Ward LaFrance Ultravision

[GA_Dave]

Here is Flagstaff, Az reserve Engine 6 which is a 1980 WLF 1500/500/40. When this shot was taken in 1995 they said it was built by Maxim and you can see the Maxim plate under the windshield. Although it located at station 3 it was lettered E6 as a spare. A month ago while I was up there, they still had it as a reserve but now its Reserve E3.



Can anyone provide more info about the Maxim part of the rig??? -DAvid

In 1975, Ward LaFrance was sold to North Street Associates, the same people who bought Maxim in 1975. From that point on, both Ward LaFrance and Maxim apparatus were being built at both factories. The cab was the same, with interchangeable face and windshield sections. Units ordered through Ward laFrance carried Ward LaFrance badging, units ordered through Maxim carried Maxim badging, regardless of which factory they were built in. The Ward LaFrance factory closed in 1979, with several units still on order. These were completed at the Maxim factory. All of these carried "80 series" numbers. One of the last "80 Series" rigs was delivered to Flagstaff, #80-1704, built at the Maxim factory. I'm not sure why it had Maxim badging. Flagstaff also had a 1973 Ward LaFrance 1500/750 pumper that was equipped with 4 wheel drive, #80-801. It was assigned to Engine 3. Were there any others at Flagstaff?



Maxim also offered the "87 Series" which was the same Ultravision cab face as used by Ward LaFrance. At this time, 87-1057 is the highest number I've found in this series. These rigs all had Maxim badging. In addition, there was another series of Ward LaFrance Ambassadors that had "2100 Series" numbers. Ward LaFrance operated another factory in Geneva, NY for a while and it is possible that the "2100 Series" rigs may have been constructed there. So far, I have 8 apparatus in that database, built in 1978, 1979 and 1980, but the numbers go up to #2172 so far. I'm sure there are more out there.