Archives
Ladders
Ladder trucks for the Winnipeg Fire Brigade were among the first apparatus ordered: the first one arriving from Babcock Company of Chicago in 1875. It was a simple, extra-long horse drawn chassis, upon which ladders were hung or stacked. Some later models had tiller steering on the rear wheels, making maneuvering corners quicker and easier. Early models were referred to as “hook and ladders trucks” as they carried both ladders and various hooks for climbing up and pulling down buildings. Beginning in the early 1900s, as buildings got taller, the WFD began purchasing “aerial ladder trucks” – vehicles with a large, heavy, mechanically raised ladder, permanently attached to the truck. Aerial ladders have a significantly higher reach than portable ladders. Ladder trucks without aerials became known as “city service ladder trucks”.
Make & Model
Size
In Service
Info
H & L Babcock Co. Chigago
Purchased 1875
Aerial Ladder Hayes
65 foot
3 horse team
Purchased 19/02/1895
Cost $4,125.00
Agent-W. S. Nott Co.
Minneapolis, Minn. USA
H & L Truck
2 horse team
Purchased 06/10/1903
Cost $2,450.00
H & L Truck
2 horse team
Purchased 29/11/1904
Cost $2,385.00
Aerial Ladder
Canadian Seagrave
85 foot
3 horse team
Purchased 19/05/1905
Cost $5,140.00
Water Tower
Seagrave
65 foot
3 horse team
Purchased 01/06/1905
Cost $7,900.00
Water Tower Seagrave Ladder
H & L Truck
2 horse team
Purchased 29/11/1905
Cost $2,385.00
H & L Trucks Seagrave
3-2 horse teams
Purchased 21/12/1906
Cost $2,765.00
Seagrave Ladder
Aerial Ladder Pirsch
85 foot
3 horse team
Purchased 19/10/1911
H & L Trucks Seagrave
2 – 2 horse teams
Purchased 13/03/1914
Cost $2,300.00 each
Some time between 1909 and 1914 the Department bought an 85 foot, 3 horse team, Seagrave Aerial that remained in active service until the late 1920s.
Motor Aerial Ladder
M.A. L. #4 and then #1
Serial #580
75 foot wood
2 wheel drive
Purchased 18/06/1914
100 Horsepower – 6 cylinder – Gasoline
Cost $14,175.00
Agent-American LaFrance Fire Engine Co.
Elmira, New York, USA
Aerial ladder damaged at the Tees & Persse fire and was factory rebuilt in 1924, and in 1928 the ladders were transferred to M.A.L. #3.
Picture taken – Spring 1917 – in front of No.1 firehall – 110 Albert St. – Northwest corner of Bannatyne.
First motorized aerial ladder N0.4 – American LaFrance fire engine.
Motor Aerial Ladder
M. A. L. #2
Model Seagrave “K” 756
Serial #27122
75 foot wood
2 wheel drive
Purchased 1921
6 cylinders – gasoline – 30 Horsepower
Cost $19,880.00
Agent – Waterous Engine Works Co. Ltd.
Higgins Ave. Wpg. Man.
Motor Aerial Ladder
M. A. L. #3 American LaFrance
Serial #4194
85 foot-wood
2 wheel drive
Purchased 02/01/1923
6 cylinders – gasoline Horsepower
Cost $38,7000.00
The ladders were originally from ths spare Horse drawn Aerial at # 10 Station, and in November 1928 the ladders from M.A.L. #1 were transferred to M.A.L.#3.
3 Reo Speed Wagons
Purchased 11/04/1922
Were used as tractors for 3 of the Horse drawn H & L Trucks. # 1 – #2 – #3
Reg. No.s 73048-73046-73040-69783
Reo Speed Wagon
Purchased 02/01/1923
4th H & L Truck Reg. No. one of above
In 1928 H & L #2 Reg. 13040, #3 Reg. 73048 and #4 Reg. 73046 were in service.
American LaFrance
City Service Ladder Truck
Purchased 26/10/1928
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