Hi all,

After eleven years of trying, I finally got my 1953 Firefighters set over the 8.0 mark, at 8.023. You can view the set on the PSA Set Registry at:

http://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=20360

For those of you not familiar with this beautfiul series, it consists of 64 cards with color paintings of NYC firefighting equipment, old and current (as of 1953), both land-based and water-based. The art is striking, with the fire-fighting vehicles in blazing red, and the backgrounds soft pastels of blue, green and yellow. I don't believe there is another series quite like it.

The backs of the cards provide some informative narrative about the equipment depiced on the fronts. There are two back variations, one with wide print, and one with narrow print, but I don't pay too much attention to them in collecting the series. It is very difficult to find high-grade cards of many numbers in this series, particularly numbers 49-64.

My Dad loved this set, as he was a confirmed fire-engine chaser on Long Island, which has volunteer fire departments. I remember as a kid he kept the police radio on and at the announcement of a nearby fire, we were piling into our cars and running off to the scene of the fire. It was exciring, and always impressive to watch the fire crews do their work. Now that my Dad is gone, this set is a particuarly poignant remembrance of him. I can feel him looking over my shoulder as I pore through the cards, one by one.

I want to thank Marty Quinn and Mike Bobrow for helping me upgrade my set to the 8.0 level. Quite frankly, i had about given up that it would ever happen, as there are barely enough cards graded to produce a single 8.0 set. I feel privileged to be the steward of this set.

Best in collecting, Bill Bengen

Bill, I'm not a graded card collector but I will be the first one to congratulate you publicly for this great achievement, I know how hard it is to find card good enough to be graded 8 or better.

very nice. Old as I am and in much better shape.......

Bill, a huge congratulations on this accomplishment. One of my favorite sets and I'd be surprised if any of my cards would reach an '8' even though they were sold to me as NM or NM/MT or MT by five different dealers. My card 64, 58 and 57 still need improving but not sure if #'s 49 - 64 are that much harder to find (maybe in top conditions).

Hey BB...congratulations! Even though I have a shed full of axes to grind with TPG's...Sratospheric achievement!
Good Show!
Love FF's...although my #1 only grades a 5!
After looking at the pop report...Wowwee!...out of about 1000 submitted only 22 PSA 9 ( and you have 13 of them!) Super duper set there..plus the Tie-in with memories of your father (priceless)

Know of MQ..but I have not heard or seen Mike on here or anywhere since He, Jerry and Me..made some sort of deal year or 2 back. (If your reading Mike..Hi!)
I know he's a FF and has passion for this set.
This set is highly underrated IMHO...as you stated so simply: "...the bright reds against pastels, blue,yellow and green.." (YES!)
I want to re-visit this issue sometime ..the 2nd or 3rd time I got frustrated with the backs and differing info from folks. Like you, I don't care so much bout that now.
(kinda like Bowman's other issue :Navy ictories backs..put the set together then worry about variations)
Thanks for sharing
That's 2 homeruns already this year for you..whats next?

Nice stuff!


"showin the love since 1966"

for your kind congratulations. Reminds me of the reasons I am a member of this forum; it's like being part of a family, where everyone helps each other. Quite wonderful, really, in a world full of treachery and disappointment.

As for the matter of grade- FF cards look good whether VG or NM-MT. The artwork is so special, wear does not diminish the wonder.

Best regards,

Bill Bengen

Thanks Bill for the extensive trading, upgrading, exchange of my cards for my Firefighter set and yours. I have now reached a PSA of 7.656 and #2 on the PSA Set Registry . I am privledged to have worked with Bill in compiling this set. I played really a small part in getting him over 8.00 along with Marty Quinn.

Even though I only collect Firefighter cards this has been a passion for me. This has been a 15 year undertaking.Hopefully I will aquire a few more cards to upgrade this set. Thanks Bill once again. Also thanks to other members and Charley Ramone for getting me to the board and aquiring a few cards for the collection.

do you collect earlier fire-fighter related paper and trade cards or just card sets?

I collect only Firefighter card sets and any non sports cards depicting firefighters.