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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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by 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
Code 3 Emergency Squad 51 Fire Station 2 Fire Trucks Los Angeles 1:64 W/box Nr
Turner Pumper Fire Truck
Gakken Tin Vw Fire Truck Bus Like Bandai Radio Controlled With Box Ex Cond Japan
1930's Buddy L #205-b Aerial Ladder Toy Fire Truck 
Rare Vintage Smith Miller "lafd" Aerial Ladder Mack Fire Pressed Steel Toy Truck
Early Tonka Toys Ford "t.f.d" Fire Ladder Tt Truck 50s Nice V Rare 100% Original
1920's Buddy L Fire Truck 
Franklin Mint Fire Truck Hood & Ladder 1/32
Nb Vintage As Found 1920s Buddy L Aerial Ladder? Fire Truck No Reserve Auction 
Old Original Cast Iron 13" Long Fire Engine Ladder Truck By Hubley C.1950.
1:87 Ho Scale Chicago Fire Trucks
Instep Fire Truck Reproduction Pedal Car Nice
Huge Rare 1930's Keystone Ride Em Fire Truck
Code 3 Fdny New York Ladder 10 Diecast Fire Truck 1:64 Scale Nib No Reserve
Vintage 40's Lincoln Toys - Ladder Fire Truck
1941 Gmc Pumper Usa Army Fire Truck Scale 1:16 Highway 61
Tonka #46 1956 Suburban Pumperr Fire Truck All Original 1 Owner
Vintage "banner Toy" Red Fire Engine No. 1143 Aerial Ladder Truck C.f.d
2 Code 3 Fire Trucks,1:64,die Cast,boston & Detroit Rear Mount Ladder,limited Ed
Vtg Doepke Rossmoyne La France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Original Estate Find
Early Buddy L Gmc B.l.f.d. Fire Ladder Tt Truck 50's V Rare Nice 100% Original
New In Box Mth 30-76403 Union Pacific Flat Car W/'23 Maxim C1 Fire Truck 
1950s Buddy-l Gmc Hook & Ladder Fire Truck "nice Original"no Reserve"
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Pumper Fire Truck Engine All Original
Vintage 1950s Wm. Doepke Model Toys 28" Long Russmoyne Fire Ladder Truck
Vintage Burns Novelty Pedal Car Fire Truck 
Highway 61 1/16 1948 International Kb5 Coburg Fire Dept Fire Truck Nib
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Engine All Original
Lot 3 First Gear Fire Truck 1:34 Ward Lafrance Pumper Mack L 1976 Kenworth Nr
Vintage Tin Fire Dept Department Car Truck Battery Operated Toy
Antique Structo Toys Fire Ladder Truck Circa 1940's-50's
596 Pc Lot Lego Duplo Blocks People Western Wagon & Ride On Storage Fire Truck 
Lot Of 6 Vintage Tootsie Toy Vehicles, 3 Fire Trucks/ 1 Bus, Etc F/restoration
Tonka Toys 1962 Pressed Steel Aerial Ladder Truck "fire Truck"
Vintage Original Tonka Large Fire Truck Pumper Old Toy Red Pressed Steel
(6) Ho 1/87 & 1/64 Die Cast U.s. Forest Service Fire Fighting Trucks
Hubley Kenton Arcade Fire Cast Iron Truck Early Antique Old Vintage Die Hubley 
Vintage Antique Pressed Steel Old Toy Fire Truck Engine Lumar? 2 1/2 Feet Long
Lot (3) New Code 3 Honolulu Aerial Fire Trucks L5 L25 L31 No. 12660
Vintage Structo Fire-ladder Truck Used
1950's Vintage Aerial Marx Tin Hook & Ladder V.f.d. # 9 Fire Truck Engine Toy
Doepke/ Model Toys 1940s-50s Pressed Steel American La France Fire Truck
Toys Diecast Vehicles Banks Ertl 5 Trucks Texaco Kenworth Fire Truck More
Lot 3 Mib First Gear 1:34 Fire Truck Mack International Ward Lafrance Nr
Vintage 60's Promotional Texaco Fire Chief Truck
Lot 3 First Gear Fire Trucks Ward Lafrance Mack Model L Pumper International Nr
Code 3 Fdny New York Mack Cf Pumper E-82 Diecast Fire Truck 1:64 Scale
Vintage Tonka #5 Fire Truck Pumper 50's 60's Look!!!!!!!!!!!
3 Vintage Auburn Hard Rubber Toys Telephone Fire Truck Indian Harley Motorcycles
Cragstan Fire Truck Vintage Tin
1920's Pressed Steel Turner Toys Packard Fire Pumper Truck 
Tonka Fire Truck Engine Rescue Ladder Electronic Lights & Sound 03473 Nice!
Antique Cast Iron Toy Wheels - Group Of 10 - Parts - Buggy - Wagon - Fire Truck
1/87 Die Cast Lighted Quint Pierce Fire Truck
Matchbox Collectibles Moy Yym37636 1946 Dodge Power Wagon Fire Brush Truck Nib
Lego City Fire Station,7208 Instructions, Station, 1mini Fig, 2 Trucks-very Good
1941 Pumper Fire Truck Engine No. 7 - Fairfield Mint - Ertl - Red - W/ Box - K
Lego City Airport Fire Truck
Schuco Piccolo No. 745 Magirus Fire Truck Original
Matchbox Moy Fire Trucks Yym 37633~1920 Mack Ac~water Tower Truck Nib
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