History[]
The Clapp & Jones Manufacturing Company was an early and respected manufacturer of steam-powered fire engines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Based in Hudson, Massachusetts, the company was known for producing durable, compact steam fire engines that served municipal fire departments primarily in New England.
The fire engines they produced were called "Piston Engine". They used a unique coil boiler, patented to M.R. Clapp on their steamer engines. The company produced over 600 steam fire engines during its 30 years of operation.
In 1870, Clapp & Jones introduced a significant design improvement known as the “crane-neck” frame. This innovation allowed the front axle to pivot more sharply, enabling better maneuverability in narrow urban streets
Clapp & Jones fire steamers were valued for their reliability and mechanical innovations at a time when steam technology was evolving rapidly. The company was acquired by the American Fire Engine Company in 1892, a conglomerate formed by merging several prominent fire engine manufacturers, including the Ahrens Company, the Silsby Manufacturing Company, and the Button Fire Engine Company. In 1900, the American Fire Engine Company merged with the LaFrance Fire Engine Company and other manufacturers to form the International Fire Engine Company. This conglomerate sought to dominate the fire apparatus market by combining the strengths of its constituent companies.However, the International Fire Engine Company faced financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy in 1903. In the aftermath, the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Company, Ltd., based in Elmira, New York, emerged as the successor, continuing the legacy of its predecessors.
Production History [1][]
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine - Extra No. 1[]
- Weight: 8,200 pounds.
- Capacity: 1,100 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinders: 9½ inches by 8 inches stroke.
- Pumps: 5½ inches by 8 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to four.
- Length: 13 feet 7 inches; including pole, 24 feet 3 inches.
- Height: 9 feet 7 inches.
- Extreme width: 6 feet 6 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a two (2) inch stream from 290 to 325 feet.
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine - No. 1[]
- Weight: 7,500 pounds.
- Capacity: 850 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinders: 9 inches by 8 inches stroke.
- Pumps: 5½ inches by 8 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to four.
- Length: 13 feet 2 inches; including pole, 23 feet 10 inches.
- Height: 9 feet 2 inches.
- Extreme width: 6 feet 6 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a one and three-quarters (1¾) inch stream from 275 to 300 feet.
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine- No. 2[]
- Weight: 6,700 pounds.
- Capacity: 700 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinders: 8½ inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Pumps: 5 inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to four.
- Length: 12 feet 10 inches; including pole, 23 feet 6 inches.
- Height: 9 feet 2 inches.
- Extreme width: 6 feet 6 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a one and one-half (1½) inch stream from 275 to 300 feet.
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine - No. 3[]
- Weight: 5,800 pounds (for villages, 5,400 pounds).
- Capacity: 600 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinders: 7 inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Pumps: 4½ inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to four.
- Length: 12 feet 8 inches; including pole, 23 feet 4 inches.
- Height: 9 feet 2 inches.
- Extreme width: 6 feet 6 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a one and three-eighths (1⅜) inch stream from 275 to 300 feet.
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine - No. 4[]
- Weight: 4,800 pounds.
- Capacity: 500 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinder: 9½ inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Pump: 5½ inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to four.
- Length: 12 feet 4 inches (with horse pole: 23 feet; hand pole: 18 feet 4 inches).
- Height: 8 feet 5½ inches.
- Extreme width: Horse pole—6 feet 6 inches; hand pole—5 feet 7 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a one and three-eighths (1⅜) inch stream from 250 to 280 feet.
The Clapp & Jones Steam Fire Engine - No. 5[]
- Weight: 4,000 pounds.
- Capacity: 400 gallons per minute.
- Dimensions:
- Steam cylinder: 7 inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Pump: 4½ inches by 7 inches stroke.
- Number of streams: From one to three.
- Length: 16 feet 4 inches (with horse pole: 23 feet; hand pole: 6 feet 6 inches).
- Height: 8 feet 5½ inches.
- Extreme width: Horse pole—6 feet 6 inches; hand pole—5 feet 7 inches.
- Performance: This engine would throw a one and one-quarter inch (1¼) stream from 230 to 260 feet
Clapp & Jones Fire Engine Customers[]
- Number of steamers operated by each municipality in brackets
| Country | State/Region | Locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | New York | New York City (31 engines), Brooklyn, Albany, Troy, Rochester, Utica, Hudson, Catskill, Roundout (3), Castleton, Tivoli, Saugerties, Kingston, Kinderhook, Nyack, Poughkeepsie, Ogdensburg, Middleburg, Fort Edward, North Tonawanda, Ithaca, Owego, Camastota | Largest customer: NYC |
| New Jersey | Bayonne (Mutual Life Insurance Co., 2), Long Branch (2), Morristown (listed twice), Dover, Harrison, Atlantic City, New Brunswick, Paterson (3), Jersey City (3), West Brighton (S.I.), Ocean Grove, Passaic, Newton | ||
| Pennsylvania | Easton (Humane Fire Co.), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading (Neversink/Hampton/Junior Fire Co.), Scranton, Pottsville (2), Bethlehem (2), Lancaster, Lebanon, Coatesville, Columbia, Elizabethtown, Williamsport, Washington Court House | ||
| Michigan | Detroit, Manistee (Gifford & Ruddock), Alpena, Romeo, Corunna, Williamstown, Carrollton, Pontiac, Greenville, Grand Haven, Ypsilanti, Monroe, L’Anse, Ontonagon, Iron Mountain, Escanaba, Marquette, Adrian | ||
| Ohio | Cleveland (2), Defiance, Lima, Napoleon, Wapakoneta, Chillicothe, Massillon, Fremont, Toledo (3), Geneva, Dayton, Cincinnati | ||
| Illinois | Chicago (fire boats; Armour, Dole & Co.; Buckingham & Co.), Peoria, Evanston | ||
| Indiana | Indianapolis, Kokomo, Peru, Logansport, Columbia City, Huntington, Muncie (2) | ||
| Wisconsin | Racine (3), Appleton, De Pere, Grand Rapids, Marinette, Antigo, Vaughn, Clintonville | ||
| Massachusetts | Boston, Palmer, Northampton, Pittsfield (2), Lee, New Bedford | ||
| Maryland | Baltimore (4), Fort Deposit, Crisfield | ||
| Virginia | Richmond, Lynchburg | ||
| Georgia | Atlanta (Gate City Fire Co.), Macon, Barnesville | ||
| California | San Francisco, Vallejo, Woodland, San Jose, Virginia City | ||
| Connecticut | Hartford (2) | ||
| Minnesota | St. Paul, Minneapolis | ||
| Alabama | Mobile | ||
| Louisiana | Shreveport, Independence | ||
| Mississippi | Columbus (2) | ||
| South Carolina | Charleston (6), Anderson | ||
| Delaware | Wilmington (2) | ||
| Rhode Island | Newport | ||
| Nevada | Virginia City | ||
| Vermont | Brattleboro (2) | ||
| Canada | Ontario | Chatham, Wallaceburg | |
| Quebec | Montreal, Quebec, La Prairie, Pt. Levis, St. Conegal, Salaberry of Valleyfield | ||
| Chile | Valparaiso (4) | ||
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| Mexico | |||
| Japan | Yokohama | ||
| Hawaii | (2) | ||
| Organizations | Standard Oil Co., J.L. Case Threshing Machine Co. (Racine, WI) | Industrial customers |
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ Clapp and Jones Manufacturing Company, Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio. Copyrights owned by Rand Avery Printers, Boston.