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.
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
Recent News: Model Fire Trucks
Source: Google News
KidSenses is a big hit in Rutherfordton, NC
Spartanburg Herald Journal, May 21stLocated on Main Street, the children's museum is primarily for ages 0 to 10, but even adults are encouraged to hop on the refurbished antique LaFrance fire truck or become surrounded by a huge bubble in the museum's Bubble-Ology exhibit. The 9-year-old...Read more
Casino promotion deserves a thumbs up
Seacoastonline.com, May 20thOther businesses may be familiar, but are popping up in a new location, such as the Rock Palace, a music memorabilia store, which is moving to the front of the mall next to the Casino Ballroom concert venue. Kiddieland, which was a children-oriented...Read more
Portage Community Historical Society to Host 2013 Reunions
PortageLife, May 20thAll buildings will be open for tours, children's fishing derby, hayrides, kids' games, musical entertainment, antique car show, antique 1929 fire truck, watermelon eating contest. We have returning Michael O'Hare area Abe Lincoln impersonator and on...Read more
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
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. OPEN HOUSE:Muncie Firefighters Local 1348 Union Hall and Fire...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
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
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