Images from Dave Fornell's collection showcasing Chicago's Ford C-Series Ward LaFrance fire engines.
The Ward/Ford canopy pumpers were delivered in late 1969. A total of 10 units were ordered, and they were the only Ward LaFrance/Ford canopy pumpers ever delivered to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). In addition to these, several non-canopy Ward/Fords were also delivered, along with a number of Pierce/Ford, E-One/Ford, and even a few Seagrave/Ford canopy pumpers.
The Ward LaFrance/Fords were assigned to some of the busiest companies in the city, where they were put through rigorous use. Each unit was equipped with a rear-mounted winch and built on a Ford C-8000 chassis with a 175-inch wheelbase. Later models from E-One and Pierce had shorter 153-inch wheelbases, largely due to the reduced size of the canopy seating area.
During that time, apparatus orders were often distributed among vendors with political connections. When these rigs were delivered, Schuster Equipment was the designated supplier. Pierces and Seagraves came from Illinois FWD Truck and Equipment in Rosemont, which was owned by Ray Schuster — a brother to the owner of Schuster Equipment. Later E-One units were supplied by Able Fire and Safety.
The photos capture various moments in the life of these historic vehicles:
The first image shows one of the rigs undergoing acceptance testing near McCormick Place on a lake.
Engine 19’s rig is depicted right after delivery, standing in front of its station.
As time passed, Engine 95 and Engine 61 are shown in front of their respective stations.
Note that Engine 95 was seen using 150 feet of 3-inch supply line, with 100 feet carried on top of the driver’s side compartments and the remaining 50 feet in the hose bed. This setup was an early example of the 150-foot 4-inch lines now commonly mounted on the front bumpers of modern Chicago fire trucks.
A photo from the late 1970s shows this unconventional but effective method being used at a junkyard fire on the West Side.
Another image captures Engine 19 in action during a fire in 1977, featuring a three-compartment body on the driver’s side. According to local lore, a wealthy lawyer crashed into the truck, and the insurance payout allowed 3D Metals in Wisconsin to replace the original body.
All the 1969 Ward/Ford units had a two-compartment body on each side. Later models from E-One, Seagrave, and Pierce featured half-height compartments stacked above the lower ones.
These rigs marked the final delivery of Ward/Ford fire engines to the CFD.
Capt. Dave
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
Dave Fornell collection
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