On November 11, 1958 in Shippensburg Borough Councils regular session American LaFrance Cooperation was awarded the bid for a new pumper to replace the
Cumberland Valley Hose Company’s 1936 Ward LaFrance. ALF bid $22,392.50 for a 1,000 gallon-per-minute pumper.
5 comments:
Bruce Hockersmith was its first driver, I believe. The '59 arrived at the freight station on an open-end boxcar, he climbed over the windshield and drove it onto the dock.
RB
You are right it did arrive by rail, it came into the yards on North Earl Stree by the old dairy plant. I will scan that photo and post on the date. I would have to check my file on Bruce but you could be right there also. TM said he passed the site along to you, on Friday I will be posting a job that your fathers worked together and located victums. T said he remembered it. I hope you are enjoying it and please chime in anytime. Brad
The LaFrance was almost a Mack with air-brakes but price was a determining factor, as I recall. It was the first cab-forward, 1000 GPM 'pumper' around town. And had a 'Q'. Very important.
Your site looks great, keep up the good work.
RB
I checked the photo and the members shown on the siding are Bill Murray (could this be a typo in the newspaper, I never new a Bill, just the two Tom's), Harry Bughman, Butch Weaver, Bruce Hockersmith and Ed Thrush. Makes me feel old that I knew all these men. Your right it was the first for all the items you mentioned, the largest pump on any other rigs was 750. As for the difference between Mack and ALF, ALF's bid was $22,392.50, Mack bid $22,944.95but it included trading in the Ward LaFrance pumper. The committee from CV's reported to council that they liked both rigs and that the original committee favored the ALF but the company would be happy with either.
Speaking of almost buying a Mack, when the borough purchased the Ward LaFrance for the CV's voted unanimously for an Ahrens-Fox. Buffalo was the low bidder and Mack was the high bidder.
RB drop me an email at lbmyers@pa.net the first letter is a L as in Linda, Thanks Brad
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