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1906
American
LaFrance/Packard
TYPE3
Chemical
Car
American
LaFrance
Factory
Photograph |
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1906
American
LaFrance/Packard
TYPE3
Chemical
Car
American
LaFrance
Factory
Photograph |
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The
1906
American
LaFrance/Packard
TYPE3
Chemical
Car
after
delivery
to
Boston. |
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The
1906
American
LaFrance/Packard
TYPE3
Chemical
Car
with
Boston
livery
in
place.
This
photo
was
taken
just
after
it
returned
from
repairs
from
it's
accident |
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1906
American
LaFrance/Packard
TYPE3
Chemical
Car
in
1907
after
it
was
returned
by
Boston
off
loan
and
sold
to
Summit,
NJ. |
|
On
September 24, 1906 the American La
France Fire Engine Company loaned an
automobile chemical unit to the
department for trial. This unit was
first placed in the quarters of
Engine Co 26/35 on Mason Street and
then to the quarters of Engine Co.
22 and Ladder Co. 13 on Warren
Avenue where it remained the
longest. It was equipped with two
(2) 35-gallon chemical tanks, 250
feet of hose and other necessary
tools. The unit was built on a
Packard chassis and was equipped
with a gasoline 30 horse power
engine, which could speed up to 30
miles per hour.
The
first response was that same night
to an alarm in South Boston at 1835
hours to Box 129, Sixth and B
Streets for a fire at 276 Dorchester
Avenue. The apparatus responded
over the Broadway Bridge and made
very good time. District Chief Ryder
was going to use the new wagon to
respond to fires from his quarters
on Warren Avenue. The chauffeur was
Frank Shea who had been Chief
Mullen’s driver and was familiar
with the motor apparatus. Other
firemen assigned were John F.
Watson, William H. Boudreau and
William A. J. Drinan. This unit used
the designation of Chemical 13 while
operating from Ladder Co. 13’s
quarters.
On
October 6, 1906 a letter was sent to
the American La France Company
commenting on the wheels on the auto
chemical apparatus and that they
should be replaced. “The spokes were
splitting and were becoming unsafe.”
“The tires have no give to them and
consequently racking on the
apparatus is very severe and it
would be unwise to continue the
machine in service for any length of
time, unless other tires are
provided.”
On
October 9, 1906 another letter was
sent to the American La France Fire
Engine Company stating that the
Repair Shop people had conferred
with the Packard representatives and
they were trying to come up with a
different type of tire. They would
keep the American La France
representatives advised. The Fire
Commissioner also stated he had
taken the wagon off of long distance
responses but would continue to
respond to all alarms in District 7
only.
On
November 17, 1906 at 1829 hours
while the American La France
automobile chemical unit was
responding to a fire it was in an
accident. Part of one of the rear
wheels collapsed and in the process
the car ran into an elevated
railroad upright. District Chief
Ryder was thrown over the bell and
landed on the hood, fortunately
raising his hand in a manor
preventing being thrown against the
post. The chauffeur, Mr. Shea was
thrown but the steering wheel
prevented him from being thrown out.
The two men riding the rear step,
John Finnan and John Watson were
thrown against the rail and slightly
injured.
The
accident happened while they were
responding down Castle Street off
Tremont Street to Box 64, for a fire
at 12 Corning Street. The fire was
very minor and Chief Ryder continued
on foot to the fire. The location of
Box 64 was at Washington and Motte
Streets.
Because
the unit was so heavy, it took
several hours to remove it to the
Repair Shop. The wrecking wagon was
called and front axle and wheels had
to be removed and it was jacked up
and towed to the shop for
examination. This was a first, the
first motorized piece of apparatus
being involved in an accident.
The
automobile Chemical unit which was
on loan from the American LaFrance
Company returned to service after
being repaired from the accident
during January 1907. It moved from
Engine Co. 22’s quarters to the
quarters of Ladder Co. 12 and
Chemical Co. 12 at 1046 Tremont
Street, Roxbury. Chemical Co.12’s
one horse chemical unit was taken
out of service; the auto chemical
took over its place. The first
response from the new quarters was
on January 18, 1907 to Box 276,
Washington and Dudley Streets at
0500 hours for a fire at 98 Roxbury
Street. The apparatus was repaired
and in the words of Commissioner
Wells, “in better shape than when it
was delivered.”
On
April 8, 1907 the auto chemical that
the American La France Fire Engine
Company had let the department use
since September 25, 1906 was
returned. In his letter, Fire
Commissioner Wells stated that he
“thought that the apparatus
performed very well and he was
sorry, but he did not have the money
to purchase it.” “The running card
exceeded the one for a horse drawn
unit and was usually the company
with the first water at the fire
scene.” The last assignment was at
Chemical Co. 12 in Roxbury.
The
total number of runs that this unit
responded to was: While running as
Chemical Co. 13 with Engine Co. 22
and Ladder Co. 13 it responded to 48
alarms of fire, including the last
run which was the accident.
The
total number of runs this unit made
while it was assigned to Chemical
Co. 12 in Roxbury was 41 runs and
the last response was to an alarm
from Box 221 on February 6, 1907. It
did return to Engine Co. 22 where it
made 3 more runs and the last run
from here was on February 24, 1907.
It is unfortunate that there was no
money to purchase this unit as the
department seemed to like it and the
hand writing was on the walls, motor
apparatus was the future of fire
fighting apparatus. The chemical
truck made a total of 92 responses
while in the city, I have no idea
how many times they went out to
drive with it.
© Bill Noonan 2008 |
