THE NFD'S FIRST METAL AERIAL LADDER

Newark's First Metal Aerial Ladder Truck
Bob Frey Collection

Through the meticulous historical research of Captain Joe Sperli, NFD, and myself, and additional photos that have become available, we bring you the story of Newark's first metal aerial ladder. This makes it possible for the reader to truly see the rigs as they appeared then. We hope you enjoy this highly detailed and enlightening glimpse back through Newark Fire Department history.

During 1938, American-LaFrance (ALF) announced two major developments in their apparatus line. First was the introduction of the new “500 Series” of apparatus, with its big three-man cab, and powerful ALF V-12 engine. Secondly, they announced the production of their first hydraulically-operated metal aerial. The ladder was all-steel and was made in four sections, rather than three, which allowed for the tiller seat and wheel to be permanently mounted, and not have to be removed in order to raise the main ladder.

The first of these new ladders was sold to Annapolis, Maryland, but it was drawn by a “400 Series” tractor. The Newark Fire Department placed an order for one of the ladders to be drawn by the “500 Series” tractor, which became the first of its type.

The first all-metal American-LaFrance aerial ladder delivered to Annapolis
Taken from "American Fire Engines Since 1900"

The NFD took delivery of the mammoth apparatus on July 26. 1938. The rig was painted white, measured 55 feet, 2 inches long, eight feet wide, and ten feet high, weighed 34,600 pounds, had a 12-cylinder engine, and a 172-inch wheelbase. It carried American-LaFrance Serial #8005, and cost $17,290.

A 332-foot complement of ground ladders consisted of: one 45-foot, one 35-foot, and one 30-foot extension ladder; two 24-foot, one 20-foot, and one 16-foot truss ladder; one 12-foot roof ladder; one 14-foot straight ladder, one baby ladder, and a 12-foot pompier ladder.

The new truck was assigned NFD Shops Register #1 and placed in service with Truck 1 on August 17, 1938.

As with anything, being the first to buy something “new” had its drawbacks in that many little things can go wrong, and with Truck 1’s rig, they did.

On October 12, 1938, a hydraulic hose burst and was replaced by American LaFrance. On December 23, the aerial ladder was repaired and new turntable valves were installed.

During the next year, things weren’t much better:

January 4
A hydraulic jack hose burst and was replaced
January 25
The aerial stops pulled away, and were removed from rungs and re-welded
March 7
The gears on the turn-table were changed and new cables were installed
September 20
The aerial ladder failed to make a complete turn while operating at a fire, and also when tested at the City Dock
September 21
The ALF representative tested the aerial and turntable at the City Dock, and it failed to operate properly
October 2
The ALF rep once again tested the aerial and turntable and the bolts sheared off on the turntable
November 24
Once again, the turntable did not work, and two men from ALF came to test same at the City Dock
November 25
Two ALF reps tested the aerial at the City Dock and it failed to work

In 1940, the “bugs” were far from being ironed out:

March 5
New gears were installed in the turntable unit
March 18
Valve leaks were repaired on the turntable unit
May 7
The side rails for the hand jack bent
June 5
A hydraulic jack hose burst
June 23
The copper tubing in the control box pulled apart
July 24
While operating at a fire, the aerial ladder did not work and had to be pulled in place with a rope. Later, three ALF reps tested the aerial ladder at High and Spruce Streets, and it failed to work.
September 9
The rig’s transmission was changed by ALF.
September 12
New turntable gears and a new raising mechanism were installed, and the ladder worked okay when tested once again at High and Spruce Streets

During 1941, many small problems continued to plague the seemingly “White Elephant:”

January 15
The flywheel was repaired at the Repair Shops
April 1
Manually-operated jacks were installed, a new oil line was placed on the aerial control, and a major adjustment was made to the brakes
April 9
A new hose was installed on the hydraulic system
August 18
New hoses were installed on the hydraulic system and hoist hydraulic system, and the muffler and tail pipes were replaced

The rig was then involved in a series of accidents:

On August 28, Truck 1 was involved in a minor accident with Engine 1 at New Jersey Railroad Avenue and Cottage Street, damaging the right running board and the rubber covering.

On May 16, 1943, they were in an accident at Columbia and Lafayette Streets, in which the rear step was damaged.

On January 5, 1945, the rig was once again involved in a collision, resulting in the chassis of the tractor being cracked. The apparatus was taken out of service, and on January 16, it was shipped from the Harrison Freight Station to the American-LaFrance plant in Elmira, New York, for special repairs.

On April 30, 1945, the apparatus was returned to the city and placed back in service with Truck 1. Major work had been done on the truck, including: a new aerial ladder, and a new frame for the trailer; new tractor frame and tractor rear axle assemblies; new tractor rear propeller shaft: repaired the tractor front and rear fenders; repaired the sheet metal on the cab door, straightened and repaired the tractor running boards, installed new ALF control valves, all hydraulic piping with Parker fittings installed, reworked the aerial ladder, installed new, heavy-type chocks and brackets, repaired the rubber matting, installed new spring joint assemblies, installed new pistons in the hydraulic cylinders, and completely repainted and re-striped the trailer and tractor.

On March 14, 1946, a hydraulic line on the aerial ladder hoist had to be changed, and on April 29, another hydraulic hose had to be replaced.

On December 22, 1949, two new hydraulic poles, with newer-type swivels, were installed.

On March 30, 1951, a major overhaul had to be done on the motor, and all of the running boards were replaced with new ones by Glazier & Company.

During September 1952, the rig was sent to Wendel’s Auto Body, in Irvington, to be painted red, and it was returned to Truck 1 on September 26.

On November 14, 1952, a major overhaul of the rig’s braking system was performed, and on December 5, an ALF rep visited to inspect the work done by the Repairs Shops and the F&P Brake Company. The work was approved and the rig was placed back in service with Truck 1.

On a historical note, some time after the rig had been repainted red, Newark Police got involved in a shoot-out with hold-up suspects in front of Truck 1’s quarters. Numerous shots were fired, several of which struck the right cab door of the rig. The door was eventually removed and sent out to be repaired.

Truck 1 after being repainted red and the door removed while the bullet holes were being repaired
Bob Frey Collection

On August 22, 1956, Register #1 was removed from Truck 1 and placed in reserve as a spare. This was probably much to the delight of the members of Truck 1.

Six months later, on August 22, the rig was once placed on the front lines and reassigned to Truck 12, in Vailsburg. Living in Vailsburg as a kid, I remember watching this behemoth rolling down South Orange Avenue behind Engine 21's 1953 American LaFrance "bathtub" and Engine 26's 1947 Mack L. It was, indeed, a site to behold!

With the streets being narrower in primarily residential Vailsburg, it can be imagined that the rig was very difficult to maneuver. This was attested to on September 17, 1962 when the rig skidded on wet pavement into a parked car while turning in response to an alarm at 12:27 hours. Only five months later, on February 19, 1964, the company was returning to quarters at 16:10 hours from an alarm when it skidded on the snow into a parked car on Sanford Avenue.

The 1938 American-LaFrance rig after being reassigned to Truck 12
Bob Frey Collection

During 1964, Register #1 was removed from Truck 12. The tractor was proving to be unwieldy and was just plain worn-out. As it was felt the trailer still had years of service left in it, a decision was made to mount another tractor on the rig.

During 1942, a Mack “L19” tractor, Register #56, was purchased and was assigned to pull Truck 6’s 1925 Ahrens-Fox trailer on October 6, 1942. After being removed from Truck 6 in 1949, the tractor was converted into a High Pressure Wagon, by Glazier & Co., and assigned to Wagon 1 on September 7, 1950.

The 1942 Mack "L19" tractor after being converted into a high pressure wagon
Mike Martinelli Collection

On August 9, 1956, the Mack wagon was removed from Wagon 1 and placed in reserve as a spare. During 1964, the rig was restored back to its original duty as a tractor, and was attached to the 1938 American-LaFrance aerial trailer. The old “500 Series” tractor was junked. The new combo was then assigned to Truck 6 on September 3, 1965.

Truck 6's 1942 Mack tractor with the 1938 American-LaFrance trailer
Mike Martinelli Collection

The small Mack tractor proved to be totally underpowered to pull the massive steel trailer and it was jokingly said that the crews could’ve responded faster by walking. By some, the rig was affectionately known as “Leaping Lena,” due to the way it would bounce down the street when the brakes were applied. On August 29, 1969, “Leaping Lena” was removed from Truck 6 and placed in reserve as a spare.

On December 15, 1970, the old rig met a rather inglorious end. Truck 5, which was the busiest truck company in the city, was assigned the rig as a spare. With none of the members being familiar with the apparatus, the captain decided the crew should do some driver training, and then proceeded to the railroad yards on Jelliff Avenue to drill in raising the aerial. During the drill, the rig toppled over as the massive aerial ladder was raised, totally twisting the chassis and ladder. It’s unknown whether the outriggers may have slipped on the cobblestone pavement, or if they were even put out at all, but the rig was destroyed. The ladder had to be cut up at the scene so the rig could be righted.

So ended the 32-year career of Newark's first metal aerial ladder.