honing ,inner bore, high performance Shandong Shifeng Metal Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.qfgygs.com
Bill Friedrich recently shared an image with his collection, and he reached out to Drew Smith for help in determining its age. The picture features a familiar scene but needed some context.
Attached is the image in question, and it seems to depict the Prospect Heights Fire Department. Bill asked Drew if he could assist in dating the photograph.
---
Here’s the historical insight Drew provided:
"I’ve confirmed that this photo dates back to 1963. When the station was originally constructed, it had a neon sign reading 'FIRE DEPARTMENT' above the main door. This was later updated to read 'PROSPECT HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT' in red letters. The photo Bill shared shows the newer lettering. Additionally, the paint store sign visible to the left indicates this is a more recent photo since that store was replaced by a new Walgreens. I also have other images from around the same time period that show the updated lettering with a different business occupying the former paint store space. Furthermore, the original design of the station didn’t include a curb between the road and the apron; it was just a gravel transition."
---
A few additional points:
- The station wagon seen in the image was the chief's vehicle at the time and would have been used by the first two chiefs. Over the history of the Prospect Heights Fire Department (PHFD), there have been only four chiefs:
- Fran Foor (1944–1962), who served as president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association in 1954.
- William Andrew (1962–1969).
- Donald Gould, Sr. (1969–1988).
- Donald Gould, Jr. (1988–present).
- Based on the license plates, I estimate this photo was taken in 1963. According to [this Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Illinois), Illinois license plates in 1963 were dark green with gold lettering, which matches the appearance of the plates in the photo.
- The red-and-white 1957 Ford station wagon was replaced in 1966 with a Chevrolet Impala station wagon.
- Between 1964 and 1968, the PHFD acquired three new vehicles:
| Year | Type | Signature(s) | Make/Mfr. | Pump GPM | Tank | Other |
|------|-----------|---------------------|---------------|----------|--------|--------------------------------------|
| 1964 | Squad | #5, 175, Squad 9, 909 | Chevy | | | Utility body truck, Breathing air cascade, Generator |
| 1966 | Pumper | #2, 172, Engine 9R | Ford/Darley | 750 | 1000 | Twin high-pressure booster reels |
| 1968 | Tanker | #6, 174, Tanker 9 | Ford/Darley | 750 | 1500 | |
- The 1947 Ford Darley pumper remained in service until the early 1970s. In 1973, the department acquired a new Dodge station wagon for the chief, a Ward LaFrance pumper, and their first ambulance, built on a Dodge van.
---
I’ve included a few additional photos for reference:
- This appears to be the 1957 Ford when it was new. The red license plate with white letters confirms it’s from 1957.
- This is the 1948 Ford “pie wagon,†which was affectionately called that by older members of the department, even though it had long since been retired. Someone in the northwest suburbs restored this vehicle, though no contact information is available.
Best regards,
Drew Smith
Deputy Chief
Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
10 East Camp McDonald Road
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
A honed tube refers to a precision steel tube whose inner bore has been processed by the honing technique, achieving high dimensional accuracy, high form accuracy, low surface roughness, and featuring a cross-hatched pattern. Its primary application is in manufacturing hydraulic cylinder barrels and pneumatic cylinder barrels. These tubes are key components ensuring high performance, high reliability, and long service life in hydraulic and pneumatic systems. When the term "honed tube" is used in the hydraulic industry, it typically refers to the finished tube that has undergone honing processing and is ready for direct use in manufacturing cylinder barrels.