Willys Form SX-229-4 is the hard-to-find four-page brochure for the CJ-3B version of the Willys Jeep Fire Engine, and is reproduced here from Gary Keating's collection. It includes a number of the small cartoons typical of early-1950's Willys brochures (although they're not as detailed as the drawings in the Commando Fire Truck brochure.)
The surprising example in the sketches of applications for the Fire Jeep, is the "Motion Picture Studio", which is a bit outside the usual industrial market at which Willys was aiming. It suggests that perhaps a sale had been made to a movie studio -- has anyone run across information or a photo of that?
The drawings on the first page of the brochure are slightly more detailed, including a Jeep climbing a flight of stairs, and attacking a brush fire while rolling with a water tank trailer.
The larger illustration of the Fire Engine (110K JPEG) provides a good look at the front-mounted American Marsh pump, and the bump in the center of the hood to accommodate the carburetor, raised to clear a vacuum line for priming the pump.
The text on the second page mentions the 19 ft. 5 in. turning radius of the Jeep, and the simplicity of operation which allows one firefighter to drive and operate the pump without help if necessary. It points out that, "The first few minutes of a fire tell the story of whether it will be a minor or major one."
The text also claims "less than a third the cost of fire engines with similar equipment and performance."
Page 3 answers the question "Who are the users of the Jeep Fire Engine?" with the series of sketches seen above of "locations such as ranches, motion picture studios, shipping docks, airports, lumber camps, factories, or military installations. In addition, of course, are the municipalities who want to have an auxiliary item of firefighting equipment to support larger units."
Also listed is standard equipment including 500 GPM American Marsh pump, hoses, tools, and lights. Optional equipment includes backpack foam tank and 200-gallon tank trailer.
Page 4 has the usual description of the "go anywhere" tractive power of Willys 4-wheel drive, and also mentions that, "There's safety, too, in 4-wheel drive traction. In coming down a steep grade, the Jeep Fire Engine, with clutch engaged, uses the engine's compression and 4-wheel drive ground contact for more positive traction and increased braking effort."
Thanks to Gary Keating for scanning the brochure. -- Derek Redmond
See also CJ-3B Factory Fire Engines and CJ-3B Fire Engine Close Up.
Return to Fire Service Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.
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