However, Patriarch Partners were allowed to use the plant until early 2007, when DaimlerChrysler began using the plant for assembly of the Dodge Sprinter. The headquarters and main plant in Ladson, South Carolina were not included in the transaction. In December 2005, it was announced that Freightliner had transferred the ownership of American LaFrance to the New York-based investment firm, Patriarch Partners, LLC. As of 2005, they were the fifth largest manufacturer of emergency vehicles in North America. ALF operated additional manufacturing facilities in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Sanford, Florida, and Hamburg, New York. Many of their Liberty products were built on Freightliner LLC M2 or Sterling Acterra chassis. Freightliner continued to utilize American LaFrance’s original nameplates and designations including the Eagle custom chassis.
In 1995, the company was bought by Freightliner LLC, which is a subsidiary of Daimler AG. Some of the company’s innovations led to changes in the industry, most notably the cab forward style cab.
The classical style of the American LaFrance apparatus is easily recognized. Over the years, American LaFrance built thousands of fire trucks including chemical engines, combination pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, Aero Chief snorkel trucks, and airport crash trucks. ALF delivered its first motorized fire engine in 1907. It also operated a Canadian plant in Toronto, Ontario, where it sold apparatus under the name Lafrance-Foamite, until 1971. Its corporate offices and manufacturing plant were in Elmira, New York. The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was formed in 1903. Apparatus built by International included horse drawn steamers, hose wagons, and hook & ladders to chemical engines, water towers and combinations. The International Fire Engine Company, corporate predecessor of American LaFrance, built some steam power fire engines between 1903-1907. Diven as the LaFrance Manufacturing Company selling hand powered equipment. Founded in 1873 by Truckson LaFrance and his partners, including Alexander S. With roots that go back to approximately 1832, the companies that went on to become American LaFrance built hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and steam-powered fire engines. The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was one of the oldest fire apparatus manufacturers in America. It was announced Friday, Januthey would cease operations. The company was located in Summerville, South Carolina. The efforts are fully underway-and the action will start at Drafts for Crafts on March 16.Fire apparatus manufacturer, Commercial VehiclesĪmerican LaFrance (ALF) was an American vehicle manufacturer which focused primarily on the production of fire engines, fire aerials, and emergency apparatus such as ambulance and rescue vehicles. “To some extent, the 1943 Ford Fire Truck is easier because the basic vehicle is a civilian model truck that was in production from 1942 to 1947, so original and replacement parts are well represented.” “All restoration projects present their own unique challenges,” Czekanski said. It has been on the waiting list since 2009.”Ĭzekanski has already acquired many parts for the Truck’s restoration from all over the country. That had a certain appeal, and it was accepted into the collection for future restoration. “After researching WWII fire trucks, we saw that this was a Home Front artifact. “This truck came to us as a donation offer,” Czekanski said. Once restored, it will be displayed on the Museum’s main campus to help visitors interpret the broad range of occupations and tasks on the Home Front needed to win the war.
Museum Senior Curator and Restoration Manager Tom Czekanski, who is leading the restoration effort, said the LaFrance was the most common fire truck used on the Home Front during the war and was intended to put out structural fires. The flathead V-8 was one of the first V-8 engines produced for the mass market, and is still popular today for use in hot rods. The Truck’s engine is a Ford flathead V-8, specifically a 239-cubic-inch displacement engine. Owen purchased the Truck from Dallas-Selfville Volunteer Fire Department in Trafford, Alabama, in 1985. This is a general-purpose model built for the US Army that could have been used at an airfield, a military post, or a defense plant. The fire truck, donated to the Museum in April 2009 by Steve Owen of Pell City, Alabama, will be restored as an Army fire engine and repainted wartime green.
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