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Ward LaFrance Fire Trucks- "Fishbowls" of Fire App

 
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Dieseljim
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Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 548
Location: Perry, NY

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:25 am    Post subject: Ward LaFrance Fire Trucks- "Fishbowls" of Fire App Reply with quote

While perusing some photos of Ward LaFrance fire engines, I could not help but notice the "fishbowl" like looks of the windshields on these rigs. Ward LaFrance must have taken a page from the Twin Coach and General Motors Truck and Coach playbooks and designed a fire truck cab with maximum visibility up front, thus the comparison with "fishbowl buses of both GM and Flxible design, particularly the Flxies, whose windshields Ward LaFrance's fire trucks'windshields resemble. Take a look at one along with a Flxible new look bus and you will see what I mean.
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RailBus63
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Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 1063

PostPosted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember those well - the Boston Fire Department had Ward La France pumper trucks when I was growing up in the 1960's and 1970's.
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Mr. Linsky
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Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 5071
Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, if Ward La France is the 'Fishbowl' of Fire Apparatus then;

Ahrens-Fox has to be the PD 4104!

Just take a gander at FDNY Engine # 305 (Forest Hills, Queens) below which is a 1935 Model U-N-T-4 capable of pumping 1000 gallons per minute.

By the way; the bright chromium ball atop the pump is not ornamental but functions as a pressure sphere to equalize water pressure and could send a stream 130 feet high (an exclusive Ahrens Fox design).

Now, that's what I call a machine! but don't ask me how the driver could see where he was going!

Photo was taken by this writer at a house fire in Kew Gardens circa mid forties.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

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