Several newspaper articles from the time and Department meeting minutes suggest that their were 2 hose carriages in service with the Sellersville Fire Company #1 and #2, as well as the consolidated Sellersville Fire Department. While it is not 100% clear which hose cart was where or which one was which, what is known is where they came from.

The first hose carriage, built by William Wolf of Allentown around September 1869 for the Libery Fire Engine Co. No. 5 was taken out service by Liberty in 1882 and purchased by Sellersville Borough at some point for the newly established fire company. In an 1889 article about the new Fire Company, it described that eigh hundred feet of the best hose were also purchased, together with a very fine hose carriage, with glass panels in cylinder, from the Allentown Fire Department, formerly belonging to the Liberty Hose Co.

From this same article, it states "The old Phoenixville Hose Co.'s hose carriage was also purchased and entirely rebuilt, but it is not required in the outfit of the Sellersville Fire Department. The bells on the carriage are of the finest silver alloy bell metal, and have been in service seventy odd years..." This carriage is the carriage pictured above.

On December 9th, 1936, from meeting minutes of the Fire Department, "A motion was made by E. Moyer and Second by Winze the president communicate with man for Hose Cart. A motion was made by J. Daub and second by W. Stauffer that the secretary get information on application and fill out. Mr. George Harttman took it in charge

January 13th, 1937 meeting minutes of the Fire Department, its was recorded that "The proposition of selling the old hose reel was then brought up. After some discussion a motion was made by Alfred Wild, second by Alex Alexander and passed that the Company sell the apparatus for a price of $150 with the provision that the apparatus be on permanent exhibition at Carpenters Hall."

In the same minutes, the carriage is again mentioned. "A motion was then made by Joseph Daub, second by Alfred (?) - Moyer and passed that we pay $150, the amount received for the cost of the hose cart, on the $15,000 note."

Lastly, during this meeting, the "Sale of hose reel to Charles Lindborg" is mentioned in the receipts and expendetures ledger.

A few short days later, a news paper published in The North Penn Reporter, describes "First piece of fire-fighting equipment ever used in Sellersville is among the collection presented to the city of Philadelphia"

Article continues to described the Hose Cart - "Sellersville's contribuation to the collection is a four-wheel hose cart, purchased back in 1888, when the Sellersville Fire Company was organized..." "...It is simply a mounted reel for carrying hose and was drawn by hand by running firemen. Warning to driver of wagons and buggies that the smoke-eaters were coming was sounded by bells that are attached to springs." "..."The volunteers finally descided to part with it at their January meeting when the purpose of the Philadelphia exhibit was explained. Charles Lindborg, of Philadelphia...offered the firemen $150 for the cart. The offer was accepted."

In 2012, after many years of circulated rumors, the Department submitted documentation to Fireman's Hall (The Philadelphia Fire Museum) suggesting that the hose carriage located on the 2nd floor, once belonged to us. At the time, there was not enough information for the museum to feel confident in saying that they could confirm such claim. Fast forward to Janaury 2025, additional information was found in old newspaper articles connecting the last few dots to confirm our claim. The museum felt comfortable to agree that the carriage did in fact, once belong to the Sellersville Fire Department.

(Hose carriage at Fireman's Hall)