As World War II drew to a close, America's premier fire apparatus builder--the American-LaFrance Foamite Corp. of Elmira, N.Y.--bet the company's future on its radical new cab-ahead-of-engine 700 Series fire engines. In a spectacular gamble to capture the superheated postwar market, all of the company's existing products were discontinued and its customers were essentially told to "take it or leave it." This bold gamble paid off and 700 Series rigs soon filled firehouses across the nation, sweeping aside all competitors and ultimately defining the breakthrough 700 as "America's Fire Engine." This is the first comprehensive history of the game-changing 700. Individual chapters detail not only each of the eight major vehicle types but also the origins, design controversies, manufacturing, and marketing of the 700 and short-lived transitional 800 Series. The book includes a meticulously researched registry of every 700/800 series apparatus delivered, supported by many interpretive tables detailing production, specifications and major fire department fleets.

Fire apparatus enthusiasts raved about the first American LaFrance 700 Series Photo Archive. Now acclaimed American LaFrance author, Larry Phillips has compiled even more exquisite photographs along with company advertising materials to offer another look at this classic American fire truck. See superb, rare photographs that have never before been published, such as photos from the Larry Zotti Museum Collection of 700 Series rigs in various stages of production on the original Elmira, NY assembly lines. Also included are a number of never before published photographs of early 700 Series private industrial rigs from the Leo E. Duliba Collection. And don't miss the rare photographs of Grand Rapids, Michigan's tandem back-end 700 Series ladder truck. Fire apparatus enthusiasts will applaud this second in-depth look at the American LaFrance 700 Series.

Through carefully selected and researched photographs, this nostalgic volume illustrates the progression and minor intricate detail changes of the American LaFrance 700 and 800 Series. Follow the transition from the 700 Series to the short-lived 800 Series, as well as the introduction of the 900 Series in 1958. Supplemented with historical articles from Blazes (the early American LaFrance Corporate magazine), Popular Science, and American LaFrance sales literature and brochures.

An American classic - capturing the attention of the industry, the American LaFrance 700 Series was introduced in 1945. With a radically new cab-forward design, it offered great improvements over pre-war models. Here is an exciting look at the American LaFrance 700 Series from its introduction. Carefully selected and researched archival photographs illustrate intricate detail changes of the American LaFrance 700 Series of fire apparatus.

From the creation of the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Co. in 1904 through the company's latest deliveries in 2004, McCall provides insight into the company's often complex corporate history with emphasis on the development of ALF motor fire apparatus. Comparisons to its competitors help explain the various development stages in apparatus style and components. Detailed, historic photographs show the wide variety of apparatus produced by ALF over the last century. A color gallery portrays the ALF colorful designs that remain popular for U.S fire departments today. The story wouldn't be complete without a chapter on ALFCO's Canadian Cousin, LaFrance Fire Engine & Foamite Ltd. An appendix explains the various types and series and the time period they were built. An outline of the various names the company went through is also

The 1930s was the decade of style – an era of streamlining and bold, futuristic art deco design that influenced the look of everything from jewelry, furniture and skyscrapers to locomotives, ships, automobiles, and Fire engines. Calendar year 1938 was an epochal one for new product development by America’s largest manufacturer of motor fire apparatus, as the company introduced its first hydraulically-operated all-steel aerial ladder along with the industry’s first compact, cab-forward aerial ladder truck. But the biggest news that eventful year was its ultra-streamlined 500 Series fire apparatus. With its dramatically clean styling the art deco 500 Series suddenly made everything else look old-fashioned.This authoritative, superbly researched and lavishly illustrated book documents the American-LaFrance 500 and 600 Series’ remarkable nine-year production run from the late 1930s through the years immediately following the Second World War. In addition to the big 500/600 Series, the book also covers the lesser known “junior edition” B-500 and B-600 Series. Long overdue, this exciting compendium is the only book ever devoted exclusively to this controversial series and completes another fascinating chapter in American-LaFrance history.

American motor fire apparatus design reached its high-water mark in the 1950s. Every one of the nation's major fire apparatus manufacturers boasted uniquely individual custom fire truck designs. Unlike the look-alike cookie-cutter shoeboxes of today, back then a fire fighter could instantly identify these makes a block away. From conventional Fords to the custom rigs of fire apparatus manufacturers, all the most popular, unique, and industry-changing designs and innovations are featured in this long-overdue tribute to the fire trucks of the Fabulous Fifties!