The Herman Body Company

[GA_Dave]

OK, I know you're thinking "This is in the wrong place!".  Nope, it's supposed to be here.  Between 1958 and 1962, American LaFrance owned this company.  Herman, located at 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO, built rescue squad bodies that were sold as American LaFrance products.  About 20 of these rigs were built over the span of four years.  There may be more.
   Some of these rescues were built on commercial chassis while some were built on ALF custom chassis.  Some of the larger units had pumps and booster tanks. 
   The photo is of a 1962 delivery for Lock Haven, PA.  It is one of at least four similar rigs built with the others going to Kings Park, NY (1959); Northumberland, PA (1961); and Lehighton, PA (1961).  Another body style of similar dimensions had additional compartments and a booster pump in place of the crew compartment.  One of this design, built on a Ford F-500 chassis, was delivered to Garrett, IN in 1959.
   A larger, walk-in style body was used for the rescue for Claymont, DE.  It was built on a 1958 GMC chassis.  St. Mary's, PA used a similar body on it's 900 Series rescue, delivered in 1960.  For those who have a copy of Walt McCall's "American Fire Engines since 1900", there is a photo of the St. Mary's rig on page 305.  An even larger version, carrying a 750 GPM pump and 300 gallon tank, was delivered to the Pine Hill Hose Co. in Cheektowaga, NY in 1960.  Check your McCall's on page 300.  This ALF/Herman later served with a Delaware FD and a shot of it will hopefully be posted here soon.
   These are the only "confirmed" deliveries that I have photographic evidence of, but the list below contains info on others.  If anyone can add info or pics, please do so.  Thanks!

Endwell, NY  GMC  1959
Marshalltown, IA  Ford 1961
Odessa, ??  Ford 1958
Island Beach, CA  Ford 1959
Merrick, NY  1960
Glenville, NY  1960
Lindenhurst, NY  1961

[GA_Dave]

I believe I have found two more Herman-built ALF rigs.  First is a 900 Series that belonged to the Fire Patrol Company in Pleasantville, NY.  A photo appears on page 300 of McCall's book, next to the Pine Hill rig.  It is incorrectly identified as a tanker from Pleasantville, NJ.  The body is similar to a standard ALF pumper body, but with several additional compartments.  This apparatus had a smal pump and tank, but was primarily used as a Fire Patrol squad.
   The second one was also built on a 900 Series chassis, but with an open cab.  It was a floodlight unit built for an "Odessa Fire Department" and was lettered "No. 22".  This might be Odessa, NY or Odessa, TX.  This one also had a pumper-style body, but with a large ventilated generator compartment where the pump normally goes.  A photo appears on page 48 of the book "Big City Fire Trucks, Vol. II"  The caption states "Odessa, NY" but I have yet to confirm this.  If anyone can add more info, please do.

[GA_Dave]

I guess I'm the only one who has any interest in this subject.  I have found yet another.  The Wheaton Rescue Squad in Wheaton, MD operated a walk-in heavy rescue built on a 1960 Ford C Series chassis.  A photo of this one appears in the Iconografix book "Heavy Rescue Trucks 1931-2000" on page 43.  This is a large body, similar to the Pine Hill rig, but without the pump and tank.

[GA_Dave]

Here is a photo of the ALF/Herman rig that first served the Pine Hill FC in Cheektowaga, NY.  It was later sold to South Bowers, DE, where this photo was taken.  This 1960 900 series rescue pumper carried a 750 GPM pump and 300 gallon tank.

   Bob Norman photo from the collection of Scott Mattson.

[dcmkris]

Those are pretty cool rescues Dave.  I like the last more so since it's on the ALF chassis.

Wonder where that truck is today?

Kris

[firebill]

Dave,

 I was just going through the ALF pages here and re-read these post, and got to thinking, awhile back (apr/May) on my way back to Ft Wayne from Conway Arkansas, I stopped in Sprinfield Mo. They were in the process of cleaning up the tard at FireMaster. The had just sectioned up a Herman Rescue body and had loaded it on a large roll-off dumpster. I didn't get pictures of it but asked and it was on a unit they had taken in on trade a number of years ago..it just went to the scrap yard. FireMaster has all kinds of old stuff out in the back..some useable and some just for body parts.

[grumpyff]

Here are two photos of Pleasantville, NY 1958 American Lafrance.  It was designated as Patrol 7.  It carried 300 gallons of water, with a small pump (unsure of capacity).  It was refurbished in the late 1970's after it was burned at a fire.  Painted white over red.  It was dols in 1981, after it was replaced by a Hahn.  Rear of the apparatus had no hosebed, but 2 bench seats with compartments underneath.  Both photos from the collection of the Pleasantville Fire Patrol. The first photo is a large poster, in a glass frame (thats why there is a reflection).  I have been told that the apparatus was sold to another dept. possibly in Massachusetts.

[fsw1970]

Hey Dave
I don't have any photographic evidence of it, but I do recall Chappaqua NY, Fire Patrol, having a nearly identical rig to Pleasantville's. They are a neighbor of Pville, so that would make sense. I seem to recall it being a 1960 also, and was in service until 1983 I believe.
Frank

[boardmansteve]

Here are two photos of Pleasantville, NY 1958 American Lafrance.  It was designated as Patrol 7.  It carried 300 gallons of water, with a small pump (unsure of capacity).  It was refurbished in the late 1970's after it was burned at a fire.  Painted white over red.  It was dols in 1981, after it was replaced by a Hahn.  Rear of the apparatus had no hosebed, but 2 bench seats with compartments underneath.  Both photos from the collection of the Pleasantville Fire Patrol. The first photo is a large poster, in a glass frame (thats why there is a reflection).  I have been told that the apparatus was sold to another dept. possibly in Massachusetts.

Isn't this a complete ALF (Elmira) product?

[wf33ret]

Here are two photos of the Kings Park Ford.






                           ALF photo's from the Bob Lloyd collection

[wf33ret]

The Claymont,Del. rig.





                          ALF photo from the Bob Lloyd collection

[wf33ret]

The Odessa Ford........... I'm assuming that with all of the louvers in the doors it must
have had a gasoline powered generator on board.





                         ALF photo from the collection of Bob Lloyd

[wf33ret]

And here is the Garrett, Ind. unit.





                            ALF photo from the collection of Bob Lloyd

[boardmansteve]

The Odessa Ford........... I'm assuming that with all of the louvers in the doors it must
have had a gasoline powered generator on board.
                    

Odessa, TX; I show this to be a complete ALF (Elmira) product, as well...corrections welcome.

[brucobuff]

I guess I'm the only one who has any interest in this subject.  I have found yet another.  The Wheaton Rescue Squad in Wheaton, MD operated a walk-in heavy rescue built on a 1960 Ford C Series chassis.  A photo of this one appears in the Iconografix book "Heavy Rescue Trucks 1931-2000" on page 43.  This is a large body, similar to the Pine Hill rig, but without the pump and tank.

Replaced in 1972, the disposition of this rig is unknown...
R.Washburn photos,Jenkins collection