This truck has not been picked over like most old fire engines and appears to have almost all of its equipment. What makes this apparatus so special is its completeness. Quite similar to the Junior and Senior 400 Series fire engines from American LaFrance, this truck most likely served for a smaller fire department when delivered new. L787 is believed to be a Scout model fire engine.

This extremely rare service car is another amazing survivor. Unfortunately, 2014 saw the sad demise of one of the most storied names in fire apparatus history. Long famous for its high-quality machines with their distinctive dual chain final drive, American-LaFrance was the most widely recognized name in the industry. Steam-powered appliances continued to be made until 1914, but seven years previously the firm had motorized its first apparatus using four-cylinder T-head engines designed by New York neighbors Simplex. In 1903 the firm merged with the American Fire Engine Company (itself formed by the amalgamation of four smaller enterprises), becoming American-LaFrance.

*Complete with ladders, hoses, siren and bellįounded in 1873 by Truckson LaFrance and based in Elmira, New York, the LaFrance Manufacturing Company was originally famous as a maker of steam-powered fire pumpers, some 500-or-so of which had been sold by 1900. *Beautiful fire engine red with gold leaf detail *From John Staluppi's Cars of Dreams collection

American lafrance engine