Old Betsy – Lafayette’s historic fire truck
As Told by George Wasson and Mary Solon
Old Betsy is a Model TT (Ford truck). The body of Old Betsy could be from 1919 and the engine is a 1920 model. She was originally outfitted with a water tank, a CO2 canister of about 50 gallons, and a manifold for connecting to a fire hydrant for fighting fires.
According to a document from July 3, 1918, with the letterhead of the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau and with the title “Officers of Contra Costa Rural Fire Companies”, the first fire chief for Lafayette was L.I. Starks and the assistant was Ed. J. Allen. Although there was a Lafayette Fire District then with horse- drawn equipment, it is thought that Old Betsy was acquired sometime after 1920 as Lafayette’s first motorized fire engine. How she got her name is unknown.
Old Betsy served Lafayette in the 1920s and 1930s with Fire Chief Ed Morrison as the only paid employee. The fire truck was kept in Chief Morrison’s garage. Sometime after the 1930s, Old Betsy was used by the Lafayette Junior Chamber of Commerce (the Jaycees) for parades and other special occasions. She was sold and eventually resold to Earl Sanko of Pleasant Hill where she sat for some years in his barn.
In 1977, John Kallio discovered Old Betsy at Sanko’s barn and a group of Lafayette citizens organized a fund-raising effort for its purchase. The Lafayette Historical Society pledged $1775 to be matched by clubs and citizens. The purchase price was met June 17, 1977, and the engine known as “Old Betsy” was given to the city for housing and display. It remained in George and June Wasson’s garage for many years!
The engine has been completely overhauled including pistons and rings. New tires, tubes, wheel hub bolts and nuts, tire rim bolts and nuts, and wheel bearings were special ordered and installed. Big O Tires removed the old tires from the old rims by hand. New wooden spokes were installed at Vintage Wheel Shop in Sonora. The remounting of the tires on the rims was done by Alhambra Garage in Martinez. Old Betsy received a new Waterford Transmission and drive shaft, providing three gear ratios. All her exterior metal parts have been powder coated by West Coast Specialty Coatings in Concord.
Besides the original group of Hub Anderson, Mike Rogers, Lee Volquardsen and John Kallio who oversaw Old Betsy’s first renovation, there have been many people and organizations financially involved in the renovation of Old Betsy. The list includes the Lafayette Historical Society, The Lafayette Community Foundation, other clubs and organizations, skilled (amateur) workers, and the Boy Scouts. David Truckner rebuilt many of the wooden and metal parts of the understructure. Many other people graciously donated money and time.
Through the years Old Betsy has been in numerous parades and civic events, often including rides for young and old. She was shown many times at the Concours d’Elegance Lafayette.
FORD MODEL T’s
Model T Trucks were sold by Ford Motor Company with the frame, engine and a driver’s seat only; the rear was a flatbed. Many rear forms were constructed by a carriage maker for different styles and purposes, including fire engines.
The engine is a 4 cylinder inline gas engine. It develops about 20.2 HP from a 133 cubic inch engine. The top speed is about 40-45 mph. The 10 gallon gas tank is under the seat, gravity feed to the engine. Fuel economy is on the order of 13-21 mpg.
On the steering column are two levers – one for spark advance on the left and the other on the right is the accelerator.
The transmission is planetary gear transmission with three pedals. The right pedal is the brake, the left pedal is forward (low and high) and the middle pedal is reverse. With the left pedal in middle position (neutral) the reverse pedal can be pressed for reverse drive. The drive is to the real wheels.
The tires are 30×3.5 on the front and 33×5 on the rear. The wheels have wood spokes (hickory).
Fifteen million Model T’s were built and the engines were still being produced in 1941! At one time it was said that 10 percent of all cars in the world were Ford’s. The cars were available in black and other colors although Ford preferred black because it dried faster. By 1914 it took only 93 minutes to assemble a car. In 1927 the model T ceased production and Ford Motor Company began to produce the Model A.
George Wasson and Mary Solon
Old Betsy is now on view at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center next door to the History Room. We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 2pm. We would love to see you!