American LaFrance

History

The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company traced its roots to 1832, making it one of the oldest fire apparatus manufacturers in the United States. It was founded in 1873 by Truxton Slocum LaFrance (and partners, including Alexander S. Diven) as the LaFrance Manufacturing Company, selling hand powered equipment. A successor company, the International Fire Engine Company, built some steam power fire engines between 1903 and 1907. Apparatus built by International included horse drawn steamers, hose wagons, and hook & ladders to chemical engines, water towers and combinations. The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was formed in 1903. ALF delivered its first motorized fire engine in 1907.

File:Industries of War - Fireproof Materials - MANUFACTURING FIRE ENGINES FOR THE GOVERNMENT. Main machine shop at American LaFrance Fire Co., Inc. plant, Elmira, New York - NARA - 31488330.jpg|Manufacturing fire engines for the government: main machine shop at American LaFrance Fire Co., Inc., 1919 File:Fire Prevention - Equipment - Painting Ford car chassis in plant of American La France Fire Engine Co., Inc., Elmira, New York - NARA - 31480244.jpg|Painting Ford car chassis in plant of American La France Fire Engine Co., Inc. 1918. File:Architect and engineer (1920) (14782361062).jpg|Advertisement for American LaFrance fire extinguisher, c. 1920

According to the Elmira, New York, Star-Gazette:

ALF produced a small run of passenger cars from about 1910 to 1920, totaling around 22 (with several additional "speedsters"). Because the design was based on a Crane-Simplex chassis, several early ALF fire trucks have been retroactively converted into speedsters.

In 1927, ALF acquired the Utica-based O.J. Childs company. The company had created Foamite, a liquid chemical designed to extinguish fires in temperatures ranging from −15 °F to 110 °F.

In 1947, ALF introduced the 700-series fire apparatus. The 700-series was a "cab forward" design, placing the driver ahead of the engine and providing an expansive forward view. This would become the industry standard. In 1959, ALF introduced the 900-series cab-forward chassis. Although it was similar to the 700 (and closely related 800-series), the 900 was an all new design with a wider cab. In addition to the 700-800-900-Series trucks, ALF produced models under the names Century, Pioneer, and Eagle.

The company suspended operations and closed the Elmira operations in 1985. A much-reduced company re-opened for operations in Bluefield, Virginia, in 1986, operating through 1994.

Freightliner era

In 1995, Freightliner, a subsidiary of Daimler AG, purchased the remnants of the company, yet again resurrecting LaFrance. Freightliner continued to utilize American LaFrance's original nameplates and designations including the Eagle custom chassis. Many of their Liberty products were built on Freightliner M2 or Sterling Acterra chassis. ALF operated additional manufacturing facilities in Ephrata, Pennsylvania; Sanford, Florida; and Hamburg, New York. In 2005 it was the fifth largest manufacturer of emergency vehicles in North America.

Patriarch Partners era

In December 2005, it was announced that Freightliner had transferred the ownership of American LaFrance to the New York–based investment firm Patriarch Partners, LLC. The headquarters and main plant in Ladson, South Carolina, were not included in the transaction. However, Patriarch Partners was allowed to use the plant until early 2007, when DaimlerChrysler began using the plant for assembly of the Dodge Sprinter. Under new ownership ALF relocated within the Charleston, South Carolina, area in summer 2007 to a brand-new facility, including manufacturing and corporate headquarters, with nearly 500000 sqft of total space.

On 28 January 2008, American LaFrance filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming problems with implementation of a new IBM enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. On 25 July 2008, the company emerged from bankruptcy with a revised business plan to transfer the firetruck body building portion of the business to the remaining Hamburg, New York (formerly RDMurray Inc.), and Ephrata, Pennsylvania (formerly Ladder Towers Inc.), facilities. The Summerville, South Carolina, plant continued to manufacture fire truck cab and chassis, but focused on vocational vehicles and the Condor vehicle line. In 2009, the company closed Hamburg and Ephrata, attempting to consolidate operations to Summerville. On 17 January 2014, the company announced it would cease operation. Remaining assets of the company, which included parts and partially completed trucks, were auctioned to pay creditors. As of that October it was highly unlikely American LaFrance would be opening its doors ever again.

Historical collections

The North Charleston Fire Museum and Educational Center, located in North Charleston, South Carolina, claims to house "the largest collection of professionally restored American LaFrance fire apparatus in the country". The museum has an active collection of 20 ALF vehicles, each in operating condition.

File:North Charleston Fire Museum (13886571509).jpg File:American LaFrance Steam Pumper, used by Oakland Fire Department from 1898-1921 - Oakland Museum of California - DSC05256.JPG|American LaFrance Steam Pumper, used by Oakland Fire Department File:5 Aerial American LaFrance, Adelaide Street Firehall (4546514881).jpg|Aerial American LaFrance, Adelaide Street Firehall c. 1934 File:American LaFrance Ladder (23832055698).jpg|American LaFrance 700/800/900-Series File:Glendale-American LaFrance - Foamite 700 Series-1954-2.jpg|American LaFrance 700/800/900-Series File:WPFD Engine 6.jpg|Pioneer Series File:O-11A airport crash tender.JPEG|O-11A airport crash tender File:American LaFrance FT.jpg|1977 American LaFrance FT

World record

A 1921 American LaFrance Type 12 engine serial #3970 was the first motorized fire truck in Anchorage, Alaska. On November 23, 1922, a fire started in the Evans-Jonesville Coal Mine, in Sutton, AK. The mine was accessible by railroad and the primary source of coal for electricity and heating for Anchorage. The fire truck was loaded onto a rail car and, along with the Fire Chief and a firefighter, was taken to the mine. It pumped for 13 days straight, only being shut down for oil changes and to change hose due to broken couplings. This was done in freezing weather.

References

References

1. McLoone, Chris. (18 January 2014). "Report: American LaFrance Closes Doors". Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment.
2. "American LaFrance Fire Engine Company".
3. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061016061924/http://www.americanlafrance.com/interior.asp?n=3&p=0&s=3 LaFrance Manufacturing Company]
4. Hare, Jim. (10 November 2015). "Elmira: Fire Engine Capital of the World". Star-Gazette.
5. Ford, Grant. (October 2016). "No Smoke without Fire – American La France". Blacktop Magazine.
6. "Foam-type fire extinguisher".
7. "Encyclopedia: American LaFrance".
8. (6 February 2014). "Farewell to American LaFrance".
9. "American LaFrance: Company Info".
10. Krigsman, Michael. (11 February 2008). "Customer blames bankruptcy on IBM IT failure". [[ZDNet]].
11. Ball, Richard. (21 April 2009). "American LaFrance closing Hamburg plant". [[American City Business Journals.
12. (17 January 2014). "Breaking News: American LaFrance Fire Apparatus Closes Doors". SConFire.com.
13. Ballam, Ed. (21 October 2014). "American LaFrance Assets Picked Like a Turkey Carcass". Firehouse.com.
14. [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1339412/ American LaFrance Catalogue No. 20]
15. American LaFrance Catalogue No. 20;