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Ward LaFrance Ultravision
Haven't been here in a while and was pleasantly surprised to see one of my hometown fire department rigs posted here. That would be the Clarks Summit, PA aerial. The original post had no rig specifics, nor did I find any throughout the thread. I know I'm probably stirring up more than I need to but I found a few discrepancies on their website. I'm hoping one you more knowledgable than I could sort it out.



There is a link on the CSFD homepage about this rig being for sale and it lists the truck as a 1972 model while the apparatus page lists the rig as a 1974. It has a 50' or 55' foot aerial, again depending on which website page you're reading. I assume the height difference is because the 50' measurement is just the aerial device and the 55' is the total height of the rig with the ladder extended. It also has a 500 gallon booster tank and 1250 gpm pump. A paragraph on the apparatus page talks about the cut-down cab but it's hard to tell, from reading this, if this rig was delivered this way or if they sent it back to WLF. If this sentence wasn't printed I'd believe this rig was delivered with the Senator-style cab:



Quote:The cab and body were then lowered on the chassis, giving Ladder 4 its current wide and low profile



That word 'current' could throw that sentence into a whole new light. To me it reads as if they had the truck cut down at some point after they took delivery.



I tend to believe that the rig is a 1974 model. We moved away in April of 1973 and the rigs at that time were a classic Ward LaFrance (50's-vintage?) pumper, a Ford C-chassied pumper, and a Dodge/Young rescue that is pictured in the Iconografix Young Fire Apparatus book. The apparatus page also states that this one of supposedly 1 of only 6 rigs with this style of cab and bodywork and that it's only 1 of 2 still left in active service.



As of 3/5/08 the website states that this rig is now up for sale. It has been replaced by a 1993 E\-One 75' aerial purchased from the Kirkwood FD.



If anyone can shed a little more light on this I'd appreciate it. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Big Grin' />

Credit to the original photographer..I reposted his pic from my computer because I couldn't remember what page of the thread the rig was originally pictured on.


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[quote name='jmp883' post='223871' date='Jun 23 2008, 15:16 ']Haven't been here in a while and was pleasantly surprised to see one of my hometown fire department rigs posted here. That would be the Clarks Summit, PA aerial. The original post had no rig specifics, nor did I find any throughout the thread. I know I'm probably stirring up more than I need to but I found a few discrepancies on their website. I'm hoping one you more knowledgable than I could sort it out.



There is a link on the CSFD homepage about this rig being for sale and it lists the truck as a 1972 model while the apparatus page lists the rig as a 1974. It has a 50' or 55' foot aerial, again depending on which website page you're reading. I assume the height difference is because the 50' measurement is just the aerial device and the 55' is the total height of the rig with the ladder extended. It also has a 500 gallon booster tank and 1250 gpm pump. A paragraph on the apparatus page talks about the cut-down cab but it's hard to tell, from reading this, if this rig was delivered this way or if they sent it back to WLF. If this sentence wasn't printed I'd believe this rig was delivered with the Senator-style cab:







That word 'current' could throw that sentence into a whole new light. To me it reads as if they had the truck cut down at some point after they took delivery.



I tend to believe that the rig is a 1974 model. We moved away in April of 1973 and the rigs at that time were a classic Ward LaFrance (50's-vintage?) pumper, a Ford C-chassied pumper, and a Dodge/Young rescue that is pictured in the Iconografix Young Fire Apparatus book. The apparatus page also states that this one of supposedly 1 of only 6 rigs with this style of cab and bodywork and that it's only 1 of 2 still left in active service.



As of 3/5/08 the website states that this rig is now up for sale. It has been replaced by a 1993 E\-One 75' aerial purchased from the Kirkwood FD.



If anyone can shed a little more light on this I'd appreciate it. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Big Grin' />

Credit to the original photographer..I reposted his pic from my computer because I couldn't remember what page of the thread the rig was originally pictured on.[/quote]in regards to the height of the cab and body of clarks summit's former ward la france squirt that is the way it was ordered due to the height of the apparatus doors at their former station.
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The Clarks Summit rig is a 1974. It's a 1000/500/55'. The pump and aerial info came off the dataplates when I shot the photo you posted.
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Thanks guys....I appreciate it.



GA-Dave, I should have known you'd have the facts <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yourock.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Yourock' />



BrotherJulio, I lived on a side street across from the Clarks Summit's main firehouse back then and was on the corner anytime I heard the fire siren blowing. Watching the men and apparatus respond fascinated me. I'd stay on that corner until they returned, if I could. I do remember that was a tight firehouse for the apparatus. If I remember correctly width

wasn't as much of an issue as length and height was.



Thanks again guys!
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[quote name='jmp883' post='223945' date='Jun 23 2008, 20:10 ']Thanks guys....I appreciate it.



GA-Dave, I should have known you'd have the facts <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yourock.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Yourock' />



BrotherJulio, I lived on a side street across from the Clarks Summit's main firehouse back then and was on the corner anytime I heard the fire siren blowing. Watching the men and apparatus respond fascinated me. I'd stay on that corner until they returned, if I could. I do remember that was a tight firehouse for the apparatus. If I remember correctly width

wasn't as much of an issue as length and height was.



Thanks again guys![/quote]clarks summit's old station is now used by the police dept to keep their patrol cars in.
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BrotherJulio wrote:



Quote:clarks summit's old station is now used by the police dept to keep their patrol cars in.



Wow....haven't been back there in a few years! When I lived there there were the 3 apparatus bays in the front and there was a side bay where the ambulance was kept, at that time a Cadillac-chassied rig. Maybe I'll ride my Wing up there this weekend and poke around the old neighborhood.....



Where's the new fire station?
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[quote name='jmp883' post='223975' date='Jun 23 2008, 21:37 ']BrotherJulio wrote:







Wow....haven't been back there in a few years! When I lived there there were the 3 apparatus bays in the front and there was a side bay where the ambulance was kept, at that time a Cadillac-chassied rig. Maybe I'll ride my Wing up there this weekend and poke around the old neighborhood.....



Where's the new fire station?[/quote]the new station is on bedford st next to the highrise it was built about 4 years ago.
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LA County Engine 71


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Houston Engine 18


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Montgomery County, Texas


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Question, was LACO E-71 one of the WLF's with a seperate booster pump for brush work ?
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[quote name='KFDI3' post='224811' date='Jun 27 2008, 18:20 ']Question, was LACO E-71 one of the WLF's with a seperate booster pump for brush work ?[/quote]



It looks like LACoFD E71 has ONE booster Line. The "Brush Rigs" had 2 Boosters lines. This appears to be a 1972 rig. In DEVIL WIND FIRE WAGONS the 1971 order was "split" with some rigs from the COnsolidated Fire Protection Districts and Forester & Fire Warden (F&FW) units.



There is no mention of a sperate pump. all 46 rigs had HIGH PRESSURE reels and a 1000 GPM waterous single stage pump with 500 gal water tanks.



There were 8 more Wards bought in 1974 that had cross lays in front of the reels, but again no extra pumps.
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From another site - it is being said that LACoFD's/Universal Studios 1973 Ward LaFrance that was teh ENGINE from EMERGENCY! is being returned to the County from Yosemite Park. It will be restroed and added to the County Fire Muesum.
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[quote name='schs' post='224714' date='Jun 27 2008, 05:34 ']Montgomery County, Texas[/quote]

Originally from the Whitman Square VFC of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.
Jay Kormann
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[quote name='Fireman5230' post='224830' date='Jun 27 2008, 19:47 ']From another site - it is being said that LACoFD's/Universal Studios 1973 Ward LaFrance that was teh ENGINE from EMERGENCY! is being returned to the County from Yosemite Park. It will be restroed and added to the County Fire Muesum.[/quote]



That is correct. My understanding is that there was some agreement with the LACoFD Fire Museum that upon the retirement of the engine it would be returned. They were having their yearly open house today, it would be interesting to see if it has already been delivered as the timing could not be any better.
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I'm just bringing this to the top because someone was looking for it. <img src='http://www.firepics.net/groupboards/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Rolleyes' />
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[quote name='schs' post='224714' date='Jun 27 2008, 05:34 ']Montgomery County, Texas[/quote]
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Denver operated two 1974 Ward LaFrance 1500/500 pumpers. Here is Engine 11 operating with WLF #80-1060.

-1974 Photo by Duane Troxel


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Terrific thread! I can't believe that only one Newark FD WLF has made it to the page (although it's a great looking rig!) I'll dig around and see if I have any of the pair that Irvington NJ had.
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I don't get a change to post very often but I have a couple for this topic.



Port Jervis, NY

Deleware Engine Company No. 2

1967 WLF 1000/500



Sold in 1987 to Huguenot Fire Co., NY

Disposed of some time in the early 1990's


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