03/06/15 225 W, 5 I - + 7 - 4 UPDATED - The Curious Case of Spring Lake's American LaFrance Aerial Ladder
March 6
Mystery solved, thanks to readers of the SPAAMFAA group on Facebook and this thread in particular. The ladder originally served Grand Rapids, Michigan. Model 7-100-AEO, registration number 9038, shipped August 28, 1947. The frame was damaged after they loaded a gas axe plus fuel tanks in the back. The fix was an additional axle and compartment space added by the fire department shops. Here are pictures of the before and after. Click to enlarge:
Larry Zotti collection
February 25
Here's the strangest thing you'll see this week, a 1949 American LaFrance 700 (or 800?)
Series 100-foot aerial ladder with a tag axle added. Served Spring Lake Fire Department
by the late 1980s and early 1990s. Top picture by Jeff Harkey is circa 1990.
Bottom photos by Lee Wilson is dated July 12, 1991. (By that time, the truck was out of service and had been replaced with a 1968 Young Crusader Snorkel that formerly served Henrietta, NY.)
The tag axle and rear body
work are aftermarket and probably done during a refurbishing. Might've been
added to help with braking. Might've been added to help with weight
restrictions. Maybe readers know more! Also a mystery is the truck's origin.
Most likely served another city (or even two) before arriving at Spring Lake.
Click to enlarge:
Jeff Harkey photo
Lee Wilson photos