The historic gallery of Chiavenna’s Fire Department is opening a new room dedicated to
Claudio Persenico’s fire engine models. That’s me – a retired fire department head who served in the Chiavenna base from 1975 – 2008. My spare time was devoted to the construction of models on a scale of 1:14. It was a passion for the fire service which had begun as a child. Model-making ambitions began in my father’s carpentry workshop under his watchful eye. Some years later military service was undertaken at the School for Volunteer Fire-fighters Auxiliary in Rome. Following this – whilst waiting to enter the Fire Service on a permanent basis I spent time in the workshop and also undertook courses in design and welding which were to prove particularly useful in my future modelmaking. After a lifetime in the Service, during which I rose through the ranks, I retired in 2008. Delving into
the history of fire-fighting was a simple extension of my passion for the job, and my technical experience in working in iron was a huge help when I began to make scale models of fire engines from past and present. My first model appeared as long ago as 1975. Copied from photographs it contains inaccuracies and approximations – but it still gives me a thrill!
Today the collection comprises 90 models through which you can trace the evolution of the fire department’s equipment from the mid 1800’s to the present. The work is entirely my own and the models are created using sheet iron, brass, aluminium, plastic and PVC. They remain faithful to the originals down to the finest detail. Starting with hand pumps from the first half of the XIX century, it moves to the first motorised vehicles, then the more advanced engines with modern automatic ladders et al.
It’s a unique collection, much requested at Fire Service exhibitions both at home and abroad. A veritable ‘miniature museum!’ On the occasion of the Jubilee of the Fire Service on the 30th December 2000 I was invited to Rome where I presented a model - an Iveco City Fire 1997 constructed entirely in my small workshop - to Pope John Paul II. It was a deeply moving experience.
All models are now on display at the Historical Gallery
in Chiavenna. We’d be delighted to see you there.
From May 2013 the historic Gallery of Chiavenna’s Fire Department has opened
its doors to the general public to display its fascinating collection of memorabilia. It’s an open invitation every Saturday from 15 – 18. New this year is a trailblazer from 1965, used during the Florence floods a year later. There’s also Claudio Persenico’s splendid model collection on display. Not to me missed during May – June and September – October.
