Fire Engines - USA: Books - Manuafacturers (1/4)

John Bean and FMC Fire Apparatus

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 division, changed to the John Bean Mfg. Co. in 1915 and sometime in the late 1930s an orchard owner successfully used his dependable John Bean sprayer to extinguish a neighbor's house fire.

This accidental success story led to the development of the high pressure fog system which helped put out fires during WWII, and soon led to the first High Pressure Fog Fire Fighter body that could be put on any truck chassis. This success propelled John Bean to become one of the revered names in the fire apparatus industry through the post-war years until their slow weaning of the Bean name and eventual demise in the early 1990s.

Although primarily used by rural fire departments as an economical fire engine, many large cities even acquired FMC/Bean apparatus. Portrayed with historic black and white and contemporary colour images, this book covers the whole lineup from slide-in pumper and tank combos, to custom-built brush trucks, tankers, commercial and custom chassis pumpers, and even aerials, snorkels and ladder towers.

Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers

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 book was to compile as comprehensive and complete a list as possible of the known players - the hundreds of companies that produced more than just one or two fire trucks, and which operated as continuous fire apparatus manufacturing and sales enterprises.
The focus of this compendium, therefore, is on the established known companies (as well as some not so well known) that have actively engaged in this unique vehicular industry over the past one-hundred-plus years.

In the main this book is an alphabetical listing of dedicated motor fire apparatus builders - companies that designed and built pumpers, ladder trucks, rescue and other types of motor fire apparatus in their own factories - from the frame-up on their own custom chassis or on commercially-available domestic truck chassis.
You will note that we have also included a number of commercial chassis makers such as International, Freightliner, Kenworth, and Peterbilt which forged special alliances with various fire apparatus builders, and which sometimes made and marketed fire apparatus under their own names.

This encyclopedia is a vital reference source for libraries, fire stations, historians, fire apparatus enthusiasts, and anyone involved in or enamored with the fire apparatus industry.

Encyclopedia of Canadian Fire Apparatus

A complete encyclopedia of every Canadian Fire Apparatus Company of the 20th century. Each company listed alphabetically and its apparatus documented in text and high-quality photographs. There have been over 20,000 pieces of fire apparatus built in Canada, and every manufacturer is documented here.

Includes Allain, Almonte, Amertek, Anderson, Bickle and Bickle Seagrave, Carl Thibault, Ft. Garry, Hub, King and King Seagrave, LaFleur, LaFrance, Marsh, Maxi Metal, Metalfab, Phoenix, Pierreville, Superior, Thibault, Tibotrac, Waltek and more. An essential reference tool for every fire apparatus buff and historian.

Ahrens-Fox Fire Apparatus Photo Archive

Of all the companies that built motor fire apparatus in America in the 20th century, none has acquired the cult-like following accorded the unique products of the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.
With its front-mounted piston pump surmounted by a gleaming spherical air chamber, the Ahrens-Fox piston pumper projects irresistible aesthetic and mechanical appeal. Fire apparatus aficionados and collectors have all but elevated the truly distinctive Ahrens-Fox piston pumper to a firefighting deity.

Noted fire apparatus historian and author Walt McCall has selected the best of the best for this photographic tribute to a legendary nameplate - including the milestone Continental, mighty six-piston Models PS, BT and what is arguably the most beautiful fire engine ever made in America, the classic, semi-streamlined Model HT.
A supplemental gallery of 32 color photos showcases some of the finest surviving Ahrens-Foxes.

American Fire Apparatus Co. 1922-1993 Photo Archive

American Fire Apparatus produced a remarkable number of apparatus and was, for many years, an innovator and major force in the industry. View the complete line from beginning to the end including brush trucks, mini-pumpers, pumpers (both custom and commercial), tankers, snorkels, crash trucks, aerial ladders, and platforms. Informative text and captions include a company history as well as delivery schedules and original cost where available. City location index provided for easy referencing.

Crown Firecoach 1951-1985 Photo Archive

Follow the history of Crown Firecoach from its beginnings in 1951 until the company ceased building fire trucks in 1983. One of the pioneers of cab forward rigs, Crown's fire apparatus had a very distinctive appearance that collectors and restorers appreciate today.

Large-format photographs show a representative cross section of the full line of Crown, including pumpers, rear mount and tractor drawn aerials, snorkels, brush rigs and tractor transports.
While Crown rigs were sold primarily in Southern California, with Los Angeles being the company's largest customer, fire enthusiasts everywhere will want to own this important piece of fire apparatus history.

W.S. Darley & Co. Fire Apparatus 1908-2000 Photo Archive

Unique in the fire apparatus industry, Darley is a family-run business that makes its own pumps and assembles complete apparatus. Follow the story of the Darley company from its beginnings as a municipal supply catalog company through the development of its first pumps and then complete fire apparatus up to the current day.

A fascinating story that will delight fire apparatus enthusiasts everywhere. Large-format, detailed photos illustrate the complete line of Darley equipment from the first pumps to today's modern apparatus.