“OLD GERTIE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1940, Page 4

“OLD GERTIE”

DAYS OF USEFULNESS OVER/ GOOD RECORD OF SERVICE. "Old Gertie,” standing in sorry plight at the rear of the Masterton Fire Brigade Station, although now in a siate of dismantled disrepair, has had many useful years as a fire-fighting unit of the Masterton Brigade. Until the end of last year this machine, which was acquired in July, 1918, at a cost of £665 performed valuable service as a motor hose tender at many big fires in Masterton and in its day was the envy of hundreds of youthful eyes. It was the second motorised unit used by the Masterton Brigade and although it has now gone out of service, it is of interest to note that the first motor engine the brigade had is still in use at Eketahuna. "Old Gertie” is the name by which this second unit became known to Masterton brigadesmen. When it was first put. into service in 1918, for some years it drew the old steam pumping unit to fires. Previously horses had been used for that purpose. “Old Gertie” was driven by a 25 horse power engine and weighed' 1 ton ficwt. It has been replaced by a modern salvage van and hose tender, capable of carrying 2.200 ft, of hose and six men. The new unit is used principally for chimney fires and general brigade work, besides attending to major machines in calls to anv of the out-districts. Extensions to the men’s quarters at the station have now been completed and accommodation is available for six additional auxiliary firemen. It is intended to call applications for these positions, which offer good facilities and living conditions for men interested in fire-fighting work.