This article appeared on the April, 2000 isuue of the Phoenix
Body by the ALF/Herman Corporation
4400 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri
Relatively little is known about the ALF/Herman Body Company at this time, but I hope these photos and captions will encourage some one to delve into this rather obscure part of American LaFrance history. Their contribution to the American LaFrance product line was interesting, but the main question is - Why was Herman selected?
Founded in 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, The Herman Body Corporation servived by making refridgerated truck bodies for such things as ice-cream, and for delivery vehicles for soda (that's Tonic if you live in New England, and POP if you live down south) bottlers. Actually, their bodies graced both commercial truck chassis and trailer rigs. From all I've been able to find out, the company built excellent products, and had a fine reputation.
In 1952, Herman became a division of the Jerry O;Mahoney Inc., of Elizabeth, New Jersey. I understand that O'Mahoney built diners. In spite of the new ownership, Herman remained in St. Louis.
Photos Showd:
Kings Park, N.Y. - Ford C-600 Rescue (Shipped about January, 1959)
Garrett, Indiana - 1959 Ford F-500 Rescue with booster pump.
Lehigton. PA - 1961 Ford C-750 Rescue.
Northumberland, PA - 1961 Ford C-600 Rescue
Lock Haven, PA - 1962 Ford C-750 Rescue
Claymont, DE - GMC Rescue Reg# N-973 Shipped 5/11/1958
(Note: all 4 Ford C seem to have the same Rescue Body)
By 1958, the company was in dire straits when American LaFrance came to the rescue. The "new" name became the Herman Body Co, (in receivership), Operated by the ALF Body Corp., Subsidiary of American LaFrance Corp. That was a small change, but an important one. Finally, still in 1958, it became ALF Herman Body Corp., Subsidiary of American LaFrance Corp. This continued in 1962, when the company ceased business.
Many tanks to Paul Koert of Lake Hiawatha, N.J. and Glen Vincent of East Hartford, CT. for their help with the production information. Any Additional Information on ALF/Herman built vehicles, corrections, additions or deletions would be greatly apprecialed. JMP
Johns List
Kings Park, N.Y. A1522-001 (02/04/59) Ford C-600
Endwell, NY A1506-001 (02/04/59) GMC-Squad
Garrett, IN A1541-001 (03/09/59 Ford F-550
Northumberland, PA 2-1-8469 (06/16/61) Ford 600 Rescue
(Marshalltown, IA) 2-1-8484 (09/10/61) Ford 700 Rescue
Clayton, DE N-973 5/11/58 GMC Rescue
(Odessa, MD) F-3134 10/16/58 Ford 750 w/500 BT
(Island Beach, CA) F-3177 2/24/59 F-800
(Plesantville, N.Y) . L-5735 3/20/59 C-900 BJC Squad Car
Boeing Airplane. Seattle F-3178 6/29/59 F-800 750 gal/500 GWT
(Lakeside CA) F-3179 10/08/59 F-800 750 gal/500 GWT
St. Mary's, PA N-776 12/10/59 Invader Booster & Hose
(App. Sales, Texas) F-3180 1/21/60 F-800
Cheektowagah, N.Y. N-925 5/28/60 D 975 SOKC
(Merrick N.Y.) N-931 9/2/60 K" engine Invader Rescue
(Glenville, N.Y.) L-5612 10/1/60 D 900 BJO Squad
Lindenhurst, N.Y. 9-1-8124 1/31/61 D 900 SOVC Rescue
Lehigton, PA 2-1-8468 4/29/61 Ford C-750 Rescue
Lock Haven, PA 2-1-8734 2/17/62 Ford Squad
* In Brackets () Questionable.
** Date in parens are photo dates,
Body by the ALF/Herman Corporation
4400 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri
Relatively little is known about the ALF/Herman Body Company at this time, but I hope these photos and captions will encourage some one to delve into this rather obscure part of American LaFrance history. Their contribution to the American LaFrance product line was interesting, but the main question is - Why was Herman selected?
Founded in 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, The Herman Body Corporation servived by making refridgerated truck bodies for such things as ice-cream, and for delivery vehicles for soda (that's Tonic if you live in New England, and POP if you live down south) bottlers. Actually, their bodies graced both commercial truck chassis and trailer rigs. From all I've been able to find out, the company built excellent products, and had a fine reputation.
In 1952, Herman became a division of the Jerry O;Mahoney Inc., of Elizabeth, New Jersey. I understand that O'Mahoney built diners. In spite of the new ownership, Herman remained in St. Louis.
Photos Showd:
Kings Park, N.Y. - Ford C-600 Rescue (Shipped about January, 1959)
Garrett, Indiana - 1959 Ford F-500 Rescue with booster pump.
Lehigton. PA - 1961 Ford C-750 Rescue.
Northumberland, PA - 1961 Ford C-600 Rescue
Lock Haven, PA - 1962 Ford C-750 Rescue
Claymont, DE - GMC Rescue Reg# N-973 Shipped 5/11/1958
(Note: all 4 Ford C seem to have the same Rescue Body)
By 1958, the company was in dire straits when American LaFrance came to the rescue. The "new" name became the Herman Body Co, (in receivership), Operated by the ALF Body Corp., Subsidiary of American LaFrance Corp. That was a small change, but an important one. Finally, still in 1958, it became ALF Herman Body Corp., Subsidiary of American LaFrance Corp. This continued in 1962, when the company ceased business.
Many tanks to Paul Koert of Lake Hiawatha, N.J. and Glen Vincent of East Hartford, CT. for their help with the production information. Any Additional Information on ALF/Herman built vehicles, corrections, additions or deletions would be greatly apprecialed. JMP
Johns List
Kings Park, N.Y. A1522-001 (02/04/59) Ford C-600
Endwell, NY A1506-001 (02/04/59) GMC-Squad
Garrett, IN A1541-001 (03/09/59 Ford F-550
Northumberland, PA 2-1-8469 (06/16/61) Ford 600 Rescue
(Marshalltown, IA) 2-1-8484 (09/10/61) Ford 700 Rescue
Clayton, DE N-973 5/11/58 GMC Rescue
(Odessa, MD) F-3134 10/16/58 Ford 750 w/500 BT
(Island Beach, CA) F-3177 2/24/59 F-800
(Plesantville, N.Y) . L-5735 3/20/59 C-900 BJC Squad Car
Boeing Airplane. Seattle F-3178 6/29/59 F-800 750 gal/500 GWT
(Lakeside CA) F-3179 10/08/59 F-800 750 gal/500 GWT
St. Mary's, PA N-776 12/10/59 Invader Booster & Hose
(App. Sales, Texas) F-3180 1/21/60 F-800
Cheektowagah, N.Y. N-925 5/28/60 D 975 SOKC
(Merrick N.Y.) N-931 9/2/60 K" engine Invader Rescue
(Glenville, N.Y.) L-5612 10/1/60 D 900 BJO Squad
Lindenhurst, N.Y. 9-1-8124 1/31/61 D 900 SOVC Rescue
Lehigton, PA 2-1-8468 4/29/61 Ford C-750 Rescue
Lock Haven, PA 2-1-8734 2/17/62 Ford Squad
* In Brackets () Questionable.
** Date in parens are photo dates,
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