For Carl Thibault Fire Trucks, see Carl Thibault.
Pierre Thibault (pronounced tee-boh) refers to a fire apparatus manufacturer located in Pierreville, Québec, Canada. The company operated under various legal names from 1928 to 1992. Pierre Thibault (ca. 1898-1961) was also the founder of the company.
History[]
Pierre Thibault became involved in the fire truck industry in the years after the First World War as part of his father's business. Charles Thibault (1873-1958) made hand pumps in Sorel, Québec and built horse-drawn fire apparatus for small Québec communities. In 1932, Pierre formed Camions Pierre Thibault and moved manufacturing operations to Pierreville in 1938. The company built several crash trucks for the Canadian government during the Second World War and expanded its sales to municipal fire departments across Canada soon after. Pierre Thibault added custom chassis and aerial ladders to the company lineup during the 1950s.
When Pierre died in 1961, the company passed to his nine sons. The company continued to do well. However, by 1968, some of the sons wanted to leave the fire truck business, while others wanted to remain involved. Brothers René, Julien, Marion, Charles-Étienne and Yvon started Pierreville Fire Trucks in nearby Saint-François-du-Lac and the original company was sold to interests outside the family. In 1972, it went bankrupt, was sold and reformed as Pierre Thibault Canada (1972) Ltee.
In 1979, the company again fell on hard times and went bankrupt. Pierreville Fire Trucks had flourished and the brothers operating Pierreville decided to purchase the assets and order book of the old family firm. Brother René Thibault (1920-1982) was sent to negotiate and plan for the merger. However, René actually purchased the company for himself, leading to considerable discord among the family. René renamed the company Camions Pierre Thibault Inc.
Pierre Thibault continued to manufacture trucks and aerial devices after René's death in 1982 and Pierreville's bankruptcy in 1985. However, the company went bankrupt for a final time in 1992. Outside investors purchased the assets of the company and operated it as NovaQUINTECH Corporation. NovaQUINTECH received investment from Québec conglomerate Bombardier in 1994. A large order of fire apparatus for the Canadian Armed Forces were completed by NovaQUINTECH, but have gold coloured Thibault name plates on the front of the cab. In 1995, NovaQUINTECH stopped building pumpers, concentrating solely on aerial devices. In 1997, it sold its line of aerial products (the SkyArm, SkyFour and SkyFive line of aerial devices) to Pierce Manufacturing.
Companies owned by members of the Thibault family[]
- Camions Richelieu (1928-1938)
- Pierre Thibault (1939-1953)
- Pierre Thibault Canada Ltée (1953-1971)
- Camions Incendie Pierreville Ltée (1968-1985)
- Tibotrac Inc. (November 28, 1979-December 17, 1998)
- Camions Pierre Thibault Inc. (1980-1992)
- Camions Phoenix Inc. (1985-1992)
- Camions Carl Thibault Inc. (1992-present)
- Industries Lafleur (Originally founded 1937; reformed 1969-present) (Purchased by Léon Thibault in 1992)
Products[]
Fire Apparatus[]
Thibault built all types of apparatus on commercial, custom, and Thibault-built apparatus. Trucks were sold across Canada and throughout the United States (particularly in the Northeast). In addition, apparatus was sold to fire departments in Jamaica, Columbia, and Chile, as well as a few to the Middle East.
Custom chassis[]
Thibault developed three different custom trucks over the years, the first one was the WIT, a conventional cab truck produced from 1950 to 1960. The Thibault AWIT, a cabover chassis, was produced from 1957 to 1969, with its early incarnation using parts built by Budd Company. Finally, a third custom truck, built with the Cincinnati cab was built from 1965 to 1976. The exact designation of this last chassis varies depending on its purpose (aerial or pumper), the engine manufacturer (Cummins, Detroit Diesel, General Motors, International, or Waukesha), and the size of the motor.
Pumps[]
Thibault operated a foundry at their plant for years, during the years of operation they produced their own pumps for their fire apparatuses, pump trailers, and portable pumps as well.
Fire apparatus pumps[]
Centrifugal pumps were available with a capacity from 420 IGPM up to 1250 IGPM. Thibault pumps were Underwriter and C.S.A. tested and certified. Pumps were made of copper, bronze, or stainless steel.
Thibault also offered a 200-250 IGPM booster pump operating from the driving shaft or the power take-off (PTO). This booster pump, which could deliver a pressure of up to 1200lbs, was offered on fire apparatus and on tankers with watering jets to clean streets.
Somewhere in the 1970s or the 1980s, Thibault stopped making pumps and used Hale pumps instead.
| Model number | Stages | Capacity (IGMP) | Capacity (USGMP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-370-200 | Unknown | 200 to 250 | 250 to 300 |
| 15-392-500 | 2 stages | 500 | 600 |
| 15-392-600 | 2 stages | 625 | 750 |
| 15-392-800 | 2 stages | 840 | 1000 |
| 15-393-500 | 1 stage | 500 | 600 |
| 15-393-600 | 1 stage | 625 | 750 |
| 15-393-800 | 1 stage | 840 | 1000 |
| 15-394-500 | Unknown | 500 | 600 |
| 15-396-100 | 5 stages
High pressure pump |
625 to 840 | 750 to 1000 |
Pump trailers[]
Thibault built multiple pump trailers over the years, most of them were rated at either 420 IGPM, 500 IGPM or 625 IGPM.
In the 1950s, a standard 500 IGPM trailer pump was equipped with a Chrysler 251 cu. in. engine, an electric starter, an 11 gallons gasoline tank, ignition switch, dash lights, gas indicator, heat indicator, oil indicator, ammeter, starter button, choke, accelerator, pump primer, and pressure gauge.
The pump itself was a single-stage centrifugal pump that could deliver 500 IGPM at 120lbs, 250 IGPM at 200lbs or 165 IGPM at 250lbs. The pump had a single 4" inlet with two 2"1/2 outlets with quick acting valves.
The trailer was equipped to carry one 20' length of 4" suction hose, 400ft of 2"1/2 hoses, and a toolbox. The bodywork was made of 16 gauge cold-rolled steel.
Portable pumps[]
Pierre Thibault produced several portable pump models, some models were still being produced just before the final bankruptcy in 1990. The line of portable pumps was likely bought by CET Fire Pumps Mfg. in 1990.
| Model number | Engine | Inlet | Outlet(s) | Capacity (IGPM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS16 | 16 HP | 1x 3" | 1x 2"1/2 | 375 IGPM @25 PSI
210 IGPM @ 50 PSI 100 IGPM @ 100 PSI |
| G32 | 32 HP | 1x 4" | 2x 2"1/2 | 450 IGPM @ 30 PSI
270 IGPM @ 120 PSI 87 IGPM @ 200 PSI |
| P-303-B | 13 HP | 1x 2"1/2 | 1x 2"1/2 | 192 IGPM @ 25 PSI
156 IGPM @ 55 PSI 92 IGPM @ 95 PSI |
| P-509 | 65 HP | 1x 4" | 2x 2"1/2 | 442 IGPM @ 78 PSI
385 IGPM @ 100 PSI 275 IGPM @ 141 PSI |
Ladders[]
Aerial devices[]
Pierre Thibault started to build their own aerial devices in the mid-1950s. Before that, Pierre Thibault used aerial ladders from Metz, Merryweather, Bickle-Seagrave, and Pirsch.
The company was at a time the exclusive Canadian distributor for Mack, for Squrt built by the Snorkel Fire Equipment Company, and for snorkel built by Highway Trailer Industries.
| Model name | Description | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65' Ladder | 4-sections steel ladder | 65' | |
| 75' Ladder | 3-sections or 4-sections steel ladder | 75' | |
| 85' Ladder | 4-sections steel ladder | 85' | |
| 100' Ladder | 4-sections steel ladder | 100' | |
| Élévateur Mobile Thibault | Articulating boom with a platform | 65' or 75' | Possibly only two were ever built, one for Anjou, Québec and one for Shawinigan, Québec. |
| SkyArm | 4-sections steel ladder platform with the last section articulated | 100' | SkyArm design became the property of NovaQuintech Corporation after bankruptcy in 1990. The design was sold to Pierce Manufacturing in 1997 and was produced until 2012. |
| Sky-Boom | 2-sections or 3-sections steel telescopic boom with ladder | 55', 60' or 75' | Sky-Boom design became the property of NovaQuintech Corporation after bankruptcy in 1990. The design was sold to Pierce Manufacturing in 1997 and is still produced today. It is unknown if Thibault actually used the name Sky-Boom. |
| SkyFive | 5-sections steel ladder | 100' | SkyFive design became the property of NovaQuintech Corporation after bankruptcy in 1990. The design was sold to Pierce Manufacturing in 1997 but was not produced by them. It is unknown if Thibault actually used the name SkyFive. |
| SkyPod | 4-sections steel ladder platform | 100' | SkyArm design became the property of NovaQuintech Corporation after bankruptcy in 1990. The design was sold to Pierce Manufacturing in 1997. |
Ground ladders[]
Pierre Thibault also built different models of ground ladders, all of them were built in aluminium. The line of ground ladders was likely bought by CET Fire Pumps Mfg. in 1990.
| Model name | Type | Length | Model name | Type | Length | Model name | Type | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-108 | Folding ladder, 2"1/2 thick | 8'-3" | 19-416 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 16'-3" | 19-730 | 3-sections ladder, 7"5/8 thick | 29'-6" |
| 19-110 | Folding ladder, 2"1/2 thick | 10'-7" | 19-418 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 18'-3" | 19-732 | 3-sections ladder, 7"5/8 thick | 32'-7" |
| 19-112 | Folding ladder, 2"1/2 thick | 11'-10"1/2 | 19-420 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 20'-3" | 19-735 | 3-sections ladder, 7"5/8 thick | 36'-2" |
| 19-114 | Folding ladder, 2"1/2 thick | 14'-2"1/2 | 19-512 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 12'-3" | 19-815 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 15'-0" |
| 19-208 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 8'-3" | 19-514 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 14'-3" | 19-818 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 17'-9" |
| 19-210 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 10'-3" | 19-516 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 16'-3" | 19-820 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 20'-1" |
| 19-212 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 12'-3" | 19-518 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 18'-3" | 19-824 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 24'-8" |
| 19-214 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 14'-3" | 19-520 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 20'-3" | 19-828 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 28'-0" |
| 19-216 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 16'-3" | 19-522 | 1-section ladder, 3"1/2 thick | 22'-3" | 19-830 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 30'-3" |
| 19-220 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 18'-3" | 19-610 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 10'-5" | 19-832 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 32'-7" |
| 19-218 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3" thick | 20'-3" | 19-612 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 12'-9" | 19-835 | 2-sections ladder, 6" thick | 35'-0" |
| 19-312 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 12'-3" | 19-615 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 15'-0" | 19-840P | 2-sections ladder with poles, 6" thick | 39'-10" |
| 19-314 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 14'-3" | 19-618 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 17'-9" | 19-928 | 3-sections ladder, 8"3/4 thick | 28'-2" |
| 19-316 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 16'-3" | 19-620 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 20'-1" | 19-930 | 3-sections ladder, 8"3/4 thick | 29'-5" |
| 19-318 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 18'-3" | 19-624 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 24'-8" | 19-932 | 3-sections ladder, 8"3/4 thick | 32'-7" |
| 19-320 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 20'-3" | 19-628 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 27'-10" | 19-935 | 3-sections ladder, 8"3/4 thick | 36'-2" |
| 19-322 | Roof ladder with hooks, 3"1/2 thick | 22'-3" | 19-630 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 30'-3" | 19-935P | 3-sections ladder with poles, 8"3/4 thick | 36'-2" |
| 19-408 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 8'-3" | 19-632 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 32'-7" | 19-940P | 3-sections ladder with poles, 8"3/4 thick | 39'-8" |
| 19-410 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 10'-3" | 19-635 | 2-sections ladder, 5"1/4 thick | 35'-0" | 19-945P | 3-sections ladder with poles, 8"3/4 thick | 46'-6" |
| 19-412 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 12'-3" | 19-724 | 3-sections ladder, 7"5/8 thick | 24'-8" | 19-950P | 3-sections ladder with poles, 8"3/4 thick | 50'-2" |
| 19-414 | 1-section ladder, 3" thick | 14'-3" | 19-728 | 3-sections ladder, 7"5/8 thick | 28'-2" | 19-955P | 3-sections ladder with poles, 8"3/4 thick | 55'-0" |
Factories and offices[]
| Type | City | Address | In Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Pierreville | 38, Rue Thibault | 1938 - 1961 | Demolished for the construction of a new factory in 1961. |
| Plant | Pierreville | 38, Rue Thibault | 1961 - 1990 | Used by Carl Thibault Fire Trucks since 2000. |
| Plant | Saint-François-du-Lac | 155, Route Marie-Victorin | 1985 - 1990 | Former Pierreville Fire Trucks plant, acquired after bankruptcy in 1985. |
| Sales office | Montréal | 1559, Rue Jean-Talon Est | In service in the 1950s | |
| Sales office | Quebec City | 227, Rue Dorchester | In service in the 1950s |