Images from Dave Fornell’s collection showcasing Chicago's Ford C-Series Ward LaFrance engines.
The Ward/Ford canopy pumpers were delivered near the end of 1969. There were 10 units in the order, and they were the only Ward LaFrance/Ford canopy pumpers ever delivered to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). In addition to these canopy models, several non-canopy Ward/Fords were also supplied, along with a number of Pierce/Ford, E-One/Ford, and even some Seagrave/Ford canopy pumpers.
The Ward LaFrance/Fords were assigned to high-traffic stations where they endured heavy 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 due to the smaller canopy seating area.
Back then, fire 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, owned by Ray Schuster — who was also the brother of the owner of Schuster Equipment. Later E-One units were sourced from Able Fire and Safety.
The photos show:
A side view of one of the rigs undergoing acceptance testing near McCormick Place.
Engine 19’s rig just after delivery, parked in front of its station.
As time passed, Engine 95 and Engine 61 are seen in front of their quarters.
Note that Engine 95 operated with 150 feet of 3-inch supply line, with 100 feet carried on top of the driver’s side compartments and the remaining in the hose bed. This setup was an early version of the 150-foot 4-inch lines now mounted on the front bumpers of modern Chicago rigs.
One photo captures this innovative approach — not standard at the time — being used during a junkyard fire on the West Side in the late 1970s.
Another image shows 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/Fords 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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