An inventive machinist in the San Francisco Fire Department repair shop, Daniel D. Hayes patented the first successful aerial ladder in America in 1868. At first these heavy ladders were...
Grumman Allied Industries acquired Howe Fire Apparatus in 1976. The Grumman Emergency Products division built on the foundation laid by the legendary Howe and Oren names and soon became one...
Long recognized for the production of specialized vehicles for use by highway departments, utility companies, construction firms, and the oil industry, The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company also established an...
In 1938, American LaFrance pioneered the first cab-forward fire apparatus, then revolutionized the concept in 1945 with the classic 700 Series. In the 1950s, legendary names such as Ahrens Fox,...
When responding to an emergency in the early 1900s, the fire chief rode in a horse-drawn buggy. In some fire departments today the chief's car is still referred to as...
This is the first and only book on Young Fire Equipment, a previously unpublished area. Throughout its 60-year history, Young was in the forefront of fire apparatus innovation. Both the...
A complete encyclopedia of every Canadian Fire Apparatus Company of the 20th century. Each company is listed alphabetically and its apparatus is documented in text and high quality photographs. There...
Van Pelt was the west coast fire apparatus builder that was in business the longest, from 1925-1987 and became the largest builder of fire apparatus west of the Rocky Mountains....
The diverse Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, later named FMC Corporation, made chemical and agricultural equipment dating back to the late 1800s. The Bean Spray Pump Company was an FMC...
Pierre Thibault Ltd. was Canada's largest and best known manufacturer of fire engines. Throughout its history, Thibault built every type of fire apparatus imaginable - engines, ladders, platforms, rescues, and...
An American classic - capturing the attention of the industry, the American LaFrance 700 Series was introduced in 1945. With a radically new cab-forward design, it offered great improvements over...
The complete history of the Maxim Motor Company, from its humble beginnings as a family owned business, through its heyday and subsequent decline. Maxim produced highly regarded fire apparatus and...
In 1934, at the depths of the Great Depression, the American-LaFrance-Foamite Corporation of Elmira, New York, designed and placed into production an uncommonly handsome new big-city fire engine. Powered by...
From the creation of the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Co. in 1904 through the company's latest deliveries in 2004, McCall provides insight into the company's often complex corporate history with emphasis...
Enjoy more than 400 photographs of the rugged and varied equipment used to fight wild fires. This includes brush rigs, airplanes, helicopters, converted military vehicles, and much more. The many...
Through carefully selected and researched photographs, this nostalgic volume illustrates the progression and minor intricate detail changes of the American LaFrance 700 and 800 Series. Follow the transition from the...
If a custom vehicle is something to see, a custom semi is something else--something much, much more. This brilliantly illustrated book celebrates the time, energy, patience, hard work, and skill...
Tanker trucks, also known as tenders, are used by more than 65 percent of all fire departments across America. Shown are tankers by all the major and minor fire apparatus...
Early advertisements declared "The design of the Autocar chassis lends itself to almost every style of body." Large, detailed archival photographs with informative captions tell the story from the first...
From Abbott & Downing to Zwak, this comprehensive volume combines company histories, innovations and hundreds of photographs to present the story of American fire engine manufacturing. The objective of this...
Mack™s most popular truck, the Model B, equipped with fire fighting apparatus. The rugged good looks of the B, with its gleaming chrome radiator shell, and its dependable performance made...
Founded by Dudley and Humphrey Pierce in 1913, the Auto Body Works, of Appleton, Wisconsin, became noted for producing custom utility bodies on commercial truck chassis. In 1939, the Auto...
While famous for their trucks, Mack also built many fire trucks, holding a prominent position as a fire apparatus manufacturer for over 80 years. This history, combined with high-quality images...
American motor fire apparatus design reached its high-water mark in the 1950s. Every one of the nation's major fire apparatus manufacturers boasted uniquely individual custom fire truck designs. Unlike the...
