1913 American LaFrance Pumper ~Patricia

Registration Number:  249

Sales Order:  45624

Shipped: 6/2/1913

• Yet another first in Canada presented itself in 1913 with the Halifax Fire Department taking ownership of an American LaFrance motorized pumper. The very first of its kind, she was ordered by City Controller JJ Hines who coincidentally had a wife named Patricia, the same name given to the pumper upon her arrival. The Patricia, a 67hp pumper capable of 750gpm was the pride of the fleet and performed admirably and without fault until that fateful morning that changed the face of Halifax forever, December 6th, 1917. In a matter of minutes a routine call to a report of a ship fire caused by the collision between The French munitions ship Mont-Blanc and the Norwegian Imo resulted in the largest man made explosion prior to the invention of nuclear weapons and took the lives of not only six of the seven that arrived on the Patricia but also took the lives of the fire Chief and his driver that had arrived in the Chief’s 1911 Buick Roadster along with hosemen John Spruin and John Duggan who were enroute to help at the fire. The only survivors from the scene that day were driver Billy Wells who after getting blown clear of the scene following the initial explosion was washed him up the hill by the resulting tsunami, ending up tangled in telephone wires and hoseman Frank Leahy who died from his injuries weeks later. When Billy Wells was found he was still clutching a piece of the steering wheel torn from the Patricia during the explosion and many years later donated that piece back to the Halifax Fire Department. To date, the Halifax Explosion remains the single largest line of duty death incident in Canadian history.

The following resolution was submitted:

"That the tender of the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Company, of Elmira N.Y., for a 700-gallon motor driven triple combination pumping engine, as per specifications, be accepted, subject to said engine successfully undergoing the tests and requirements to the satisfaction of of the committee proposed in the Company's letter to the Chairman dated Oct. 1st,1912, attached to said specifications.

And that on final acceptance the sum of $10 800 be borrowed from any fund or funds available for the purpose to pay for said engine, and that a further amount of $500 or much thereof as may be necessary be borrowed from said funds for expenses incidental to the purchase of same."

Post Explosion Report From American LaFrance Fire Engine Co.:

January 5th, 1918, letter submitted to Council by Controller J.J. Hines on behalf of American LaFrance Fire Engine Co.

"Dear Sir:-

We unloaded the "Patricia" Friday morning and got it into the factory on Friday afternoon. We have gone over same very thoroughly, in fact, have taken off the Pump and Pump Transmission and taken the motor out and checked over the car as thoroughly as we possibly could.

Motor:  The motor we find, after taking down the lower half of the Crank Case and inspecting all the bearings, to be in good condition.

Piston: A new Piston with Piston Rings, will be necessary for the front cylinder, and after the valves have been re-ground we consider this will be in good order.

Crank Case A piece about a foot long and about four inches wide has been blown out of the side of the upper half of the Crank Case where it rested upon the frame.By making a three point suspension out of the motor by using our new design front bearing a new Crank Case will not be necessary. The motor would be supported the same as the motor in the "Cornwallis:, designed this particular way to take off any distortion or weave that might occur between the frame and the motor.

Carburetor.

Control.

Ignition. These are all gone and new ones will be replaced.

Motor Lubrication, Is in good condition

Cooling System. This is entirely gone and a new Pump and piping will be necessary.

Clutch The present Clutch can be repaired.

Steering Gear. This is entirely gone and an entire new gear, wheel post and cross rods are necessary.

Transmission. This appears to be in good order.

Drive Chains. One new drive chain will be necessary.

Brakes. A new set of Radius Rods are necessary, also new brake linings.

Springs. These appear to be in good condition.

Wheels. One new right hand front wheel is necessary.

Tires. One new tire is required.

Axles. Appear to be in good condition

Frame. This can be repaired.

Tool Equipment. The equipment is practically gone, and a complete new equipment will be furnished.

Body It is impossible to use the old body and a new body will be furnished.

Steps. Steps are beyond repair and a new steps will be furnished. It also requires new step hangers.

Mud Guards. These are beyond repair and new Mud Guards will be furnished.

Pump. It will be necessary for us to express pump to Elmira so that gears may be properly machined and heads properly fitted, which will make the pump in good condition.

Gasoline Tanks. These were damaged beyond repair and we propose to furnish a new gasoline tank with gravity feed, same as on the "Cornwallis".

Lighting System.