{"product_id":"lafrance-fire-engine-stock-code-3049","title":"LaFrance fire engine","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eFounded in 1873 by Truckson LaFrance, LaFrance Manufacturing  produced a range of hand-operated and steam fire engines in the latter years of  the nineteenth century. Through amalgamation and merger, the company exists to  the present day, as one of the best know American fire engine manufacturers.  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThis is a beautifully built model of a turn of the century  \"La France\" horse-drawn fire engine, based on drawings supplied by  Coles Models. The builder wanted to produce a faithful model and rather than  using castings fabricated all parts except the nameplates and eagle. The wheels  were built up by traditional methods, oak hubs and felloes with hand carved ash  spokes (the wood coming from a broken sledgehammer handle). The leaf springs are  working items, built up from bronze and steel strip. In total, the builder  logged 919 hours in the workshop between August 1998 and December 1999 when he  completed the model.  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe boiler is copper, silver soldered construction, working  pressure 100psi. It was not provided with a grate - given the finish of the  model, the builder had decided to fire it on gas. In the end, the boiler was  tested and issued with its initial twice pressure hydraulic test, the engine  tested on air but the model has not been steamed, the decision being made to  leave the paintwork in new condition.  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe engine is mounted under a perspex case, complete with its  drawshafts - you'll need to supply your own horses.  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eThe model has been exhibited regularly and featured in  \"Engineering in Miniature\" in 2003. For more information on the  builder and his models, see the \u003ca href=\"..\/..\/News%20archive\/Mar%202007\/index.htm\"\u003e news page\u003c\/a\u003e this month.  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"left\"\u003eLength 28 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Height 20 inches\u003cbr\u003e  Weight 50 pounds excluding case  \u003c\/p\u003e    \u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Station Road Steam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54019670311253,"sku":"3049","price":3250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0094\/2677\/files\/3049-1.webp?v=1779906069","url":"https:\/\/stationroadsteam.com\/products\/lafrance-fire-engine-stock-code-3049","provider":"Station Road Steam","version":"1.0","type":"link"}