This from Mike Summa:
Hello,This is a Chicago ladder truck, taken around 1975, at a parade in Posen. Yes, Posen. I didn’t know that Chicago would stray that far to participate in a suburban parade. It was a surprise to see it with all the south-suburban trucks. Please feel free to add any details/information.Happy Fourth of July,–Mike Summa
Mike Summa photo
#1 by Bill Post on July 6, 2016 - 9:59 PM
As long as we’re talking about the CFD’s trucks that were equipped with boosters, the very first ones so equipped were 5 1966 Mack/Pirsch mid-mounted aerials. Within a year after they were delivered two Seagrave mid-mounts plus one Seagrave rear mounted rear admiral was also delivered with a booster tank and reels. The Seagrave rear admiral featured a high profile cab and their rear-steering feature. It was first assigned to Truck 9 when they were located downtown with Engine 11 at 10 E Hubbard.
Chicago’s first low profile Seagrave rear mounted aerial which was delivered in 1968 and was first assigned to Truck 1 was not equipped with a booster tank however a year later 10 more were delivered with booster tanks (in 1969) and that was the order that Truck 51 was included in. The CFD also received three Mack CF/Pirsch rear mounted aerials in 1972 which were also booster equipped. The irony of the 1972 Mack/Pirsch’s is that two of them were assigned to truck companies that were using the 1968 models (Trucks 22 and 15) which had become hand me downs after only being on their first assignments for four years.
#2 by Fred M on July 5, 2016 - 8:06 PM
CFD also purchased 3 1968 Mack/Pirsch rear mount 100 footers with 100-gpm pump and a 300-gal booster tank. The Ward LaFrance were 1970 models and 5 were purchased
#3 by Bill Post on July 5, 2016 - 7:32 PM
What really stands out for me in the photo is the fact that trucks still had the booster reels and tanks on them. Beginning in late 1966 through early 1972 most of the new trucks were equipped with them. That rig was part of an order of 10 1969 model Seagraves. A few of them were rebuilt in 1991 along with a few American LaFrances. The American LaFrance trucks were among the first that were not equipped with the booster reels and tanks.
#4 by CrabbyMilton on July 5, 2016 - 5:53 AM
I get a kick out of those wheels. “Dayton” type wheels were common back then but usually not that many spokes.