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 these were the only WardLaFrance/Ford canopy pumpers ever supplied to the Chicago Fire Department (CFD). In addition to these, several non-canopy Ward/Fords were delivered, along with a number of Pierce/Ford, E-One/Ford, and even some Seagrave/Ford canopy pumpers. These WardLaFrance/Fords were assigned to some of the busiest fire companies in the city, where they were constantly pushed to their limits. 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 significantly smaller. Back then, apparatus orders were often distributed based on political connections. When these rigs were delivered, Schuster Equipment was the designated vendor. Pierces and Seagraves came from Illinois FWD Truck and Equipment in Rosemont, owned by Ray Schuster—yes, the brother of the owner of Schuster Equipment. Later E-One units were sourced from Able Fire and Safety. The photos capture various moments in the life of these historic rigs: The first image shows one of the units being tested on the lake near McCormick Place. Engine 19’s rig is seen right after delivery, standing in front of its station. As time passed, Engine 95 and Engine 61 are shown outside their respective stations. Note that Engine 95 was operating with 150 feet of 3-inch supply line, with 100 feet carried on the driver’s side and the remaining in the hose bed. This setup was an early example of the 150-foot 4-inch lines now commonly found on the front bumpers of modern Chicago engines. One photo illustrates this evolution, which wasn’t standard in the CFD at the time, as it was used during a junkyard fire on the West Side in the late 1970s. A photo of Engine 19 shows it responding to 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 was enough for 3D Metals in Wisconsin to replace the original body. All the 1969 Ward/Fords had two compartments 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 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 Electric Customzied Cart,An Electric Utility Vehicle,All Electric Utility Vehicle,Carryall Electric Utility Vehicle Shaanxi Green Enjoyment New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.greenjoyev.com