Images from Dave Fornell’s collection showcasing Chicago's Ford C-Series Ward LaFrance engines. The Ward/Ford canopy pumpers were delivered in late 1969. A total of 10 units were ordered, and they were the only Ward LaFrance/Ford canopy pumpers ever delivered to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). Several non-canopy Ward/Fords were also delivered, along with a number of Pierce/Ford, E-One/Ford, and even a set of Seagrave/Ford canopy pumpers. These Ward LaFrance/Ford rigs were assigned to some of the busiest fire companies in the city, where they were put through rigorous use. All of them featured rear-mounted winches and were built on Ford C-8000 chassis with a 175-inch wheelbase. Later models from E-One and Pierce had shorter 153-inch wheelbases, largely due to the reduced size of the canopy seating area. During that era, apparatus orders were often distributed among vendors with political connections. In this case, Schuster Equipment was the designated supplier. Pierces and Seagraves came from Illinois FWD Truck and Equipment in Rosemont, which was owned by Ray Schuster—yes, the brother of the owner of Schuster Equipment. Later E-One units were supplied by Able Fire and Safety. The photos depict various moments in the life of these historic rigs: The first image shows one of the rigs being tested on the lake near McCormick Place. Engine 19’s unit is captured right after delivery in front of its station. Over time, Engine 95 and Engine 61 are seen in front of their respective stations. 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 remaining 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. A photo captures this evolution in action during a junkyard fire on the West Side in the late 1970s—an unusual practice for the CFD at the time. One image shows Engine 19 operating at a fire in 1977, featuring a three-compartment body on the driver’s side. According to local lore, a wealthy lawyer crashed into the rig, and the insurance settlement allowed 3D Metals in Wisconsin to replace the original body. All of the 1969 Ward/Fords had a two-compartment body on each side. Later models from E-One, Seagrave, and Pierce featured half-height compartments stacked on top of the lower ones. These rigs marked the final delivery of Ward/Ford apparatus 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 Rubber Pipe Production Line,Extruder Machine Line,Pipe Extruder Machine,Rubber Production Line Hebei Shuangda Rubber & Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. , https://www.shuangdarubber.com