A fire engine is one unit, while a fire truck is a two-unit vehicle, as in a hook-and-ladder truck. Ratliff explained that this is a fire engine, not a fire truck. “It’s hard to believe that a vehicle that spent 65 years in Michigan would not have any rust, but this is the case here.” “They took every nut and bolt off and rebuilt it at the fire house, including repainting it,” Ratliff stated. In 1985, the all-volunteer firefighters of Algonac decided to completely refurbish their beloved fire engine. The plan worked out well, as the fire engine served the town as its lead fire engine from 1947 through 1980 and as the backup unit until 1985. “The town only had $3,600 to purchase it,” Ratliff said, “so American LaFrance said they would finance it for three years at 6%.” (David Krumboltz/for Bay Area News Group)
Danville resident Jim Ratliff, left, and son Kevin Ratliff appear with the family’s 1947 American LaFrance fire engine that was first purchased by the town of Algonac, Michigan, in 1946. Algonac paid $10,025 for its engine in 1946, which would be about $124,200 in 2012 dollars. Later that year, it emerged as an independent company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and is again producing high-quality fire engines and trucks. A new firm was formed in 2007 but had to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2008. It has gone through different owners over the years, including Freightliner-Daimler and an investment firm. American LaFrance built their fire engines in Elmira, New York, and they were the Rolls-Royce of fire engines,” Jim Ratliff said.Īmerican LaFrance dates back to 1832, with horse- and human-drawn fire apparatus. “The village was very proud to buy this fire engine right after the war. The first was the village of Algonac, Michigan, which is 45 miles northeast of Detroit, covers 1.4 square miles and had a population of about 2,000 in 1946. Jim and Kevin are only the second owners of this issue’s 1947 American LaFrance fire engine. In the case of Danville resident Jim Ratliff and his son, Kevin, one could also include the size of the toys. There’s an old expression that says the difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys. Me & My Car: Disastrous press day, SEC probe ruined Tucker’s dream Me & My Car: ’89 Ram for ’51 Nash turns out to have been good deal Me & My Car: ’47 Cadillac in Walnut Creek best one GM never built In its place, we’re running some of Dave’s favorite past columns. Danville family bought 1947 American LaFrance fire engine Close MenuĮditor’s note: David Krumboltz’s regular column is on hiatus until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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