There were a total of (5) WLF P80/Grove 100-foot rear-mount aerials ordered. Companies that received these were Truck 12 (E-183), Truck 34 (E-184), Truck 21 (E-185), Truck 18 (E-186), and Truck 7 (E-187). These were delivered with booster reels that were removed from Trucks 12 & 18.
Chicago Truck 18 shown here with their 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' rear mount aerial. Bill Friedrich photo
Truck 12 also had one of the 100-foot Grove aerials with a Ward LaFrance Ambassador cab and chassis. As shown here, the booster reel has been removed. Larry Shapiro photo
Chicago Truck 7 at the fire academy when it was ready to go in service. The booster reel is visible above the ground ladders. Jack Connors photo
Truck 34 during a fire prevention week parade on State Street. Jack Connors photo
Truck 21's apparatus (E-185) was later assigned to Truck 39. Jack Connors photo
Truck 21’s unit was later reassigned to Truck 39, and Truck 7’s unit was reassigned to Truck 61.
Truck Company 61 was assigned the unit that was previously Truck 7. Jack Connors photo
This unit (Shop #E-185) was given to Truck 39 after it saw service as Truck 21. The booster reel as seen in the image of Truck 21 was removed prior to the re-assignment to Truck 39. Jack Connors photo
#1 by tom sullivan on March 5, 2013 - 9:05 AM
those trucks were way overloaded for a single axle,,with the steel grove ladder ( company made heavy construction equipment) and the booster tank/pump. they would break down often, rear wheel lug bolts would shear off. t-21 lost a wheel while going over rr crossing.
t-21 was a very very tight fit into quarters,, had to pull mirrors in to cab in order to back in.
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#2 by Drew Smith on March 25, 2012 - 9:35 PM
I don’t know the history of these booster reels but I do recall several Seagrave aerials manufactured in the 70s that had a small pump, tank and booster reel for trash and car fires (in an era before boosters were frowned upon).
#3 by Scott on March 25, 2012 - 6:44 PM
Is the pic of Trk 18 near the end of it’s era? It sure looks pretty beat (and out of alginment!!!).
#4 by R on March 25, 2012 - 3:05 PM
Why were there booster lines on some of em, they’ve never had quints?
#5 by Andy on March 25, 2012 - 12:58 PM
These old photos are great. Originally shot on Kodachrome 64 I would assume.
#6 by bgshap on March 25, 2012 - 1:06 PM
it really depends on the photographer, some I think were from negative film and a mixture of slide films like Kodachrome 25 & 64 and Ektachrome as well