1938 American LaFrance JO Service Aerial Ladder Truck: A LEGO® creation by Lego Fire Museum Inc. : MOCpages.com

1938 American LaFrance JO Service Aerial Ladder Truck

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This is a 1938 American LaFrance Model JO Service Aerial Ladder Truck. It has a 75-foot three-section steel aerial ladder.

About this creation

Prior to 1938, commercial cab over engine chassis occasionally was used for fire apparatus. Also, cab forward design had been used for commercial trucks and buses. But a true cab forward fire truck never had been built. In the 1930's, American LaFrance Engineer John Grybos observed the advantages of cab forward design while riding buses in New York City. From this, he took the inspiration for a bold and revolutionary new design for a fire truck.

In 1938 American LaFrance introduced its pioneering JO/JOX service aerial ladder truck. The JO/JOX is very significant as the first true cab forward fire apparatus built in the United States. However, the significance of the JO/JOX often is overlooked because of the overwhelming popularity of the American LaFrance 700 Series, which followed on the heels of the JO/JOX. It also does not help the JO/JOX that it is rather homely compared to the classic curved lines and beauty of the iconic 700 Series.

The JO/JOX design was available only for service aerials and was American LaFrance's first service aerial ladder design. It featured an all-powered steel aerial ladder that came in lengths of 65-, 75-, 85- and 100-feet. The base model was the JOX. The "X" was for exposed, meaning that the ladder storage was open. The deluxe model was the JO, which had enclosed ladder storage.

Only one hundred JOX and ten JO units were built during an eight year production run that was overshadowed by World War II. Very few examples of the JO/JOX exist today. BFD552@gmail.com

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I made it

Lego Fire Museum Inc.

September 7, 2012

Quoting James Keatley This one is really interesting, i love the little windshield and the smooth sleek lines.

The sleek lines make this one of the most Art Deco fire trucks. The other essential Art Deco piece, also designed by John Grybos at American LaFrance, is the 500 Series. http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/296419