Title

American LaFrance Trussed Extension Ladder

Creation Date

circa 1919 – 1982

Maker's Mark

American LaFrance
American LaFrance

Description

A trussed extension ladder made of wood and located on the third bracket of the 1919 American LaFrance Fire Truck (2001.01.001.1-2). The ladder has a bed (the main section) and fly section (the extendable and retractable section of the ladder). There are seventeen (17) round wooden rungs on the fly section, and twenty-three (23) rungs on the bed section. All the rungs are thirteen (13) inches apart and a metal strip runs across every fourth rung. A fabric rope, called the Halyard, is threaded around the fly section, with one end drawn around a metal pulley, which is attached to the last rung on the butt of the fly. The other end of the Halyard is wrapped around the only flat rung at the tip of the bed section. Two (2) wooden tormentor poles are attached to the upper end of the bed section beams by metal swivels. Two metal spikes are at the butt end of each pole. Also, the ends of the bed beams are covered with black painted metal, which include two (2) short, prong-like extensions. All wooden components of the ladder are stained and have a varnish finish.