Fire Engines - USA and Canada: Books: History and Models (2)

City Service Hook & Ladder Trucks and Quads

Long before there were aerial ladder trucks, there were city service hook and ladder trucks. For many years, long-wheelbase, straight-frame city service hook and ladder trucks were standard offerings in the product catalogue's of most fire apparatus manufacturers. The last straight service ladder trucks were built in the mid-1950s. The pump-equipped quad rolled on into the 1960s, before it too was eclipsed by the quintuple combination.

This book is a photographic tribute to these fondly remembered hook and ladder trucks and quads built during the golden age of American motor fire apparatus. Starting in the 1900's this books gives a full picture view of early horse draw trucks to the latest trucks used today.

The Evolution of Aerial Fire Apparatus - An Illustrated History

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 raised by hand, by firefighters furiously turning cranks and handwheels. Early in the new century coil springs took the muscle work out of hoisting the aerial ladder and soon hydraulic power replaced manpower entirely.

In the 140 years since they were introduced, aerial ladders have undergone continuous evolution and improvement. In the late 1950s, aerial firefighting in America was revolutionized by the introduction of the elevating platform. Today, firefighters battle major fires with massive aerial towers and telescopic aerial ladders.

The only book wholly devoted to the evolution of aerial firefighting, this lavishly-illustrated volume by one of America's most respected fire apparatus historians and authors covers them all: from long hook-and-ladder trucks drawn by straining three-horse hitches, early aerial ladders and the aerial's heavy-artillery cousin-the water tower. Included are four-wheel service aerials, glamorous tillered tractor-trailer types, compact rearmounts and versatile quintuple combinations.

Elevating Platforms: A Fire Apparatus Photo Gallery

Cherry-pickers were a good way for firemen to get to places that traditional aerial ladders weren't able to reach. This led to the revolutionary Elevating Platform, or ''Snorkel,'' as called by many firemen.
Here is a concise history of each company that built elevated platforms, along with a photographic timeline of the various rigs they were built on.

This book features such companies as the Pitman Snorkel, American Lafrance Aero-Chief, Hi-Ranger, Calavar, and Bronto Skylifts. It also covers a few remaining companies that each built only a small number of elevating platforms. This book documents their beginnings in 1958 up to the impressive articulating platforms of today.

Volunteer & Rural Fire Apparatus Photo Gallery

See the enormous variety of volunteer and rural fire apparatus built in 20th Century America. Small town fire departments relied on fire apparatus built on commercial truck chassis from Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge or International. The chassis would be sent to a builder, such as Boardman, Pierce, or Seagrave, who would outfit them with a pump, hosebed, ladder racks, and such. Some departments did the outfitting themselves, relying on a local bodyshop or welder to do bodywork.

Now, accomplished fire apparatus authors, W. Wayne Sorensen and Donald F. Wood, have compiled hundreds of photos of these unique smalltown rigs into one Photo Gallery. See ladder trucks, tank trucks, rescue trucks, brush rigs and more. Every firefighting enthusiast will enjoy this fascinating collection of photographs.

Wildland Fire Apparatus 1940-2001 Photo Gallery

More than 400 exciting photos of the rugged and varied equipment used to fight wildland fires across the country are presented here. Includes trucks with chassis built by some of the largest truck manufacturers such as GM, Ford, International, and Dodge. See bodies built by such well-known companies as Pierce, American LaFrance, Darley, Lee, GNS, and many more.

You will see all kinds of equipment used to fight wildland fires in all parts of the United States, including brush rigs, airplanes, helicopters, converted military vehicles, and much more. Enthusiasts will be thrilled by the exciting action shots of the equipment at work fighting fires, as well as detailed shots of the apparatus up close.

Navy & Marine Corps Fire Apparatus 1836-2000

Take an exciting look at Navy & Marine fire apparatus used at shore installations worldwide. See rare and fascinating photographs such as horse drawn vehicles, early-motorized fire trucks, unusual vehicles built for special operations, commercial and custom chassis and military fire department ''built'' trucks.

View trucks built by all the major U.S. and worldwide manufacturers, such as American LaFrance, Darley, Fire Trucks Incorporated, FWD, General, Global, KME, Mack, Maxim, Peter Pirsch, Pierce, Seagrave, Ward LaFrance and many others.
See structural pumpers, aerial ladders, water tankers, crash trucks, brush trucks, special units such as gas turbine powered pumps, traced vehicles, and remote controlled robots. And who can resist exciting action photographs of Navy fire apparatus performing at fires!