700 Series ALF

[buslunatic]

I think mosst of us has seen that first pilot American LaFrance 700 1500 GPM pumper in books and magazines at some point. Does anyone have any idea where this rig saw service and is it still "with us" or has it long assumed a new role as coofee cans and paperclips? I knew that the first ladder is still in use as of about 3 years ago.

[Box 2565]

The first ALF 700 series engine was the rig used in their advertising.  It was lettered A.F.D.  This prototype was serial #9001 and was constructed in 1946.  There is no indication that the rig was ever sold by ALF or operated by a fire department.  I'm unaware of what the eventual fate of this rig was.

Elkhart, Indiana actually took delivery of the first production model 700 series pumper.  The unofficial records show the date as being February 22, 1947 and it was one of a pair of 1500 gpm pumpers ordered by the EFD.

Fort Worth, Texas received the first productional model aerial, a 100 footer bearing serial #9034 on May 28, 1947.  This rig was also the first of a pair delivered.

The first 700 series aerial was constructed in 1946 using serial #9000 and was sold to Jamestown, New York in 1956.

Hope this answers your question.  :!:


Steve

[Box 2565]

Well it looks like the first 700 series pumper was around a year earlier than I thought.  This ad is from the December 1945 issue of Fire Engineering.

[Box 2565]

I'm not sure if the rig shown in the ad above is #1 or not!  I dug this photo out a drawer in the basement and it is an early 700 series for the A.F.D., so this may very well be #1!

[Box 2565]

Uniontown PA  Engine 2
1954 American LaFrance
750 GPM-300 Tank
#L 5146

[daysleeper47]

This 1952 American LaFrance 700 Series Quint originally served the Northumberland Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 of Northumberland, PA.  It features a 65 foot steel aerial ladder, 205 feet of ground ladders and a 500 gpm pump. The quint is powered by a 214 h.p. American LaFrance J-series V-12 engine.   It served Northumberland until 1982 when it was replaced by a Hahn/Firestick and sold to the Catawissa, PA, Fire Department running as Columbia County Ladder 56.  Catawissa painted it their distinctive "Catawissa Cream" color and removed the booster tank and hose.   In 1987,  the aerial ladder failed testing and the rig  was sold to a collector.  

[daysleeper47]

This truck was originally purchased by the City of Corning New York Fire Department. It was delivered on November 11, 1947. It is a 700 series Type Empire 710PEO. The unit has a 1000 gallon per minute American LaFrance two-stage "tripleflow" centrifugal fire pump. The motor is the American LaFrance "E" series 12 cylinder gasoline engine which develops 275 horse power, it is coupled to a Fuller 4 speed manual transmission. The motor is equipped with dual Zenith updraft carbureators. It has 24 spark plugs, two per cylinder powered by four distributors. This apparatus is equipped with a 150 gallon booster tank. This is one of the first 700 Series produced at the Elmira NY factory.

[GA_Dave]

Here is a shot of the very first 700 Series rig, a 100' midmount aerial that has served as a test vehicle for ALF, then served the City of Jamestown, NY.  It was later sold to Falconer, NY and now is in service at Cattaraugus, NY.

[56_ALF]

For what it's worth, I think the pilot model with the serial # 9001 is still around.  A friend of mine said it was in Indiana.  He also said that it's been sitting out for a while now, so it's in rough shape.  I've never seen it myself.  I'll have to ask my friend about it again to see if I can get more details.

(I'm pretty sure it was # 9001; it was after my friend saw a photo of it in a book that he mentioned what I just said.  I could be mistaken, though.  I'll try to confirm this.)
 :lol:

[daysleeper47]

Steve, would #1 have been a closed cab like that or did they add the cover later and still use it as a demo? It look early enough, you are right about that!

[Box 2565]

Pittsburgh PA  Engine 30
1951 American LaFrance
750 GPM

Photo: Jack Robrecht Collection

[Box 2565]

Boston MA  Ladder 11
1950 American LaFrance
75' Aerial

[wardengine]

this was dallas PA luzerne county engine 4 a 1953 700 series retrofitted in mid 80's with detroit deisel 6v53 in service till1992 when replaced by pierce. note how it was modified in 60's to carry 50' bangor ladder on top also was equipped with 100 gallon foam tank

[Box 2565]

Just looking at the drawing dated 1945 makes me wonder if the first 700 had already been constructed at that time and a photo of the pumper was altered so that the unit appeared to have an open cab.

[HmaximS]

This was the first American LaFrance purchased by Danvers, MA. This was a 1948, 1000 gpm pumper. They bought another in 1951, 1954 and 1962. We hear all but one are still around in Maine or New Hampshire. The 1962 is in Billerica, MA used by their explorers or auxiliary.