Images from Dave Fornell’s collection showcasing Chicago's Ford C-Series Ward LaFrance engines, offering a glimpse into the city's fire apparatus history. The Ward/Ford canopy pumpers were delivered in late 1969. There were ten units in this order, and they were the only WardLaFrance/Ford canopy pumpers ever delivered to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). In addition to these canopy models, several non-canopy Ward/Fords were also supplied, along with Pierce/Ford, E-One/Ford, and even a set of Seagrave/Ford canopy pumpers. These WardLaFrance/Ford rigs were assigned to some of the busiest fire companies in the city, where they endured heavy use. Each unit was equipped with a rear-mounted winch and built on a Ford C-8000 chassis with a 175-inch wheelbase. Later models from E-One and Pierce had shorter 153-inch wheelbases, as the canopy seating area was smaller, which influenced the overall design. During that time, fire apparatus orders were often distributed among vendors with political connections. Schuster Equipment was the designated supplier for these units. Meanwhile, Pierces and Seagraves came from Illinois FWD Truck and Equipment in Rosemont, owned by Ray Schuster, who was the brother of the owner of Schuster Equipment. Later E-One rigs were sourced from Able Fire and Safety. The photos in the collection capture various moments in the life of these historic rigs: A side view shows one of the rigs being tested on the lake near McCormick Place. Engine 19’s rig is pictured right after delivery in front of its station. As time passed, Engine 95 and Engine 61 are seen in front of their respective quarters. Note that Engine 95 was equipped with 150 feet of 3-inch supply line, with 100 feet carried on the driver’s side compartments and the rest in the hose bed. This setup was an early version of the 150-foot 4-inch lines now mounted on the front bumpers of modern Chicago rigs. One photo captures this innovation—uncommon in the CFD at the time—in action during a junkyard fire on the West Side in the late 1970s. Another image features Engine 19 operating at a fire in 1977, complete with a three-compartment body on the driver’s side. According to local legend, a wealthy lawyer crashed into the truck, and the insurance settlement provided enough funds for 3D Metals in Wisconsin to replace the original body. All of the 1969 Ward/Ford models had a two-compartment body on each side. Later models from E-One, Seagrave, and Pierce featured half-height compartments stacked above the lower ones. These rigs marked the end of the line for Ward/Ford deliveries to the CFD. Capt. Dave Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Dave Fornell collection Plastic Strip Production Line,Plastic Strip Extrusion,Plastic Machinery Extrusion Line,Pvc Seal Strip Production Line Hebei Shuangda Rubber & Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. , https://www.shuangdarubber.com