2nd Class
Portland, Oregon ยท 13's
1907 American LaFrance - 2nd Class
In late 1904, the American Fire Engine Company merged with the LeFrance Fire Engine Company and became the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company. Ours was built in 1907 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the old Ahrens Fire Engine plant.
This was put in service in Portland, Oregon as Engine 13. The second class steam engine produces 700-800 gallons per minute, and was pulled by three horses. We have very little information on its service in the Portland Fire Department. We are currently researching this. We believe it was retired in the mid 1920s. Where it was from its retirement to the late 1960s or 1970s is unknown.
It ended up in the hands of private collectors. We believe it was purchased by a man named Dan Eagle in the late '70s or early '80s. Dan Eagle was a fire engine collector who lived in Spokane, Washington. He returned the engine to functional condition. His restoration, otherwise was not an accurate restoration. He plated the engine parts in chrome instead of nickel plating. Chrome did not become available until 1928, so anything built before that time would have had nickel plating. He did an ok job of painting it, buthe did not complete the gold leafing. The restoration is good enough to have placed it in many events up in the Washington area.
Dan Eagle passed away and his daughter sold the engine to Paul Schneider, who has since included it in the Museum's collection.
This steam engine, and our 1899 steam engine, were two of the three steam engines we took to San Francisco in April 2006 for the Centennial Celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Great Earthquake and Fire. We participated in four days of events.
Watch our video about this event on YouTube, it has been embeded below.
1907 American LaFrance - 2nd Class
In late 1904, the American Fire Engine Company merged with the LeFrance Fire Engine Company and became the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company. Ours was built in 1907 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the old Ahrens Fire Engine plant.
This was put in service in Portland, Oregon as Engine 13. The second class steam engine produces 700-800 gallons per minute, and was pulled by three horses. We have very little information on its service in the Portland Fire Department. We are currently researching this. We believe it was retired in the mid 1920s. Where it was from its retirement to the late 1960s or 1970s is unknown.
It ended up in the hands of private collectors. We believe it was purchased by a man named Dan Eagle in the late '70s or early '80s. Dan Eagle was a fire engine collector who lived in Spokane, Washington. He returned the engine to functional condition. His restoration, otherwise was not an accurate restoration. He plated the engine parts in chrome instead of nickel plating. Chrome did not become available until 1928, so anything built before that time would have had nickel plating. He did an ok job of painting it, buthe did not complete the gold leafing. The restoration is good enough to have placed it in many events up in the Washington area.
Dan Eagle passed away and his daughter sold the engine to Paul Schneider, who has since included it in the Museum's collection.
This steam engine, and our 1899 steam engine, were two of the three steam engines we took to San Francisco in April 2006 for the Centennial Celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Great Earthquake and Fire. We participated in four days of events.
Watch our video about this event on YouTube, it has been embeded below.
