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Fire Engine Photos
No: 11087 Contributor: C Lucas Year: 2006 Manufacturers: American LaFrance, Ford Country: United States of America
Mardela Springs, Maryland
1932 American-LaFrance. Here's a photo of Mardela Springs VFC's '32 ALF, moments after being pulled out of a barn where it sat untouched for 15 years. MSVFC purchased it new. This is my volunteer fire company. I was a very active member for 2 years before even learning this fire engine existed. After an arguement over a repair bill resulted in the motorless fire engine being banished to the barn, it sat there ignored. The nearly complete original Buda motor was in a garage about 5 miles away. Also pictured is Brush 9, a 2004 Ford F250 brush truck. We used Brush 9 to pull the ALF out, then used it to tow the old fire engine to my garage, where myself and the Cadets are working on putting her back together. The motor is also now in my garage. We have everything but the rings.
1932 American-LaFrance. Here's a photo of Mardela Springs VFC's '32 ALF, moments after being pulled out of a barn where it sat untouched for 15 years. MSVFC purchased it new. This is my volunteer fire company. I was a very active member for 2 years before even learning this fire engine existed. After an arguement over a repair bill resulted in the motorless fire engine being banished to the barn, it sat there ignored. The nearly complete original Buda motor was in a garage about 5 miles away. Also pictured is Brush 9, a 2004 Ford F250 brush truck. We used Brush 9 to pull the ALF out, then used it to tow the old fire engine to my garage, where myself and the Cadets are working on putting her back together. The motor is also now in my garage. We have everything but the rings.
I have pictures of this rig when it was a parade piece in the 80's. I had no idea what had happened to it, It's a real shame to see what has befallen this once proud classic. Hope to see it return to the parade circuit soon.
Added by Fred Morlok on 12 March 2010.
Added by Fred Morlok on 12 March 2010.
This 1932 Alfie was considered to be a very prestigious full size front line pumper in its day.
Sitting next to a 2004 Ford F250 brush pumper like this, it is quite remarkable how small it looks - barely any bigger than a modern medium sized pickup truck...
Added by Rob Johnson on 08 May 2018.
Sitting next to a 2004 Ford F250 brush pumper like this, it is quite remarkable how small it looks - barely any bigger than a modern medium sized pickup truck...
Added by Rob Johnson on 08 May 2018.
American LaFrance
Brings back child-hood memories of the 1960's; our local VFD [Fairville, New Brunswick] ran a similar ALF, as back-up to its modern Series 700 ALF.
We loved to see the old rig responding - took a while to get there. Its old mechanical siren [6 VDC ?] had a slow rise-and-fall wail; the Driver would be perched high up, behind the big wheel, a-driving her; and his mate would be hanging on for dear life in that big couch-seat. A bit drafty in our snowy winters, so they would be well-bundled up......
At the scene - both sides of the hood [bonnet] would be propped open on earthenware jugs [like whiskey jugs - used for priming the pump ?], even in the snow and ice, to allow the hard-working engine to keep cool.
I seem to remember tall, wood-spoked wheels; her high ground-clearance enabled her to get into Brush Fires, where her modern sister would ground out on the rough terrain.
And Date "1929" - I have been on the look-out for pictures of a similar engine, since. And, I have heard that she made it to preservation, in a museum, somewhere ? Ontario ?
Anyhow, great that you and the cadets are getting this classic ALF together - please send more photos of the work in progress.
Regards, from Canada, Pat_R-B
Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 18 September 2008.