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American LaFrance Maroon

19 comments

SINCE THE HAPPY MEDIC PEEKED OUT OF HIS DIGITAL CLOSET, I want to share a San Francisco based story.

When I started on the job, we had American LaFrance rigs with a rich maroon color. I fondly remember riding the 1969 100′ tiller at Station 22.
1969-lafrance-truck-22_web

The county tried to duplicate that color when they were buying their first Seagraves in the early 1970′s, but it was not the same.

CENTENNIAL EDITION PAINT FINISH

To commemorate the Great Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco Fire Department and American LaFrance used paint chips from a museum steamer and hose cart to duplicate the original maroon color. American LaFrance delivered ten pumpers with a special Centennial Edition Paint Finish in 2006.

SFFD_brown_web

ABOUT THAT ACCENT WALL

I was getting my apartment painted and wanted ALF maroon for an accent wall, a dark background for the hi-def television.

While on a business trip I visited the museum that is part of San Francisco Station 10. Looked at the color on a 1893 4th size, double 550 gpm, steam engine. Also looked at the centennial paint job on Engine 10. Determining the right hue was as difficult as looking at paint swatches at Home Depot.

Had to laugh at the sign on the inside of the watchroom: R U AIQ? Immediately recognized the message, a question asked in every fire station that uses a computer aided dispatch system.

Found a shade of burgundy that seemed close enough, a friend suggested I should have added gold leaf trim on the corners of the wall. Another suggested a white V-stripe like the front of Truck 22.  Great man-cave ideas.

Now I just need a recording of an unmufflered 900 series ALF tiller  taking in the box when the exhaust was louder than the siren. That would be a great alarm-clock alert.

Mike “FossilMedic” Ward

Also on FireGeezer…

Posted by on October 17, 2009 • Filed under: apparatus, Fire Rescue Topics, fun, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,
  • richhoyle

    I never had the privilege of tillering the old ALF at Stationn 22, but I did have the pleasure of tillering two of the last two Seagrave tiller trucks…one at Station 11 on The Highway in the old Sixth Battalion and at Station 22 before they got their first E-One 110. The straight pipe engines and wonderfully loud Jake Brakes were more than enough to let the local neighborhood know when we were making late night runs.

  • josephschmoe

    The KBFPD has always used Detroit Diesel engines. We used to have a 70 something Pioneer cab ALF that had a 6V71 in it. Although it wasn't the “maroon” color, it was a much darker red than the Howes and Crowns that we had.

    Like any 70s GM product, the 6V71 was a leaker and you could always find your way back to the station by following the drops. It was a pig too. Basically, it converted diesel fuel into noise, with minimal production of horsepower. It did sound fast though.

    Thanks for the memories.

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Thanks for the post Rich, yeah that was a wonderful sound!

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Joe

    “Converting diesel fuel to noise, with minimal production of horsepower”

    Priceless!

    Thanks

  • http://thehappymedic.com the Happy Medic

    Mike,
    Glad to hear you enjoyed the museum at 10 Engine! Hopefully you made it to Headquarters to see the original hand pump from Knickerbocker Engine #5, Lizzie Coit's Company.

    We have mixed feelings about the maroon, some embrace the tradition it represents while others think the fleet should be uniform. I like the way they came out, myself, but I'm “just a medic.”

    Next time you're in town let me know and I can take you on the Unofficial tour of the 1906 fire.
    Thanks for the mention,
    HM

  • Jim

    If you want to see some beautiful rigs in a maroon color check out the Springfield Pennsylvania fire company 44. they have always had that color and the most beautiful rigs I have ever seen

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Hi Happy,

    My visit to 10 Engine was on the way to the airport, I did not have time to checkout Headquarters …maybe next time.

    I lean towards embracing the tradition, just like the black-over-red rigs in Chicago.

    An unofficial tour of the 1906 fire would be grand, we could blog about our experiences here!

    Mike

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Thanks Jim, which county is Springfield in?

  • mickmayers

    I wanted that same burgundy when we replaced our fleet this year. It looks much better these days with the clear-coat (all my memories are of slightly oxidized versions of that burgundy from all the ALFs in my life). That v-stripe is unusual though- is that the first attempt at a high-vis safety stripe???

  • Dean Sherick

    Mike,

    Thanks for bringing back memories of “The Titantic” which is what I recall the unofficial title for old Truck 22. It was always interesting when we got to use it at Fire Station 8 and we'd do the First Day checks on the side parking lot. That ladder was quite “flexible” as it would seem to tilt with the angle of the ground surface. Good times!!

  • http://thehappymedic.com the Happy Medic

    Deal. I'll give the tour, you buy the Irish Coffees.

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    That is completely do-able!

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Hi Mick,

    Yeah, that 3″ stripe of reflective white Scotchlite was a feature of county purchased rigs. This link will show you how it looked on the early 1970 Seagraves (thanks to Mike Sanders):

    http://www.thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.ph…

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Hi Dean!

    Thanks for the response. Would “rickity” describe the experience of climbing the ladder?

  • Jim

    delaware county, outside Philadelphia. I do believe they have a website

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    That is completely do-able!

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Hi Mick,

    Yeah, that 3″ stripe of reflective white Scotchlite was a feature of county purchased rigs. This link will show you how it looked on the early 1970 Seagraves (thanks to Mike Sanders):

    http://www.thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.ph…

  • http://www.firegeezer.com Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

    Hi Dean!

    Thanks for the response. Would “rickity” describe the experience of climbing the ladder?

  • Jim

    delaware county, outside Philadelphia. I do believe they have a website