After more than 43 years of dedicated service in the Los Angeles Fire Department, Crown apparatus no longer protect those living in America's second-largest city. The LAFD took delivery of its last Crown apparatus in 1973. Soon thereafter, Crown ceased production of their legendary firefighting vehicles... often referred to as the "Royalty of Fire Apparatus".
After millions upon millions of miles of proud service on the streets of Los Angeles, due to natural wear and tear, as well as a paucity of parts, the Crown Firecoach apparatus have been removed from active LAFD duty. Many veteran firefighters can still remember the sound of the famous Hall-Scott gasoline engines that were installed in most of the Crown rigs.
That heart-stirring sound has been replaced by the resonance of Cummins or Detroit Diesel powerplants in the LAFD's newer apparatus, which is produced by other manufacturers.
These Crown Firecoach vehicles now join the roster of apparatus that proudly served Los Angeles. Many of these well maintained vehicles are now in the loving hands of private collectors, and their service to our City remains well documented at the LAFD Museum.
This was the very first of many Crown Firecoach pumpers purchased by the LAFD. It was Crown serial no. F-1005, a 1953 triple combination pumper, with a 1250 gpm pump, 350 gal. water tank, and powered by a 935 cubic-inch Hall-Scott gasoline engine. It was designated LAFD shop #720, and served as the pumper half of a two-piece engine company (paired with shop #721, also a 1953 Crown). It was assigned to Engine Co. 23 in the downtown area until 1960 when Station 23 was closed. Both of the Crown apparatus were then reassigned to Engine Co. 9 in the central city where shop #720 served as P-9 for most of its career.
Trivia: Former LAFD Chief Engineer Donald Manning was assigned to this very pumper while a fireman with Engine Co. 23 during the late 1950s. Though old Fire Station 23 is now closed to the public, chances are that you have seen this former home to Crown apparatus in countless films, television series and print advertisements. Crown Firecoach rigs also remain immensely popular with the entertainment industry. Among the many feature films showcasing these venerable apparatus was Volcano.
With so many Crown Firecoach rigs in it's apparatus fleet, it is no surprise that over the years the LAFD gave more than a few of them second Department careers through conversions made at the LAFD Supply and Maintenance Division. One of the most interesting of these occurred in May of 1973 when parts from three different rigs were used to create a unique hybrid: a Crown-Seagrave aerial ladder truck!
In early 1973, shop# 60038, a 1960 Seagrave 100' tillered ladder truck, was involved in a traffic collision. Although the tractor portion of the rig was heavily damaged, the aerial trailer half remained in good condition. Within a short period of time, shop #775, a 1957 Crown Firecoach Hi-Pressure Hose Wagon (Crown serial no. F-1074) had also been damaged. This rig had been running as the hose-wagon half of Engine Company 72 in the Canoga Park area, and due to it's age the decision was made to strip it of salvageable parts. It was not long before an ingenious plan was proposed by LAFD shop personnel: instead of purchasing a new tractor from Seagrave, the Department bodyshop would custom build a new aerial tractor from parts salvaged from the two wrecked rigs!
The third rig to contribute to the new hybrid tractor was a former LAFD Crown/Snorkel which had been taken out of service and dismantled following a fireground accident. It supplied Crown parts used to repair damage to the front end, fenders and running boards of former shop #775.
From the midship engine back, the entire rear portion of the hose wagon was removed, including the compartments, hose bed and water tank. The frame assembly was then modified to shorten the wheel base. The existing drive shaft was shortened and the rear axle and differential were moved forward. The rearmost portion of the wrecked Seagrave tractor was salvaged and remounted on the modified Crown. This included the fifth-wheel assembly as well as the tractor compartments and rear fenders.
When it was completed, this unique Crown-Seagrave ladder truck was given the former truck's shop number (60038) and assigned as the ladder truck of Task Force 38 in the Los Angeles community of Wilmington. It was easily separated from the other Crown tillered ladder trucks in the LAFD fleet not only because of the older Crown front-end, but because of the larger, squared-off Seagrave fenders on the tractor's rear duals.
Thanks to the fine work of the personnel at the LAFD shops, #60038 was given a new lease on life and extended service to the citizens of Los Angeles.
All photos are from the collection of Larry Arnold of the Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts. All scans and historical research were performed by Mike Britt, also of the Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts. Their "enthusiastic" support made this article possible. The LAFD wishes to thank them and their fellow members for their devotion to Fire Service history.
