here are some threads that might help:

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4026

http://www.professionalcarsociety.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4023

As I'm sure you know, combinations generally didn't carry as much equipment as an ambulance; (a) because there wasn't room in the car, and (b) because too much equipment carried meant longer conversion time (and storage space in the garage) to and from hearse duty.

If you like, we'll do our best to find a pair of correct window inserts as well as a beacon (or at least a skirt) cut for your car.

Have fun!
Click to expand...

Pretty much intend to keep as she would have been in 1964/65 a fully functioning combination. I know we didn't carry much equipment, as I stated the big stuff all fit on the cot. I just can't remember what stuff was "hidden away".

The window inserts can come a little later, and I've got a 1963 Federal 173 Beacon that came off a 1963 Consort. Should fit right like it was made for it. When I quit the guy I worked for, he shorted me big on my last pay, so I helped myself to one of his Beacons. I do believe I made out rather nicely, don't you???
 
Bill Leverett said:
Congrats Russell on your new car.

It's a beauty and it's found another good home.

Equipping as an era correct.combination is great idea. Let us know what equipment you're searching for an I'm sure we al have some extras that will work for you.

You'll need to find an older main cot...that model 30 you have in there is from the mid 80's on.

Keep the pictures coming!
Click to expand...

I asked Ron to put a Model 30 in it, because I had/have ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE to work with one of the old "knuckle busters", my hands hurt just thinking about them!!! The search will commence once I've got a complete list of needed items.
 
Tomorrow Will Be A Week

So tomorrow's going to be a week, what no progress report? I better not see that car on evilbay or I'm gonna be pi$$ed! :eek:
 
Ron Devies said:
So tomorrow's going to be a week, what no progress report? I better not see that car on evilbay or I'm gonna be pi$! :eek:
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Ron, see the post I just put in your thread..."It's on the way, counting down'.

You won't ever see it on evilbay or any other site of that nature, on that you have my word. I've made very clear to my sons that if we still own the car when my time comes they are to sell it ONLY through the PCS. A list of folks that would handle that deal for them is being worked on.
 
I'm sorry I can't be of much help to your quest, as I've always been more of a funeral guy, but at least I'm glad not to have made the Skip, Paul, Ed list! *wipes brow in relief* Good luck with your project!
 
Ron requested a progress report...

We've had the '64 for just over a week now and have gotten quite a bit done. First off when Ron delivered the car to us he gave us a list of "issues" that he thought needed attention. The car ran very rough at idle speed, the tires should be replaced soon, and it had an annoying rattle when backing up.

We consulted with Paul as to how best to address these issues. He made several suggestions and provided the appropriate technical information. We sent it to our mechanic, Sam Consolo, here in Bellevue. I've known Sam for years and trust his judgement and work implicitly. I gave him Paul's suggestions and let him do his thing.

We got the car back Friday night from the first go around at Sammy's, purrs like a kitten. Timing and dwell set, points checked, plugs changed, a can of SeaFoam added to the tank. The rattle was exhaust related, and will be fixed Monday.

We were tied up most of yesterday with the funeral for Barb's cousins husband so not a lot happened to the car. We did however SOS the cot and it now looks like new. I also tried to put my 173 Beacon on it, but it needs to be trimmed more than clearances will allow. A phone call to Doug Kelley took care of that problem. A new light will be here this week. Barb spent $30 at Wal-Mart the other day and got sheets, pillow, pillow cases and towels for it. Put the cot back together, looks like the real deal.

Today we took her for a 40 mile cruise out through the countryside to let the SeaFoam do it's work. That gave me another short list of issues. Spent part of the day cleaning the interior. The drivers seat area is cleaning up nicely with Murphy's. This is one very nice and very clean car. I've run cars that were in service not near as nice as this one.

Tomorrow she goes back to Sammy. I want him to change out the rear shocks, check the front end (wheel bearings?), and adjust the carburetor after the SeaFoam worked. Three of us (me, Sammy, and Doug the tire guy) have decided that tires can wait for a short time. The ones on it now will get it through all of her scheduled "appearances" in the next couple weeks.

Now the only bad part so far. Ron included an Emerson Resuscitator with the car. The case is OK, the insides are OK, but the hoses and masks are strictly "touch and crush" bad, and it needs a "D" cylinder. There is a company in Sandusky that does medical supplies, maybe they can help to "cosmetically" restore it. Here are a couple photos of that.


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The exhaust rattle might just be the heat riser on the studs exiting the right hand exhaust manifold. The spring breaks, and then the riser just rattles a lot. Two cures for this.. find a replacement spring, which is next to impossible, or to remove the riser, and torch out the flapper inside, and then weld the shaft so it can't move again. If you weld it, then it should be set in the lower position, because that is where it is when the engine is hot. If the exhaust were being replaced, then the shops usually just remove it, and put the exhaust pipe directly onto the studs.
The other thing is that the rear shocks are no longer available from the auto parts stores. They are available through USA Parts Supply dot com

Take a measurement of the tank length, and I might have one in the garage. If so, you can pick it up next time you are up this way.
 
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