Best American LaFrance

[Engine33Truck]

This will probably spark a debate, hopefully not though, but what model would be considered as American LaFrance's all-around best?  Personally, my money is on the Century, but the 400 Series and 900 Series both give the Century a run for it's money.  Any thoughts?

[boardmansteve]

This will probably spark a debate, hopefully not though, but what model would be considered as American LaFrance's all-around best?  Personally, my money is on the Century, but the 400 Series and 900 Series both give the Century a run for it's money.  Any thoughts?

Please define "best:"  Performance?  Longevity?  Reliability?  Market share?  Appearance?  Etc., and so forth...

[Engine33Truck]

Please define "best:"  Performance?  Longevity?  Reliability?  Market share?  Appearance?  Etc., and so forth...

Sorry, I should've went into more detail.   I am defining "best" here as the model that had the best performance, longevity, the most reliable and the most user friendly. 

[paulromano]

Standards aside, my vote is for the 400 series duplex pumper with 2 1500 gpm pumps delivered to the LA City FD.

[Engine33Truck]

A 400 Series with 2 1500gpm pumps? Do you have a photo?  That's something I'd love to see!

[FAO25]

Standards aside, my vote is for the 400 series duplex pumper with 2 1500 gpm pumps delivered to the LA City FD.

The LA City Duplex's are interesting. What about the Toronto 700 Series High Pressures?

[Engine33Truck]

The LA City Duplex's are interesting. What about the Toronto 700 Series High Pressures?

Toronto 700 Series High Pressures?  I need educated, I've never heard of any of these.

[FAO25]

Toronto had (2) 700 Series Closed Cab High Pressure rigs which served into the 1970's. I don't have any pictures or specs. In the 70's Toronto had a Downtown Urban Conflagration that was quite a story. I believe they were still in service for it. Maybe some one else out there has pics.

[boardmansteve]

Toronto 700 Series High Pressures?  I need educated, I've never heard of any of these.

Please consider building a set of the ALF (and other apparatus) books on the market.  They're great educational and reference tools.

Are you a SPAAMFAA member?  ENJINE!-ENJINE! is always full of useful information on all makes.

[Engine33Truck]

Toronto had (2) 700 Series Closed Cab High Pressure rigs which served into the 1970's. I don't have any pictures or specs. In the 70's Toronto had a Downtown Urban Conflagration that was quite a story. I believe they were still in service for it. Maybe some one else out there has pics.

How exactly were they high pressure?  Just regular 2000gpm pumps or custom designed, higher capacity pumps?

[Engine33Truck]

Please consider building a set of the ALF (and other apparatus) books on the market.  They're great educational and reference tools.

Are you a SPAAMFAA member?  ENJINE!-ENJINE! is always full of useful information on all makes.

I'm working on starting a book collection.  I've been meaning to become a SPAAMFAA member but I haven't got around to it yet.

[SixbyFire]

Here is some info on the LA rigs, and a very bad picture (2nd one down) of one of the duplex pumpers too.
http://www.lafra.org/grapevine/section/articles/history/manifold-and-duplex-rigs

Here is a larger picture (same photo as above but larger) of one of the duplex pumpers:
http://firegeezer.com/files/2009/12/sn001074-1937ALF-DuplesPump-2-1250gpm_uk_0000-0000_E3_450.gif

I found a few pictures of Toronto's rigs, but no real good info on them online. The one book I have says Toronto's rigs could put out 2700 GPM when hooked to the city's high pressure hydrant system. As previously mentioned, there is quite a bit of good info in books on both of these types of rigs. I've been collecting fire books for probably 30 years, and still don't have what I consider a "decent" collection. I think I have a good collection, but not a decent one...

My favorite ALF is the Century Series, only because they were heavily used in the area I grew up in.

Jeff

[Engine33Truck]

Nice photo!  That is one very interesting truck!

[paulromano]

There was an excellent article in Enjine~Enjine some years ago about the Toronto rigs.  I just saw it in my pile a while ago, I think Walt McCall did it.  If I can find it and get permission, I will post parts.  Enjine~Enjine also did a great article on the duplex pumpers and manifold wagons a few years ago.  I am not sure if the stores on hand still have those months, but if they do they would sure be worth buying.

[brucobuff]

Toronto had (2) 700 Series Closed Cab High Pressure rigs which served into the 1970's. I don't have any pictures or specs. In the 70's Toronto had a Downtown Urban Conflagration that was quite a story. I believe they were still in service for it. Maybe some one else out there has pics.

Enjine!Enjine! covered the Toronto 700 series HPM's (High Pressure Monitors) in issue 2002-2. The issue also has an extensive feature on the evolution of High-volume pumpers, including the aforementioned LA City Duplexes.
An article w/ 2 photos and a map of the Toronto near-conflagration in 1977 appears in Fire Engineering's Nov.1977 issue. This was also FE'S 100th anniv. issue.