Emblem of the historic 1954 American La France-Foamite 700 Series (California Historical Vehicle 622S). The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was one of the oldest fire apparatus manufacturers in the United States. With roots that go back to approximately 1832, the companies that went on to become American LaFrance built hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and steam-powered fire engines. Founded in 1873 by Truxton Slocum LaFrance and his partners, including as the selling hand powered equipment. The International Fire Engine Company, corporate predecessor of American LaFrance, built some steam power fire engines between 1903 and 1907. Apparatus built by International included horse drawn steamers, hose wagons, and hook & ladders to chemical engines, water towers and combinations.

The American LaFrance Fire Engine Company was formed in 1903. Its corporate offices and manufacturing plant were in. It also operated a plant in, where it sold apparatus under the name Lafrance-Foamite, until 1971. ALF delivered its first motorized fire engine in 1907. Over the years, American LaFrance built thousands of fire trucks including chemical engines, combination pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, Aero Chief snorkel trucks, and airport crash trucks. The classical style of the American LaFrance apparatus is easily recognized. Some of the company's innovations led to changes in the industry, most notably the cab forward style cab.

In 1995, the company was bought by, which is a subsidiary of. Freightliner continued to utilize American LaFrance's original nameplates and designations including the Eagle custom chassis.

Many of their Liberty products were built on M2 or Acterra chassis. ALF operated additional manufacturing facilities in,. As of 2005, they were the fifth largest manufacturer of in. In December 2005, it was announced that Freightliner had transferred the ownership of American LaFrance to the New York-based investment firm, Patriarch Partners, LLC. The headquarters and main plant in Ladson, South Carolina were not included in the transaction. However, Patriarch Partners were allowed to use the plant until early 2007, when DaimlerChrysler began using the plant for assembly of the. Under new ownership ALF relocated within the area in summer 2007 to a, including manufacturing and corporate HQ, with nearly 500,000 sq ft (50,000 m²) of total space.

American Lafrance Condor Parts Manual

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Used American Lafrance Parts

On January 28, 2008, American LaFrance filed for protection blaming problems with implementation of a new (ERP) system. On July 25, 2008, the company emerged from bankruptcy with a revised business plan to transfer the firetruck body building portion of the business to the remaining Hamburg, NY, (formerly RDMurray Inc.) and Ephrata, PA, (formerly Ladder Towers Inc.) facilities.

The Summerville, SC plant continued to manufacture fire truck cab and chassis, but focused on vocational vehicles and the Condor vehicle line. On January 17, 2014, the company announced it was ceasing operations. Products.

2000's era American LaFrance fire truck Chassis. Emergency apparatus. Vocational application. Historic vehicles.

Type 1 1903-1904 Steam-powered Combination Hose & ChemicaL Wagon. Type 3 1906-1906 Packard 'N' Two-Tank ChemicaL Car - only 1 built. Type 4 1909-1912 Simplex based chassis - 2 built (see also ). Type 5 1910-1911 First complete ALF motor fire apparatus - 4 cyl.

Type 6 1910-1914 LaFrance Commercial truck. Type 8 1908-1910 ALF roadster type passenger car. Type 10 1911-1920 Improved larger version of Type 5. Type 12 1911-1925 6 cyl. 800, 900 & 1000 GPM pumper (see also ). Type 14 1912-1926 City service ladder truck.

Type 15 1913-1925 1400 GPM Pump and hose car. Type 16 1912-1916 Front drive aerial ladder truck. Type 17 1913-1926 Tractor drawn - aerial, water tower, ladder. Type 18 1913-1913 2-wheel front-drive steam fire engine tractor.

Type 19 1915-1928 1000 GPM Pump and hose car, 6 cyl.