11/23/2021
COMPLETE AERIALSCOPE BUCKET BAR FDNY 161 TRUCK
This is a rare opportunity to own a unique and historic piece of Aerialscope and FDNY memorabilia! This is a 1980 FDNY Aerialscope bucket hand crafted into a one-of-a-kind bar. An incredible amount of thought, creativeness, and attention to detail went into this project and can be seen everywhere you look. The bucket started its life at 161 Truck in New York City (MT8012), where it served for over 10 years. It was then purchased by the Wykoff FD and ran as truck 241. After Wykoff it was used by Seagrave as a loaner truck and served the Salamander Hook and Ladder, Bridgeport FD, and a few other places before its ultimate demise. The truck had a hydraulic pump failure and during transit the flywheel failed causing engine block damage, a small fire and ultimately the end of its service. The bucket was purchased from Sue Fury at Interstate Mack in Hagerstown, MD in 2010.
During the removal of the bucket, the canopy cover off an FDNY Mack CF she had in the yard for parts (MP8520) was also purchased. The canopy has been polished but the original patina remains. All the lights function and are period correct. (Federal mini aerodynamic with red and white lenses and roto-beam red rotators.) Some of the 1985 CFs had yellow flashers but I have an image of this one in use with the red roto beams. A bracket has been added so it can be easily mounted to any wall surface. The canopy is included with this sale.
This bar was handcrafted by Firefighter Dan Rothermel and the crew at Specialized Fire Equipment in Middletown PA. It features and ½ inch thick glass bar top (front) and two sanded brushed aluminum bar tops on either side. The entire bucket was lightly polished but still shows the marks, gouges, and scratches of all her battles. There is even still melted tar stuck to it in places. The bar comes with a working Akron monitor, stream straightener and stack tips. The handle has been shortened to prevent it from hitting the glass top. A Federal night fighter flood light is mounted to the bar top to add authenticity. They work on both the high and low settings. Red LED lighting has been mounted to the underside of the catwalk and adds a nice soft red glow to the floor around the bar. The original joystick has been polished and is still mounted to the control box. The joystick comes through the bar top at its originally mounted position. The door latches still open and close and for those of us lucky enough to have worked out of these buckets, it is music to our ears. The original sound and tone still echo from theses latches when they are worked. The bar is 88 inches wide, 55 inches deep, and the top sits 45 inches above the floor. It is made entirely of aluminum and the waterway forms the base and foundation for the bucket. The original floor is intact, and the intercom is still mounted to the back pillar. Included are 5 heavy duty very comfortable bar stools. The bar is capable of seating 7 comfortably. (Additional bar stools are still available and sell for $399 each). The bar sits on its original bumpers on the underside of the bucket.
The bar weighs approximately 400 pounds with the glass top and monitor in place. This bucket can be dismantled to fit in a 32” door and be reassembled. This would be a great addition to a man cave, social hall, or the back of a fire house bay. Please call or text with questions.
Full size photos, along with additional views are available via email. This item can be picked up in the Harrisburg PA area, or we will work with the buyer on shipping with various shippers we deal with at the buyer’s expense. Payment to be via check or money order only. Asking price is $10,000.00 or best offer. Inquires can be made via email to: [email protected]
