Customer Reviews

American LaFrance 400 Series: Photo Archive

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An excellent reference book for American Lafrance 400 Series Fans. I would have given it 5 stars but it contains quite a few typographical errors which reduce it's historical accuracy. I own two of the pumpers featured in the book (Register 7706 and 7844). The photo of 7706 (Briarcliff Manor, NY) was mis-labeled as a 1936 when it is actually a 1935 . The photos of Register 7844 (Ex-Albany New York) are not correct. The photos show a chain drive truck when in actuality the real truck was bevel gear drive.

I have to give credit where credit is due. The photos are great and any fan of the 400 Series should own a copy. Thanks Walt for spotlighting this classic Fire Apparatus!!

This was a pleasant read, I come from a mill village in northwest Rhode Island that is covered by a Vol. Fire Dept.
In 1935 they decided to replace a converted city service ladder truck (horses had been replaced with a KNOX MARTIN 3 wheel
tractor). A Quadruple pumper from ALF was chosen, the truck had an inline Walkinshaw 8 cyl.engine and a 500GPM rotary gear ct)
pump. This book told me the truck was a 450 RDB model, aka a "junior".
My knowledge of this truck is extensive as my father was the Capt. in charge of it when it was delivered in 1936 thru 1950 when he was promoted to Asst Chief. I spent all my spare time as a youth with my dad as it was more fun to be around the fire house than hanging out on the streets with the kids. All this time I learned from listening to and watching the adult firemen
(many of who had military experiance as firefighters during WW2 and Korean conflict). When I turned 21 I became a member of the fire dept. and I operated this thuck until it was retired in 1971 and replaced with a Maxim 85" Snorkle
PS: If you check YOU TUBE under American LaFrance or PASCOAG FIRE DEPT you can find a couple video entries on this truck,
I can't look at the videos because I see the "kids" drafting from a shallow mud pond without a strainer on the hard suction
hose and black mud being pumped thru the dischsrge gate.
The truck looks as good today as it did in 1936.
Bob Looby , formerly of Pascocg Hose Co. No.1.