ALF Advertising and Artifacts

[paulromano]

American LaFrance has generated a huge amount of advertising during their many years of operation.  I have accumulated a fairly large amount of ALF material and will start to post images of the more significant material that I run into.

In artifacts, they have also generated a great number of pieces.  One that I obtained in a collection of manufacturer's samples of employee I.D. tags is this example, manufactured by Bastian Bros. of Rochester, NY.

 

[paulromano]

American LaFrance probably paid a consideration for the "See the World on Wheels" cards to just happen to use all their products on the below series of trading cards.

I don't think the person doing the descriptions on the back of the cards was familiar with apparatus beyond what LaFrance told them.  Note the reference to apparatus used in warm climates because it had an open cab.  The writer was obviously not from New England.

[Engine33Truck]

Now those are really cool!

[alvin201]

The top two ALF are surely 700 series, but I thought the left side pump panel came out with the 800's.

The rig at top right may be a pump-less hose wagon, but then why the hard suctions?

Artistic license I suppose.  but still great history.

[Engine33Truck]

The top two ALF are surely 700 series, but I thought the left side pump panel came out with the 800's.

The rig at top right may be a pump-less hose wagon, but then why the hard suctions?

Artistic license I suppose.  but still great history.

You are correct, the engineer's side pump panel debued on American LaFrance apparatus when the 800 came out.  My guess with the hose wagon having hard suction is maybe just for extra suction lines for the engine it's usually chasing.

[GA_Dave]

It's all in the details.  A closer look at the pump panel on the top left rig will reveal that it is simply a main intake, an auxiliary intake and two discharges.  There are no gauges or controls for anything else.  The pump panel IS on the right side.  As for the top right rig, there had to be a pump of some kind on it, albeit a small capacity one.  There is a booster reel on the rear step.  Those hard suctions are also smaller diameter than what would typically be carried.

Incidentally, there was at least one 700 Series with a left-side pump panel.

[FAO25]

It's all in the details.  A closer look at the pump panel on the top left rig will reveal that it is simply a main intake, an auxiliary intake and two discharges.  There are no gauges or controls for anything else.  The pump panel IS on the right side.  As for the top right rig, there had to be a pump of some kind on it, albeit a small capacity one.  There is a booster reel on the rear step.  Those hard suctions are also smaller diameter than what would typically be carried.

Incidentally, there was at least one 700 Series with a left-side pump panel.

Not to mention the apparent booster tank fill on the top deck between the hosebed and equipment bin.

[SixbyFire]

The top two images, credited to being drawn by George J. Zaffo, are featured in the kids book, The Big Book of Real Fire Engines, originally released in 1950, and probably again in 1958, while the copy I have was printed in 1975. The captions on the cards have similar text to what is in the book, if anything, there is less info in the book. Still it's a cool book with really neat drawings, IMO, it's the best fire truck artwork out there, certainly the most detailed. Zaffo illustrated all sorts of kids books back in the day. He also drew planes, earthmovers, trains, etc, for other kids books.

An interesting aside in the book, the rig featured as being used in rural areas is none other then the Spangler Dual, a rig that obviously didn't really live up to the hype.

Jeff

[FAO25]

Slightly Off Topic Alert  I would respectfully dispute the best illustration tag.    I have a set of large format cards that were, I was told, intended to teach Elementary School kids about fire departments. They came from a studio in Southern California in the early 50's and the technical details and images are astounding. There are some 700 Series ALF's along with Anniversary Seagraves and "B" Model Macks. But technically not ALF Company Advertising.

[brucobuff]

This is a piece I've had for a long time, this "pocket history" of ALF up to 1970 was included in the famous AMT 1/25TH ALF 1000 series model kits of the early 1970's. Besides the 3 ALFs, there was also a Chevy rescue van, and Chevy Caprice? fire chief and Ford police car.
This little history measured 2.75" by 4.25".
Jenkins collection

[brucobuff]

This was the instruction booklet for the AMT ALF Aerochief, this was the front cover.
Back cover featured the rest of the 1/25th series, I had all but the Ladderchief.
Jenkins collection

[FAO25]

This is a piece I've had for a long time, this "pocket history" of ALF up to 1970 was included in the famous AMT 1/25TH ALF 1000 series model kits of the early 1970's. Besides the 3 ALFs, there was also a Chevy rescue van, and Chevy Caprice? fire chief and Ford police car.
This little history measured 2.75" by 4.25".
Jenkins collection

Ooooooooooooooooo, first all steel, hydraulic aerial? Is that true?

[START WATER]

  I HAVE  4  PLASTIC  RED ALF  RIGS  I THINK CAME IN A CERAL BOX
I WOULD GUESS  IN THE EARLY 50'S ANY ONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM OR WHAT THEY ARE WORTH?    I WANT TO HAVE THEM OUT TO SEE BUT AT THE SAME TIME  THEY HAVE TO BE OUT OF REACH

MY FATHER  WAS IN CHARGE  AND RAN THE ALF REPAIR OPERATION IN NORTH JERSEY .   I HAVE A TIE  CLASP  I GUESS  WITH ALF ON IT .     MY FATHER WAS A MASTER MOPDEL BUILDER AND  UILT ALL THJE ATMS  , BUT HE MADE HIS  ENG  OPEN CAB
AND MADE THE DETAILS FOR  INSIDE THE CAB .

HE WAS A DETRIOT DIESEL DESIGN AND APPLICIATION ENGINEER  AND  AND THEY SET UP EVER  THING NEEDED  TO CONVERT A 900 SERIES  RIG TO DIESEL AND THEY DID  REPOWER MANY TO SAY THE LEAST . HE  TAUGHT HAHN AND OTHERS  HOW TO INSTALL THE DETROIT DIESELS AND ALLISONS .    HE  WAS LUCKY TO  MAKE HIS OCCUPATION IN THE FIRE SERVICE  HE WAS A TRUE BUFF .

I WAS IN THE SERVICE CENTER AND ANSWERED  THE PHONE
A CHIEF CLAIMS THEY SENT HIM THE WRONG LADDER
LONG STORY SHORT HE ORDERED  A OPEN CAB AND HIS  HAD A CLOSED CAB   ALF  SAID  ITS ON US  CHIEF NO PROBLEM  OH NO  HE MADE THEM TAKE IT OFF , AND REMOUNT THE LIGHTS  ETC
SOMEDAYS YOU CAN'T WIN ,  HAPPY 4TH  ,UST REMEMBER WHAT IT STAND  FOR  .     

[SixbyFire]

I have a set of large format cards that were, I was told, intended to teach Elementary School kids about fire departments.

Yea I have those too, the Our Fire Department series. I'm not saying the ALF pictures above are better then the OFD stuff, but Zaffo's full size works of the same pieces, and specifically his overhead/rooftop shot of an ALF engine and ladder not pictured in this thread, yes.

Ahhhh, art discussion on the YFD forums, hehe.

Jeff

[paulromano]

This is a piece I've had for a long time, this "pocket history" of ALF up to 1970 was included in the famous AMT 1/25TH ALF 1000 series model kits of the early 1970's. Besides the 3 ALFs, there was also a Chevy rescue van, and Chevy Caprice? fire chief and Ford police car.
This little history measured 2.75" by 4.25".
Jenkins collection

Ooooooooooooooooo, first all steel, hydraulic aerial? Is that true?

I think the "Pocket History" may have taken more than one liberty with facts.  An earlier post on the Forum cites the use of the Snorkel in Chicago in the late 1950's while the PH claims the Aero Chief platform to be the first in 1962.  I have never heard of a ALF metal hydraulic aerial in 1935---my aging memory always thought that Pirsch held that prize with the 1936 steel aerial delivered to Melrose, MA.