1914 LaFrance Fire Truck
1914 LaFrance Fire Truck-we have two!
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Preparations for the world's fair were well in place beginning
in 1914 and at such an event, there would be need for a full
fledged fire department. American LaFrance, the premier fire
apparatus manufacturer was asked to make the fire equipment for
the 1915 event. There were three fire houses at the exposition
grounds. Each house had a pump truck, a ladder truck and a chemical
truck made for it. And there was one hook and ladder truck for
the exposition grounds.
The equipment was top of the line and was made to show the
state of the art in fire fighting prowess for the company. The
pump truck could move 750 gpm of water and the trucks were painted
in deep red with gold leaf trim. They were the best the industry
had to offer.
After the exposition, the equipment was sold off. San Francisco
bought several trucks and the others went to bidders mostly in
California. Later, the City of Lindsay, purchased one of the
pump trucks. It was used in the City for years and the last fire
it served on was in the early 1960's at the LoBue Packing house
fire. A retired firefighter told us the 45 year old truck was
used because it would pump more water than anything in the County
and the truck pumped constantly for 2 days on the fire.
This 1920 model is a close duplicate.
Where are the safety uniforms?
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Preparations for the world's fair were well in place beginning in 1914 and at such an event, there would be need for a full fledged fire department. American LaFrance, the premier fire apparatus manufacturer was asked to make the fire equipment for the 1915 event. There were three fire houses at the exposition grounds. Each house had a pump truck, a ladder truck and a chemical truck made for it. And there was one hook and ladder truck for the exposition grounds. The equipment was top of the line and was made to show the state of the art in fire fighting prowess for the company. The pump truck could move 750 gpm of water and the trucks were painted in deep red with gold leaf trim. They were the best the industry had to offer. After the exposition, the equipment was sold off. San Francisco bought several trucks and the others went to bidders mostly in California. Later, the City of Lindsay, purchased one of the pump trucks. It was used in the City for years and the last fire it served on was in the early 1960's at the LoBue Packing house fire. A retired firefighter told us the 45 year old truck was used because it would pump more water than anything in the County and the truck pumped constantly for 2 days on the fire. |
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After that, the truck was retired. It was repainted, rebuilt
and reserved for parades and displays for historical items to
be displayed. The old truck was still an active part of Lindsay.
After that, it was donated to the Tulare County Museum and was
on display for several years and after that, the stories get
a little muddled. The truck wound up in Fresno and suddenly there
were two. A second of the world's fair trucks had been bought
by Moro Bay and somehow found its way to Fresno.
We are told both trucks were partially disassembled and looked
more like a puzzle waiting to be reassembled than two trucks.
A fire truck rebuilder took possession of both trucks and they
went to a great barn in Auburn to be housed with 5 more trucks.
The rebuilder lost interest in the trucks with other projects
and perhaps, easier parts availability.
The Lindsay search for its long lost fire truck led to the
barn in Auburn where both trucks were found. The rebuilder had
passed away and the wife was interested in cleaning out some
of the barn space. With the support of Lindsay community members,
a committee was formed called 'Restore the Fire Truck Committee'.
The funds were raised and borrowed to purchase the two trucks
in the condition they were in. A semi truck was donated to transport,
a crew volunteered to go get the equipment and the old fire truck
with a matching brother were brought back to Lindsay. The boxes
were unloaded, the chassis were rolled into a building and the
project was begun.
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After that, the truck was retired. It was repainted, rebuilt and reserved for parades and displays for historical items to be displayed. The old truck was still an active part of Lindsay. After that, it was donated to the Tulare County Museum and was on display for several years and after that, the stories get a little muddled. The truck wound up in Fresno and suddenly there were two. A second of the world's fair trucks had been bought by Moro Bay and somehow found its way to Fresno. We are told both trucks were partially disassembled and looked more like a puzzle waiting to be reassembled than two trucks. A fire truck rebuilder took possession of both trucks and they went to a great barn in Auburn to be housed with 5 more trucks. The rebuilder lost interest in the trucks with other projects and perhaps, easier parts availability. The Lindsay search for its long lost fire truck led to the barn in Auburn where both trucks were found. The rebuilder had passed away and the wife was interested in cleaning out some of the barn space. With the support of Lindsay community members, a committee was formed called 'Restore the Fire Truck Committee'. The funds were raised and borrowed to purchase the two trucks in the condition they were in. A semi truck was donated to transport, a crew volunteered to go get the equipment and the old fire truck with a matching brother were brought back to Lindsay. The boxes were unloaded, the chassis were rolled into a building and the project was begun. |