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Originally purchased for the Huntington
Park Fire Department in 1953, this engine was almost identical
to the large number of International/Coast rigs that were
operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for many
years. Powered by 935 cubic inch Hall-Scott engines, the relatively
light Internationals were faster and more agile than most
fire trucks of that era, although the absence of power steering
made them a chore to drive.
Built by Coast Fire Apparatus Co. on
International chassis, this unit came with the Huntington
Park Fire Department in 1970 when it was absorbed into the
County Fire Department. For awhile, it served as Engine 147
in Cudahy. After station 147 closed, the International became
Engine 260 at Universal Studios. At the time of its retirement
from County service, it was assigned as Engine 50. At that
time, Assistant Chief Paul Schneider (uncle of the current
CLAFMA president) convinced Universal Studios to keep the
engine for movie work, which they did.
In 1995, retired Chief Schneider asked
the museum association about the status of this engine. His
inquiry eventually led to Universal’s donation of the
engine to the museum. It is our plan to have it repainted
within two years.
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