Hook ladder

A hook ladder, also known as a pompier ladder (from the French pompier meaning firefighter) is a type of ladder that can be attached to a window sill or similar ledge by the use of a hooked extending bill with serrations on the underside. The hooked ladder then hangs suspended vertically down the face of the building.

The ladder was developed to access buildings via enclosed alleys, lightwells and yards to which other types of ladder could not be taken. A pair of men and two ladders could be used to scale a building to considerable heights, by climbing from floor to floor and taking the ladders up behind and pitching to the next floor.

The original French design was a single beam ladder with pairs of rungs projected outward on both sides of the beam. The British version was a conventional 2 string ash ladder around 13 foot (4m) long and around 10 inches (250mm wide). Hook ladders can be used to scale from floor to floor on multi-storey buildings by way of exterior windows. The ladders hook onto the window ledge by a "gooseneck" projecting from the top. Lengths vary from 10 to 16 feet.

Hook and Ladder (1932 film)

Hook and Ladder is a 1932 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 116th (28th talking episode) Our Gang short that was released.

Synopsis

Answering the Fire Chief's request for volunteers, the Our Gang kids form their own firefighting squadron, replete with ersatz uniforms, a fire pole, a dog-and-cat-powered alarm, and a jerry-built fire engine that must be seen to be believed. After a few false alarms and delays, the kids are afforded the opportunity to put out a real fire, which they do with the expertise of veteran smoke-eaters.

Cast

The Gang

Additional cast

Notes and critique

Hook and Ladder is a remake of the 1926 Our Gang comedy The Fourth Alarm; hand made carts the "Our Gang" kids ride on in this film are exactly the same ones used in The Fourth Alarm. Gags from the 1922 "Our Gang" comedy Fire Fighters are also re-used. An amusing running gag involving Spanky McFarland's worm medicine punctuates this lively series entry.