For #throwbackthursday some photos of the old North Maine FPD Ward LaFrance fleet
North Maine FPD Engine 1. Larry Shapiro photo
North Maine FPD Engine 2. Larry Shapiro photo
North Maine FPD Truck 1. Larry Shapiro photo
Posts Tagged Ward LaFrance Grove aerial
This from Martin Nowak:
I’ve talked with Squad546, who has allowed me to submit these pictures. I’ll have several posts within the next few months. For now I’d like to show some CFD truck companies over the years.
Former Tower Ladder 5 – 1988 Federal/E-One 95′Former Tower Ladder 14 -1996 HME/LTI 102′Former Truck (Aerial Tower) 1 – 1988 Federal/E-One 135′Former Truck 2 – 1988 Federal/E-One 110′Former Truck 33 – 1993 Seagrave 100′Former Truck 34 – 1970 Ward LaFrance Grove 100′Former Truck 62, then Truck 8 after the 1994 rehab. Pictured as a spare. 1978 Seagrave 100′
Former Tower Ladder 5 – 1988 Federal/E-One 95′. Squad546 photo
Former Tower Ladder 14 -1996 HME/LTI 102′. Squad546 photo
Former Truck (Aerial Tower) 1 – 1988 Federal/E-One 135′. Squad546 photo
Former Truck 2 – 1988 Federal/E-One 110′. Squad546 photo
Former Truck 33 – 1993 Seagrave 100′. Squad546 photo
Former Truck 34 – 1970 Ward LaFrance Grove 100′. Squad 546 photo
Former Truck 62, then Truck 8 after the 1994 rehab. Pictured as a spare. 1978 Seagrave 100′. Squad546 photo
Some additional information about the aerials purchased by the Chicago Fire Department in the late 60s and early 70s . Some have inquired about the fact that several aerials were delivered with booster reels and 300-gallon water tanks. There were several types of aerials purchased by the CFD during this time frame.
These included:
- (3) 1968 Mack CF/Pirsch 100-foot aerials (with a red cab face) (300-gallon tanks)
- (1) 1968 Seagrave aerial with an FWD chassis featuring rear steering for Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport
- (8) 1970 Seagrave rear-mounts (250-gallon tanks)
- (5) 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove units assigned to Truck 7, Truck 12, Truck 18, Truck 21, and Truck 34 (300-gallon tanks)
- (3) 1972 Mack CF 700/Pirsch 100-foot aerials (with a silver cab face) (300-gallon tanks)
At some point in time, the shops drained the water tanks and removed the booster reels as seen in some of the photos posted HERE and below.
Future posts will show more of these aerials, but the photos here show a few examples.
This is a 1968 Seagrave Rear Admiral 100′ aerial with a 500-gallon booster tank and twin booster reels. It features an FWD chassis with rear steering and was assigned to Truck 63 at O’Hare Airport. Larry Shapiro photo
Truck 5 was assigned one of three 1972 100-foot Pirsch rear-mount aerials mounted on a Mack CF chassis with a 500-gallon water tank and twin booster reels. Larry Shapiro photo
Previous posts in this series depicted CFD trucks with boosters from 1967 and CFD trucks with boosters from 1968.
To supplement our multi-part series on the Ward LaFrance apparatus used by the CFD, Bill Friedrich has submitted copies of the 1970 Ward LaFrance sell sheets/brochures featuring these units. Previous posts can be found HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
This Ward LaFrance brochure features a shot of all seven Ward LaFrance 2,000-GPM engines for Chicago in 1970. Bill Friedrich collection
All sides of a 1970 Ward LaFrance 2,000-GPM engine for Chicago with complete specifications. Bill Friedrich collection
Both sides of a 1970 Ward LaFrance/Grove 100' ladder truck. These had 300-gallon booster tanks, Hale 2CBP booster pumps, Grove 4S-100 ladders, and "many other items of special equipment.". Bill Friedrich collection
Part 2 in the series on CFD Ward LaFrance apparatus in Chicago discusses the Grove aerials. Bill Friedrich submitted the following information:
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
