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Apparatus 1
Apparatus 2
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1915 Ford Model T Roadster |
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1915 Ford Model T Chemical/Hose Car |
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1923 Ford Model TT |
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1928 Chevrolet |
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1923 Seagrave City Service Ladder Truck |
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1930 Moreland |
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1930 Seagrave |
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1955 Seagrave |
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1955 Seagrave Aerial Ladder Truck |
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1915 Gorham Seagrave |
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1952 American LaFrance |
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1941 Ford |
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1972 Ford Semi-Truck Tractor |
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1954 Mack |
Apparatus and Artifacts
1915 Ford Model T Roadster
Retired Battalion Chief Jim Turner with the 1915 Ford he donated
to the museum association.
This fully restored example of a so-called
"Tin Lizzy" was donated to the museum association
by retired Battalion Chief James Turner. Though it has no
fire service history, Chief Turner modified the vehicle to
resemble a chief’s buggy. Its 40-horsepower engine uses
a magneto for ignition and it has an optional electric starter.
A 12-volt battery is used to power the headlights; since the
vehicle has no generator, the battery requires frequent recharging.
Kerosene is used to illuminate the parking and taillights.
In addition to this beautiful example of automotive history,
Chief Turner generously donated the trailer in which it is
transported.
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1915 Ford Model T Chemical/Hose Car
This chemical/hose car is typical of
vehicles that were purchased by small communities to replace
horse-drawn and hand-drawn apparatus early in the 20th Century.
These light-weight rigs usually had no pump. The large metal
tank behind the driver’s seat contained approximately
forty gallons of water mixed with soda. An open-top glass
vial inside the tank at its top contained sulphuric acid.
To extinguish a fire, the tank would be rotated in its cradle
till the acid spilled into the soda-water solution. The resulting
chemical reaction would pressurize the tank to more than 200
pounds per square inch. A pre-connected hose line with a small
smooth-bore tip would then be used to apply the soda-acid-water
solution to the fire. In addition, this vehicle carried a
quantity of hose that could be used to provide a supply line
between a hydrant and a fire pumper. Thus, this type of apparatus
was known as a chemical/hose car.
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1923 Ford Model TT
This chemical/hose car was one of the
museum’s first acquisitions. It has been part of the
LA County Fire Department since the early 1960s, when it was
designated as Engine 1/2. Powered by the Ford four-cylinder
Model T engine, this vehicle has a larger chassis than its
1915 predecessors. Also, it is equipped with two chemical
tanks and an extension ladder. Engine 1/2 has been used in
numerous public fire education campaigns. In 1997, it was
one of several antique fire apparatus that performed the inaugural
parade lap at the new California Speedway in Fontana.
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1928 Chevrolet
Originally used as a police car, and
later as a fire chief’s buggy in the Lake Tahoe area,
this four-door phaeton is 80 percent restored. When completed,
it will be used in parades and public fire education events.
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1923 Stutz City Service Ladder Truck
City service ladder trucks were designed
to carry numerous ground ladders, but they were not equipped
with an aerial ladder. Once a proud member of the LA City
Fire Department, this straight frame city service ladder truck
was unique in that the rear drive wheels also could be steered
by a tillerman. When this antique was delivered to our museum,
it had no front axle or wheels. It is now on four wheels (with
newly refurbished wood-spoke front wheels) but full restoration
is not scheduled in the near future.
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1930 Moreland
The Moreland Truck Company was located
in Burbank, California, and a number of them were purchased
by both the LA City and County Fire Departments. Several of
the alphabetical pumpers ("A" through "R")
used by the County Forestry Department were Morelands. This
1930 model was operated by the LA City Fire Department as
a manpower squad vehicle. It needs a frame-off restoration
but it is considered a low-priority project.
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1930 Seagrave
This 1930 Seagrave was donated to the
museum by the Kirby family. It is scheduled for restoration
in the near future. Plans call for installation of modern
power (460 cubic inch Ford V-8), automatic transmission and
improved brakes. After being made safe and roadworthy, this
Seagrave will then be available for parades and other events
in keeping with the Museum Association’s purposes.
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1955 Seagrave
This classic Seagrave served the LA
City Fire Department as Engine 1. It is operable and we have
no plans for restoration.
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1955 Seagrave Aerial Ladder Truck
This semi-type truck served the LA City
Fire Department as Truck 1. It needs restoration but it is
considered a low-priority project.
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1915 Gorham Seagrave
This very rare pumper is one of only
two known to exist. It is believed to have served in the Visalia
(Calif.) Fire Department. This hard-rubber tired vehicle is
on loan to us from the Peterson Automotive Museum.
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1952 American LaFrance
The series 700 LaFrance was introduced
in 1947. They combined revolutionary cab forward design with
a V-12 engine, right-hand side pump panel, and tailboard hose
reel. This beautiful example was purchased by the City of
Inglewood in 1950 and served as that city’s Engine 6
until it was retired and preserved for historical purposes.
At some point, the V-12 powerplant was replaced with a Hall-Scott
gasoline engine. Our museum inherited the vehicle in 2000
when the City of Inglewood annexed its fire department to
the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
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1941 Ford
This rig was restored in the mid 1980s
by members of the Museum Association. It is powered by the
original flat-head V-8 engine, and was used on occasion by
the now-defunct LA County Fire Muster Association. There has
been discussion about entering this Ford in the Great American
Road Race on behalf of the museum association.
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1972 Ford Semi-Truck Tractor
Donated to the museum association by
the Fred Boettcher family, this ten-wheel diesel-powered tractor
is available to pull a low-boy trailer for transporting some
of our larger vehicles.
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1954 Mack
This "Model B" Mack served
the City of Torrance for many years. It has been restored
by CLAFMA President Paul Schneider and his brother Howard,
a Torrance firefighter.
Since this photo was taken,
Howard (left) and Paul (right)
have nearly completed the restoration.
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© 2002-2003, CLAFMA
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