An Extrication History Question

[FiftyOnePride]

The other night I was at a heavy vehicle extrication evolution at a mutual aid department, and for fun and kicks and giggles they pulled out what was relayed to me to be their tool for the cutting operation in extrication before hydraulics and sawzalls.

It had essentially a manual can opener head with a sliding ram to seat the cutter itself. I had not seen one prior to the other night and was wondering if there was a name for it/where it can be purchased if anywhere/of if anyone can relate stories about it. It did it's job quite effectively too.

Just an interesting tool I'd like to know more about, thanks in advance for any and all replies.

I did a search and came up with nothing so if I missed it, my bad.

[Isitjustme]

What you are describing sounds exactly like a Paratech PRT (Percussive Rescue Tool)... pretty neat tool.

I don't sell for Chiefs Supply but they have a pretty description at: www.chiefsupply.com/Fire%2CRescue/Fire_Tools/Forcible_Entry/22000627

Take a look and post if that is what you were talking about.

Later

[FiftyOnePride]

That is exactly it, except this one was older and was lacking the interchanging heads and more efficient design/shape.

I can't believed I missed it. Thanks so much for the on the spot response!

[irons308]

If the object you were talking about was shaped like an old "church key" can opener, I believe it was called the Kingsbury Tool, or at least that is what we refer to it here

[Bones42]

Some of us used to tape up one side of a lawn mower blade, so you could hold it safer, and hit the other end with a small sledge. Was good at cutting into sheet metal and such.

(and yes, that was probably before you were born) ;)

[FiftyOnePride]

Some of us used to tape up one side of a lawn mower blade, so you could hold it safer, and hit the other end with a small sledge. Was good at cutting into sheet metal and such.

(and yes, that was probably before you were born) ;)

It might have been. Great to think about though. Reminds me not to take advantage of the tools available to me.;)

[KAPNKRNCH]

We carry these, kinda sounds like what your describing.

http://www.paratech-inc.com/#/Forcible%20Entry%20Tools/Personal/Pry-Axe/

[FireRescue43]

Lawn mower blades and a sledge that takes me back to when I started! Other tools that don't see much use today that we used all the time are hacks saws (with two blades set in oposite directions so it would cut on the pull and push stroke), flooring knives (for removing windshields set in mastic) and porta powers. Anyone else remember the Black Hawk Extricator set with the pulling rams? Opening doors and, rolling dashes and pulling steering wheels (it you had the pulling ram) wasn't the fastest using a porta power but we got the job done.

[nc1130]

We still have them.
Black Hawk 10 Ton Set. You didn't need a pulling ram, just the right peices to make-up everything.
Think about the Speed Ram. Push the side you could extend it 10" or turn the top section to "screw" it out. Install a base plate on a 24" Extention, connect in the Speed Ram to this, with a push plate you have your struts.
OR
Just put the base plate on the Ram, connect your extention with a push plate, would give you the same thing.
How about a bailing Hook to remove a windshield.
Using a Come-a-long for your steerling column relocation.

Those were the days.

nc

[N2DFire]

Some of us used to tape up one side of a lawn mower blade, so you could hold it safer, and hit the other end with a small sledge. Was good at cutting into sheet metal and such.

(and yes, that was probably before you were born) ;)

We used to cut sections of leaf spring then grind an edge on part of it.
Wrapped the other half in innertube & tape.

Some of the fancy ones even had welded on hand guards made from smaller rod or bar stock.

Haven't used on for as long as I can remember but we still carry them because they never run out of air, gas, or hydraulic fluid & always start on the first "pull" ;o)

[FireRescue43]

nc1130, I remember using bailing hooks to take out windshields, until rescently we had a set on the rescue. Come-a-longs, short boards, sandbags, philadelphia collars, etc were in use when I started.

If I get the chance this summer I'm going to break out all the old equipment we used, show the younger guys how to use it, and then let them try an "Old School Extrication".

[BUITRE]

This is how everybody should start learning EXTRICATION. How many have seen and EXTRICATION TECHNICIAN PATCH worn by a rooky lets say. and when the pump goes off and wont start or the ram or a hose brakes. UPPS!!! now what? I was taught with a HURST, HOLMATRO, LUKAS or who knows which other brand. If I go up to US I would like to visit you and all that good old stuff that made our days worth. No saying that I dont like hydraulics, they have made my life much easier but before was another story.

I remember opening a rooftop on a vehicle with a screw driver and a 3 pound hammer. or the mower blade converted with all duct tape and hose possible so you wouldn't feel vibration so much. Or the paratech when upgraded our equipment.

Good old days!

I usually send my students to perform this old procedures so they know how to do when hydraulics come into problems.


KEEP SAFE!

[ADSNWFLD]

The squad I started on had one, It has been some time and I cant remember the name. Ours unscreewed and the tip could then be replaced. It would cut metal pan deck also once you got a purchase.
It was about 3 ft long and the can opener extended another 2 ft from that.

[FiftyOnePride]

This is how everybody should start learning EXTRICATION. How many have seen and EXTRICATION TECHNICIAN PATCH worn by a rooky lets say. and when the pump goes off and wont start or the ram or a hose brakes. UPPS!!! now what? I was taught with a HURST, HOLMATRO, LUKAS or who knows which other brand. If I go up to US I would like to visit you and all that good old stuff that made our days worth. No saying that I dont like hydraulics, they have made my life much easier but before was another story.

I remember opening a rooftop on a vehicle with a screw driver and a 3 pound hammer. or the mower blade converted with all duct tape and hose possible so you wouldn't feel vibration so much. Or the paratech when upgraded our equipment.

Good old days!

I usually send my students to perform this old procedures so they know how to do when hydraulics come into problems.


KEEP SAFE!

I couldn't agree more, just hadn't seen this particular tool before.

My grandfather was telling me the other day about using mower blades, interesting stuff.

[Rescue101]

Easy to make.Just get a piece of drill rod or decent cold rolled,sharpen and fit a piece of leaf spring and weld it on with some low hydrogen rod.I made several of these in the formative years. T.C.

[Lifeguard911]

How many here took classes from the legend, O.B. Streeper? I took several from him and he should be considered the father of extrication.
One of my favorites was tipping a car on it's side, then cutting a c-section in the roof using an air chisel, and folding the roof flap down to make a floor. Then the carpet knives came out to cut away the headliner after checking to be sure the patient wasn't lying against where you were going to cut.
You can't do that as well with modern cars were nearly everything seems to be glued together or made of plastic. Now we take the whole roof off.
In the days before airbags, I pulled back many a steering column using chains and a Come-Along. We still carry the Blackhawk sets as backups for when the Hurst, etc fail.

[Bones42]

the legend, O.B. StreeperNever heard of that name.

[valley3]

We have a tool called a K-Bar T. it has a chisel head and Panal cutter head(can opener0 and slide hammer action. I also remember the sharpened leaf springs and lawn mower blades.

[AC1503]

I went to two or three O. B. Streeper classes in the late 1960's. His son tought most of the last one, but I don't remember his name. It seems like their Company was called Special Service & Supply. Is it still in operation?

[SeaBeeSmitty]

I'm just sitting here reminiscing and decided to do a search for O. B. Streeper. You see. his son, who taught the later classes, was O. B. Streeper, Jr. and I served with him in Vietnam in the Seabees. I met Sr. once and I knew he and his son were in the rescue business. I'd like to contact Jr. if anyone knows how. Since we constantly trained for fire fighting in the Navy, I didn't think you'd mind a Seabee who doesn't extricate anyone or put out fires anymore sticking his nose in here.

[helicopter722]

The old man still lives in Chenoa IL. Checking the phone records also shows another Owen Streeper in town. Sorry I can't show number here, Webteam would come unglued.

Later

[BigRig]

I've met and spoke with "OB", who is the inventor of the 'BOSS Tool'. Special Service & Supply has been bought by someone who moved ops to Steamboat, CO. Most of the tools remain available.

A simple question, he used to teach a technique for 'tunneling into the footwell'. From those who have actually taken training he delivered, is this simply using the air chisel to enter the footwell, or perhaps more involved? Please share this information.

Thanks.

[bcjack]

I was a student of O. B. Streeper back in 1974. The man was a genius!!! The stuff he could do with non-power tools was just amazing.

[rsqman]

I went to several classes put on by O.B. Sr and Jr in the mid to late 60's and early 70's in Missouri. O.B. was from Illinois and gave frequent classes in Mo. Anyone fortunate enough to go through his classes could damn sure do vehicle extrication at the end of it. We tore up a lot of cars and used real people as victims. As I remember, he drove a Jeep with a very non-stock engine. O.B. could lay rubber with all four wheels in every gear.

Mike Dunn

[Engine305]

A tool that is still made is a halligan bar with the metal cutting end. They work like a 30 inch can opener.
not too expensive either.