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.
![CFD_T18_1970_WLF-GROVE_100'_E-186-BF Chicago Fire Department 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' rear mount aerial.](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T18_1970_WLF-GROVE_100_E-186-BF.jpg)
Chicago Truck 18 shown here with their 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' rear mount aerial. Bill Friedrich photo
![CFD_T12-LS Chicago Fire Department Truck 12 1970 Ward LaFrance Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T12-LS.jpg)
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
![CFD_T7_WLF-JC Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Ambassador Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T7_WLF-JC.jpg)
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
![CFD_T34_WLF-JC Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Ambassador Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T34_WLF-JC.jpg)
Truck 34 during a fire prevention week parade on State Street. Jack Connors photo
![CFD_E21_WLF-JC Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Ambassador Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_E21_WLF-JC2.jpg)
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.
![CFD_T61_WLF-JC Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Ambassador Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T61_WLF-JC.jpg)
Truck Company 61 was assigned the unit that was previously Truck 7. Jack Connors photo
![CFD_T39_WLF-JC Chicago Fire Department Ward LaFrance Ambassador Grove aerial](http://chicagoareafire.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CFD_T39_WLF-JC.jpg)
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