Ladder trucks for the Winnipeg Fire Brigade began when the first one was ordered from the Babcock Company of Chicago in 1875. From the appearance in early pictures they appear to be very simple extra long chassis, horse drawn wagons, upon which ladders were hung or stacked. Some of them were so long that a tiller steering wheel was designed for the rear wheel, to make it easier to execute sharp turns. They were named Hook and Ladders for a reason that at this time is under some differences of opinion, mine being that they were supplied a form of Pompier ladders, that allowed firemen to put the hook through a window, and climb to whatever height that was required. Other more learned members of our group believe that the hook refers to the tool that was used to pull down walls after heavy fire damage. the hook was large with a short piece of chain attached that could be placed in a window or over the top of a wall using a long pike pole, and with a heavy rope attached, a team of horses could.

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