1919 Peter Pirsch - Winther Fire Ladder Truck

It is a 1919 Peter Pirsch and Sons/Winther 65 ft. aerial ladder truck built on this Winther chassis, both chassis and fire body and equipment built in Kenosha Wisconsin. I now have the original purchase document, have it’s complete history as first purchased by Virginia, MN, then sold and served to Northfield, MN, then was purchased by Harrah’s Car Museum in Reno, NV, then purchased by Ponderosa Ranch, and may have been in Bonanza TV series of the 1950’s and 60’s. Then acquired by the California Fire Museum. This rig may be the only known Straight Ladder Truck ever built with this very rare Tiller Bucket, outside the center of the aerial ladder bays, and over the right rear wheel well. Possibly because of issues identified with this Tiller positioning, ALL OTHER US Built ladder trucks were built with the Tiller Buckets in the middle of the aerial ladder bay, still to this day, some 98 years later. There is still lots of original paint, lettering, and artistic gold leafing visible on the vehicle.