Holy cow, the station ID was done by hand? Wow! Looking around that room, most of that equipment was made in or near Chicago. AT&T, Motorola & Shure all had local factories.
@@billneese5166 no, I'm talking about at 6:35 when the guy grabs a telegraph key and starts pounding out Morse code. I've heard the Morse code station ID of many Chicago police and fire channels, and always assumed it was automated. But the guy was clearly doing it by hand in this video.
@@StringerNews1 Not Morse code-but the CFD "code of signals." The operator is stilling out the companies using 5-5-5 to indicate the company dispatched. The still truck is not tapped out but the second truck is. The "clacking" at 8:30 is Engine 129 and Truck 50 sending in their returns -- back in service, in quarters. At 3:15 you can briefly see the enclosed striking keys -- used for alarm escalation, activating the fire house registers and alarm bells -- companies refer to the box card to determine their assignment. Behind that are the signal lines--made electronic in the late 60's, accepting the fire box signals on the south side. This part of the system is still used today at the OEMC. Morse code ( to communicate with the repairmen) IS still used today.
@@pub6061 maybe that's why I couldn't copy what he was sending. How are these sent? By radio? He's at a console of mostly Motorola equipment, I see. Speaking of Motorola, IIRC the CFD purchased a whole new dispatch system in the late '70s, including all-new radios on the 800 MHz band. As I recall, the system was plagued with problems, and ultimately abandoned. What do you know about that?
@@StringerNews1 Hard line. The console used by the sitting ambulance dispatcher and its components were taken from the failed CAD center, opened in November 1985 and closed in November 1986. That system, a radio system, sat unused for 8 years before that. An operator remained at both of the old offices that year, to retrieve fire boxes and test the lines as they were never transferred over until OEMC opened in 1996.
OMG an old ring down board in 1989? When I worked a ring down in 1983, at least it was a little more modern (Hooot-n-Holler circuits triggered by a Western Electric mini-key board). At least they had modern Motorola radios, probably single channel non-voted non-CTCSS VHF. BUT I could have sworn I heard CTCSS voted radio transmissions. (Voter/voted: multiple receivers selected [voted] by their receive strength).
Not ignorant. It was a long time ago! Without going into too much detail, a still alarm consists of 2 Engines 2 Trucks and a battalion chief.After dispatch, the operator would "still out" the companies - 555 followed by the company signatures. The first truck was not stilled out if they were from the same house as the first engine. When a company returned they would use the code 335 and their signature to indicate "in service, in quarters". you see this code used in ceremonies, using a bell, at Fire Department funerals. There were other codes used, for special duty and other things, but these were the most common.
Excellent video of old school fire dispatching! Thank you for sharing!
I can tell these men truly love their job, and have a love for the fire dept. One can't say that for many vocations.
The ashtray!! 🤣 it was a different time
The ashtrays and the guy going over his sports gambling #'s is the best.
I've heard this method was faster and more dependable than the CAD system.
Holy cow, the station ID was done by hand? Wow! Looking around that room, most of that equipment was made in or near Chicago. AT&T, Motorola & Shure all had local factories.
If you are talking about the clacking around 8:30, that may be a register on one of the McCollough loops used for street boxes.
@@billneese5166 no, I'm talking about at 6:35 when the guy grabs a telegraph key and starts pounding out Morse code. I've heard the Morse code station ID of many Chicago police and fire channels, and always assumed it was automated. But the guy was clearly doing it by hand in this video.
@@StringerNews1 Not Morse code-but the CFD "code of signals." The operator is stilling out the companies using 5-5-5 to indicate the company dispatched. The still truck is not tapped out but the second truck is. The "clacking" at 8:30 is Engine 129 and Truck 50 sending in their returns -- back in service, in quarters. At 3:15 you can briefly see the enclosed striking keys -- used for alarm escalation, activating the fire house registers and alarm bells -- companies refer to the box card to determine their assignment. Behind that are the signal lines--made electronic in the late 60's, accepting the fire box signals on the south side. This part of the system is still used today at the OEMC. Morse code ( to communicate with the repairmen) IS still used today.
@@pub6061 maybe that's why I couldn't copy what he was sending. How are these sent? By radio? He's at a console of mostly Motorola equipment, I see. Speaking of Motorola, IIRC the CFD purchased a whole new dispatch system in the late '70s, including all-new radios on the 800 MHz band. As I recall, the system was plagued with problems, and ultimately abandoned. What do you know about that?
@@StringerNews1 Hard line. The console used by the sitting ambulance dispatcher and its components were taken from the failed CAD center, opened in November 1985 and closed in November 1986. That system, a radio system, sat unused for 8 years before that. An operator remained at both of the old offices that year, to retrieve fire boxes and test the lines as they were never transferred over until OEMC opened in 1996.
The good old days. Always enjoyed visiting
Good Old Days. Mid-1980s and early 1990s. Ashtrays and analog. Hey...where's Kurt Russell? 😊
OMG an old ring down board in 1989? When I worked a ring down in 1983, at least it was a little more modern (Hooot-n-Holler circuits triggered by a Western Electric mini-key board). At least they had modern Motorola radios, probably single channel non-voted non-CTCSS VHF. BUT I could have sworn I heard CTCSS voted radio transmissions. (Voter/voted: multiple receivers selected [voted] by their receive strength).
Old style dispatching, but It Worked!!
This is awesome. Thank youm
I bet this dispatch method had less issues than today's!
I bet it doesn’t.
It’s amazing how they were able to do all that
😂😂😂😂😂
The good ol' days
My man Timmmmmyyyyy
Young Ray Little.......wow.
Tim B and Bill T Jim C , Paul B and Ray L . Great crew .Then Jack J , Lenny R and Mike B come on the scene !
Paul Brennan up there doin’ it my guy
Is any of this system still in place?
Sorry for my ignorance, but what was he doing when pounding the the code key?
Not ignorant. It was a long time ago! Without going into too much detail, a still alarm consists of 2 Engines 2 Trucks and a battalion chief.After dispatch, the operator would "still out" the companies - 555 followed by the company signatures. The first truck was not stilled out if they were from the same house as the first engine. When a company returned they would use the code 335 and their signature to indicate "in service, in quarters". you see this code used in ceremonies, using a bell, at Fire Department funerals. There were other codes used, for special duty and other things, but these were the most common.
@@pub6061Ah okay thank you for explaining this! Seems like his wrist would get pretty tired on a busy night!
By tapping out on the key , he informs all Southside firehouse that those companies have been " stilled " out to a fire .
Which office was busier, Main or Englewood?
Englewood
More
No ambo for foot injury..... not no mo