Fire Engines Photos

Wow, the old "Caddy" ambulance.
I remember them as a kid; and worked with some Old-Timers, who had started out on them.

And their origin - well, keen-eyed Overseas Readers will note the resemblance to a hearse.

Not having undergone the mass casualties of WW-2 at home, and there being no National Health Service [MediCare] providing transportation; outside of the big cities with their hospitals - the only means of transporting someone on a stretcher was often the local Undertaker's [Funeral Home] funeral hearse. And Presto, this style of ambulance evolved.

The low roof-line meant cramped quarters in back, for working on your patient. This one has a raised roof to try and make more head-room. And, it usually could carry only the one coffin, er, stretcher.

In fact, many Funeral Homes provided both business' - Ambulance Services and Funeral Services - thus leading to some awful macabre humour, about the apparent "conflict of interest".

In all fairness, ambulances were also run by hospitals, big and small; Fire Departments - both Paid and Volunteer (as above); and Volunteer Ambulance Corps (St John Ambulance Brigade, etc).

But, as stated, oh what a comfortable ride - essentially a big luxury limousine.

And this rig must have the greatest concentration of Emergency Lights on a roof, of anything submitted to date.......

Thanks, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 12 September 2008.

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