Images and information from Dave Fornell about some of Chicago’s Ward LaFrance apparatus: I was going through my old files and came across some photos of what I’ve always considered one of my favorite Chicago pumpers: the seven 1970 Ward LaFrance 2,000-GPM engines. It's interesting to note that these rigs were equipped with Cummins NTF high-torque, 365-HP engines—powerful enough to drive the two-stage Hale Q pumps. In contrast, the five trucks delivered the same year had less expensive Detroit 350-HP engines. Following the heavy snowfall of 1967, these units were specified with rear-mounted 20,000-lb hydraulic winches. Both the engines and trucks featured these. Although Ward LaFrance was known for inconsistent performance, these rigs turned out exceptionally well. I was particularly impressed by the brushed stainless steel pump layout and the very expensive, highly accurate Crosby black face gauges on the panel—something I've never seen before or since. The rigs had relatively short wheelbases but extended bodies behind the rear axle. This body style was also used on later Ford chassis pumpers. These engines were paired with five trucks carrying 100-foot Grove ladders. According to today’s NFPA standards, these ladders, based on Grove 18-ton cranes, would be classified as heavy-duty with a 500-lb tip load rating. In comparison, Chicago’s other ladders (ALF, Seagrave, Pirsch) purchased around the same time were medium-duty with 250-lb tip load ratings. The Grove ladders were massive and heavy—too much for a single axle to support properly. As a result, these rigs experienced frequent brake and axle failures during their service life. The addition of a 300-gallon booster tank, pump, and twin reels didn’t help either. However, the ground ladder complement was impressive: two 30-foot, two 40-foot, one 50-foot, and one 20-foot ladder carried under the turntable. Three roof ladders were also mounted on each side. I remember climbing the main of one of these rigs at a fire where the operator positioned the tip just 12 inches above the parapet, much like with the old wooden ladders that would drift down as you climbed them. But this Grove ladder was rigid, and even with our entire engine stretching a line to the roof for a better vantage point, the tip never dropped an inch nor did the ladder bounce like others did. Due to some circumstances, I ended up with the original factory delivery photo negatives, which are shown here. I also included some photos I took of the engines during acceptance testing near McCormick Place. The rear views show the winch installation. Also, note that the two rear discharges had 3½-inch boat hose threads (the rigs carried a 700-foot bed of it). When I was working on the West Side, Division 2 Chief Dan Lynch would often call for Engine 113 to drop the 3½-inch into a Snorkel when he had a still and box. Two photos show the Grove ladder in action. The first was taken at the Bedford Hotel fire on the near West Side early in the 1970s. If my memory serves me right, there were two extra alarms running in the city at the time, and no Snorkels were available. Deputy Bill Foley, who normally oversaw the shops, took command. That was the first time I’d ever seen two ladder pipes without Snorkels operating at an extra alarm in Chicago. The second photo was taken at an extra alarm on the South Side, though the exact location is now lost to history. Another negative scanned at the same time shows Engine 63 in operation, so maybe someone can identify the company. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. ACD  Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Bill Friedrich collection Bill Friedrich collection Bill Friedrich collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection For more information on the CFD Ward LaFrance apparatus, visit this link or search for "Ward LaFrance" in the site’s search field. Floor Scrubbing Brush,Floor Washing Machine High Density Filter Element,Short Bristled Antibacterial Roller Brush,Floor Scrubber 0riginal Accessories Grey Whale Intelligent Appliances (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd , https://www.szgraywhale.com