The 1921 IFD Stutz Pumper was built as a 600 GPM Triple Combination Pumper Model B with a 6-cylinder Wisconsin engine. It was delivered to the Indianapolis Fire Department in 1921 and assigned to Station No. 18, designated as Car No. 145. In 1939, the car was reassigned to Station No. 24, and then placed in reserve four years later.

Near the end of World War II, the Stutz was taken out of reserve and assigned to Tyndall Towne at Stout Field, a temporary housing site for servicemen returning from war. After three years of service at Tyndall Towne, the engine of Car No. 145 failed, and the car was removed from the housing site. The Stutz was placed into storage at IFD’s shop on June 1, 1951.

Repairs were made on the Stutz; the original 6-cylinder Wisconsin engine was removed and replaced by a rebuilt 54.2 horsepower 6-cylinder Hercules engine. After this restoration, the car was returned to service in Tyndall Towne on March 6, 1953.

Car No. 145 stayed in service at the housing site until the late 1970s, when it was loaned to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for their Fire Gallery display. Before being put on exhibition, the pumper was repainted by the North Central High School body shop. The Hercules engine was replaced by a refurbished 4-cylinder Wisconsin engine from Franklin, Indiana, similar to Car No. 145’s original motor.

After the Fire Gallery exhibit closed at the Children’s Museum, the Stutz was returned to service at Tyndall Towne. Car No. 145 joined our collection at the Koorsen Fire Museum in 2021.

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