Fireman Larry Schneider
1955

-One hot summer afternoon, while standing Floor Watch in the front office of Fire
Station 22, Fireman Larry Schneider sat down to study the NFPA Handbook on Fire Protection.  Weary from "C" shifting (working a second job on his days off-- a direct violation of Department Policy), worn out from chasing  two baby boys at home and trying to keep up with the crew of  Truck 22, the busiest truck company in the city, Larry soon fell fast asleep.

Meanwhile, two coworkers, Fireman Jim Aley, appointed in 1933 and Fireman Tom Devereaux, appointed in 1948, known as the finest smoke-eaters in the house were also known for rolling turds. Both men were amateur photographers and had set up a "dark-room" upstairs in the pipe alley behind the shower room in the crews locker room. 

When Firemen Schneider eventually opened his eyes, pinned to the station bulletin board directly in front of him was the photo shown above with the attached excerpt from the LAFD Rules & Regulations.

The duty of Floor Watch was an assigned responsibility for all members below the rank of captain. Between the hours of 0800 and 1700 one member, in proper uniform, was assigned to be available in the front of the station for station security and to meet and greet the public.

Each morning, prior to 0800 Line-Up, the Captain made a "Floor Watch" schedule and posted it on the station bulletin board.

Generally, the Drivers (horse drivers in the early years) and later the Auto-Firemen and Engineers were scheduled in the morning hours as it was assumed they would be on the apparatus floor doing their daily checks.  Also, the early hours were considered more desirable and this "privilege" was given to the men with rank. 

Beginning at noon, the firemen, now finished with the daily house work, would don their Standard Uniform   (formal uniform also known as "Blues") and stand their watch.  The length of the watch tour was determined upon the number of firemen assigned to the particular station. 

The responsibilities of the "Floor Watch"included:

-Raising the Flag.

-Turning out the night lights.

-Winding the Gong on the Alarm Panel.

-Answering "Taps": the 0630, 12 noon and 1700hr test of the Station Alarm System.  (This was done by pressing an Answer-Back button located on the Alarm Panel after the receipt of the alarm test notifying the Signal Office (later OCD) that the station alarm system was in good order.

-Keeping the horse stalls clean (in the early years.)

-Meeting and greeting the public.

-Sounding the station alarm in case of a
"Still Alarm" (walk in report of fire).

-Receiving teletype messages.
(The station teletype, located in the Alarm Panel, printed alarm information and special notices on a paper tape. The Floor Watch was responsible for tearing the tape into strips, pasting them on a yellow tablet and posting them on the station bulletin board.  Important messages would be immediately taken to the Captain.)

-Signaling a "Line-Up" by ringing the station Alarm Gong (three times) upon arrival of the Chief.

-And at 1700hrs lowering the flag at the end of the day.

The Floor Watch duty was phased out in the late 1960's.