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Toy fire engines first appeared around 1880, made of cast iron and tinplate. Known as fire wagons, these toys included pumper wagons, horse-drawn chief's wagons, ladder wagons, and other accessories.
Interestingly, the toy fire trucks of the 1920s predicted the engines of today. Toy makers combined the traditional horse-drawn wagons with a truck body to create something similar to today's fire engine. The three most famous makers of these early fire-fighting toys are Dent, Kenton, and Hubley, though other companies like Tonka and Marx would later make smaller scale tin and steel engines.
Note that cast-iron fire trucks have been frequently reproduced, so it's important to look at authenticity.
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Interviews & Articles
Firefighting Memorabilia, From Crown Coaches to Cairns Helmets
I started collecting firefighting memorabilia in the 1960s around the time I became a volunteer fireman here in Orange County. My … [more]
Dave Rasmussen Knows Show Rods
I got interested in show rods as a boy in the late 1960s. We all built models back then. There was no Nintendo and only three or f… [more]
Attack of the Vintage Toy Robots! Justin Pinchot on Japan’s Coolest Postwar Export
Everyone is always looking for the next big thing. In the 1960s, it was going into space. In the '40s and '50s, the frontier was t… [more]
Japan's Best Postwar Export? Tinplate Cars
I used to have a huge collection of diecast 1/43rd-scale Dinky Toys, Corgi Toys, and things like that. I had so many that it got t… [more]
Collecting Toy Cars, from Diecast Chevys to Lithographed Tin
Ron Sturgeon: I had an automotive repair shop in about 1976 and spent a lot of time repairing Mercedes. About 1979 I decided to st… [more]
Toy Cars, A Healthy Addiction
I’ve been collecting vintage toys since 1982. I started slowly and methodically, partly for lack of information, mostly for lack o… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
DFW Elite Toy Museum
Ron Sturgeon's excellent gallery of fancy model cars and other vehicles. Nice high resolution shots with classy mus… [read review or visit site]
Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive
This incredibly comprehensive archive of LAFD ephemera and memorabilia is as good a history of 19th and 20th centur… [read review or visit site]
Museum of Childhood
Embrace your inner child on this website from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and i… [read review or visit site]
Race Car Toys And Automobilia
Paul Chenard's impressive collection of vintage model race cars (mostly European) including Hotwheels, Dinky, Match… [read review or visit site]
Fire Hydrant Collections
Don't let your dog near this site... hundreds of photos of fire hydrant collections from over 60 individual collect… [read review or visit site]
The Show Room
This gallery at Dave's Show Rod Rally features model show rods from 1960 to 2001. Favorites include the 1958 Thunde… [read review or visit site]
VW Toys and Models
A comprehensive site completely dedicated to miniature Volkswagen vehicles. Browse hundreds of toys by country, man… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Firefighting
Other Great Reference Sites: Firefighting
Top eBay Auctions
Vintage Restored Keystone Pressed Steel 28" Fire Truck
Code 3 Emergency Squad 51 Fire Station 2 Fire Trucks Los Angeles 1:64 W/box Nr
Rare Vintage Smith Miller "lafd" Aerial Ladder Mack Fire Pressed Steel Toy Truck
Vintage 1956 Tonka No. 5 Pumper Fire Truck - With Hydrant
1920's Buddy L Fire Truck 
Franklin Mint Fire Truck Hood & Ladder 1/32
Old Original Cast Iron 13" Long Fire Engine Ladder Truck By Hubley C.1950.
Turner Pumper Fire Truck
Early Tonka Toys Ford "t.f.d" Fire Ladder Tt Truck 50s Nice V Rare 100% Original
Rare 1959 Tonka #48 Ladder Fire Truck, White, Only Year Made, All Original!!!
1:87 Ho Scale Chicago Fire Trucks
Instep Fire Truck Reproduction Pedal Car Nice
1920's American National Fire Truck Original Body With Ladder Racks
Code 3 Fdny New York Ladder 10 Diecast Fire Truck 1:64 Scale Nib No Reserve
Fire Truck Peddle Car
1941 Gmc Pumper Usa Army Fire Truck Scale 1:16 Highway 61
Vintage "banner Toy" Red Fire Engine No. 1143 Aerial Ladder Truck C.f.d
1920's American National Fire Truck Original Chemical Tanks
Kitbash 1/64 Code 3/amercom 1965 Mack/maxim Fdny Truck 39 100ft Tda Fire Engine
Vtg Doepke Rossmoyne La France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Original Estate Find
New In Box Mth 30-76403 Union Pacific Flat Car W/'23 Maxim C1 Fire Truck 
Rare Chevrolet Cio Suburban ~ Western Models ~ Kim's Classics No 3 ~ Fire Truck
1950s Buddy-l Gmc Hook & Ladder Fire Truck "nice Original"no Reserve"
Structo Fire Truck
Ashton Models Bristol Pa 1927 Ahrens Fox Chemical Fire Truck
Vintage 1950s Wm. Doepke Model Toys 28" Long Russmoyne Fire Ladder Truck
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Pumper Fire Truck Engine All Original
Vintage Burns Novelty Pedal Car Fire Truck 
Lot 3 First Gear Fire Truck 1:34 Ward Lafrance Pumper Mack L 1976 Kenworth Nr
Custom Del Prado Pierce Quint Fire Truck W/working 3 Stage Ladder Trk #6 1/87
Antique Structo Toys Fire Ladder Truck Circa 1940's-50's
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Engine All Original
Highway 61 1/16 1948 International Kb5 Coburg Fire Dept Fire Truck Nib
Matchbox Lesney King Size Merryweather Fire Engine Vintage Toy Truck Model K-15
596 Pc Lot Lego Duplo Blocks People Western Wagon & Ride On Storage Fire Truck 
Vintage 40's Lincoln Toys - Ladder Fire Truck
Ashton Wrecker Tow Truck 1950 Mack Detroit Fire Dept Diecast 31g Gold Collection
Resin 1/24 1/25 Fire Truck Brush Body Etc For Your Project Diorama Emt Service ?
Vintage Structo Pressed Steel Ladder Fire Truck 34 Inches Long W/ All Ladders Hq
Doepke Large Fire Ladder Truck Model Toys Pressed Steel Rossmoyne Buddy L
1920's American National Fire Truck Original Hose With Nozzle
Antique Red Cast Iron Fire Truck Toy
(6) Ho 1/87 & 1/64 Die Cast U.s. Forest Service Fire Fighting Trucks
Circa 1930's Turner Toys Pressed Steel Fire Truck
Lot (3) New Code 3 Honolulu Aerial Fire Trucks L5 L25 L31 No. 12660
Vintage Structo Fire-ladder Truck Used
Hubley Fire Arcade Cast Iron Car Truck Toy Early Antique Old Vintage Die
1950's Vintage Aerial Marx Tin Hook & Ladder V.f.d. # 9 Fire Truck Engine Toy
Toys Diecast Vehicles Banks Ertl 5 Trucks Texaco Kenworth Fire Truck More
Magic Fire Department Truck Original Box Yoshiya
Lot 3 First Gear Fire Trucks Ward Lafrance Mack Model L Pumper International Nr
Nice Vintage 1950s Friction Operated Fire Truck Tn Japan
3 Vintage Auburn Hard Rubber Toys Telephone Fire Truck Indian Harley Motorcycles
Hubley Fire Arcade Cast Iron Car Truck Toy Early Antique Old Vintage Die
Cragstan Fire Truck Vintage Tin
Antique Cast Iron Toy Wheels - Group Of 10 - Parts - Buggy - Wagon - Fire Truck
Lego City Airport Fire Truck
1/87 Die Cast Lighted Quint Pierce Fire Truck
Code 3 Fdny New York Engine 10 Wtc Diecast Fire Truck 1:64 Scale
Doepke/ Model Toys 1940s-50s Pressed Steel American La France Fire Truck
Recent News: Model Fire Trucks
Source: Google News
Fire Truck Needs Buyer
BlackburnNews.com, May 19thA Wallaceburg family is trying to find a home for their late grandfather's prized antique fire truck. Glen Smeltzer was a volunteer firefighter in St. Clair Township for more than 30-years, so when he had a chance to purchase a 1928 American LaFrance...Read more
Parade of history planned for Corvallis firefighter gathering - The Billings ...
Billings Gazette, May 18thThe Corvallis Rural Fire District is seeking other antique and classic fire and emergency medical service apparatus and equipment for the parade from private individuals, firefighting and emergency medical providers, classic car clubs and more. The two...Read more
Building a Spirit of Place is a call to the Keene community
The Keene Sentinel, May 18thDubbed the “city wish list,” 2012 projects included refurbishing the city's war memorial, an antique fire truck and the amphitheater at Robin Hood Park. This year's program goes bigger. It still includes some of last year's projects, but introduces...Read more
Muncie fire union unveiling new museum, hall
Muncie Star Press, May 18thMemorabilia from past local fire departments is displayed in the firefighting museum at 418 E. Main Street Thursday. The museum is set to open Saturday. / Jordan Kartholl/ The Star Press. Written by. Andrew Walker. Filed Under. News · Local News...Read more
Bedington VFD celebrates 50 years
Martinsburg Journal, May 17thStanding in front of Bedington's first fire truck are orginal members, from left, Paul Mummert, Bob Gregory, Howard Lefevre, Raymond Lefevre, Curtiss Lefevre, Meadie Gochenour and Charles Marting. Volunteers hang a sign on the side of a barn in...Read more
Cardiff returns 1925 fire truck bell to original owners
Shore News Today, May 17thIn 1925, Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company out of Island Heights, N.J. purchased a REO Fire Truck from the U.S. Fire Apparatus of Wilmington, Del. It was delivered to Island Heights on Jan. 8, 1926. The truck was equipped with ladders, hose and...Read more
Great barbeque, fun activities, and funding to help local students
UpNorthLive.com, May 17thThroughout the day there are multiple free activities - including a cake walk, hair painting, obstacle courses, a climbing wall, and rides on an antique fire truck. There's also a raffle, student pottery sale, classroom and program displays, free...Read more
Antique Fire Truck Comes Home
wnep.com, April 26thTAMAQUA — A fire truck that dates back to the 1920s is back home in Schuylkill County. The truck journeyed to other parts of the country and has now returned to Tamaqua. The last time the truck was in Tamaqua was more than 50 years ago. Now it's back...Read more