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The first fire engines in the U.S., called hand pumpers, were shipped to New York from England in the 1700s. Water was pumped from the tub by volunteers working long, parallel handles on the truck. American manufacturers produced similar hand pumpers until the early 1800s, when the steam pumper was developed, which supplied a continuous stream of water more effectively.
The earliest fire trucks were hand pulled to the scene, but by the mid-1800s, horses were used to draw the steam pumpers and running boards, and back steps were added to the vehicle. In 1906, the Radnor Fire Company in Wayne, PA began offering a pumper with two gasoline motors, bringing fire trucks into the modern age.
If you're interested in collecting vintage fire trucks or apparatus, some of the manufacturer names you'll want to explore include Waterous, Ahrens-Fox, Dedrick, Mack Trucks, Peter Pirsch and Sons, American LaFrance, New Stutz Fire Engine Company, Seagrave, Sutphen, Babcock, Snorkel, Spartan Chassis, Inc. and Emergency One. You may also want to consider starting with vintage model fire trucks, which take up considerably less space!
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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]
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Top eBay Auctions
1950 Mack Fire Truck Firetruck Antique
Chevrolet : Other Pickups 2 Doors 1949 Chevy Fire Dept Five Windows Truck
E-one Pumper Fire Truck,runsgreat,1500 Gpm,750tank,will Help W/shipping,newtires
International Harvester : Other N/a 1970 International Harvester 1300d 4x4 Attack Brush Fire Truck Grass Mini Pumper
1950 Ford Fire Truck
1970 Vintage Detroit 4-71 Diesel Engine 4 Cyl 528 Hours! Fire System Pump Motor 
1950's Reo Vintage Fire Truck
1988 Eone Pumper Fire Truck Ready To Go Runs And Pumps Diesel
Vintage Restored Keystone Pressed Steel 28" Fire Truck
Skywalker Ranch Fire Brigade Engine Co. Star Wars 1589 - Code 3 - 1/32 - Nib - K
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
Vtg Aermore Exhaust Whistle With Cutout Model A T Ford Hot Rat Rod Tractor 
Old Original Cast Iron 13" Long Fire Engine Ladder Truck By Hubley C.1950.
Turner Pumper Fire Truck
Federal Model 67 Vtg Siren Light Fire Engine Truck Ambulance Hot Street Rat Rod
Mars 888 Fire Truck Light 
Vintage Buddy L Texaco Fire Truck W Box Excellent Condition !!
Vintage 1970 Hess Gasoline Toy Fire Engine Truck W Box
Antique Vintage Sireno No. 7 Siren Police Fire Truck Ambulance Military Ratrod 
Code 3 - Chicago Fire Department Luverne Pumper #102 - W/ Coa - Nib - 1/32 - K
Original Thewalt Fireman, Fire Truck Stein With Pewter Lid! Limited Edition!!
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
Huge Rare 1930's Keystone Ride Em Fire Truck
Small Vtg Mars Siren Fire Engine Truck Ambulance Hot Rat Rod Scta Old Car Truck
Rare Antique Chicago Fire Dept Captain Fireman's Badge ~ Engine 63 
Vintage "banner Toy" Red Fire Engine No. 1143 Aerial Ladder Truck C.f.d
1941 Gmc Pumper Usa Army Fire Truck Scale 1:16 Highway 61
Tippco Tco Us Zone Germany Vintage Tinplate Fire Engine Very Rare Item Very Good
1920's American National Fire Truck Original Chemical Tanks
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 
Vtg Doepke Rossmoyne La France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Original Estate Find
Rare Chevrolet Cio Suburban ~ Western Models ~ Kim's Classics No 3 ~ Fire Truck
Vintage 40's Lincoln Toys - Ladder Fire Truck
Vtg 1910-1920s Running Board Trunk Tool Box Old Car Truck Model A T Ford Rat Rod
1950s Buddy-l Gmc Hook & Ladder Fire Truck "nice Original"no Reserve"
Ashton Models Bristol Pa 1927 Ahrens Fox Chemical Fire Truck
Vintage Set Of 2 Unity S6 Fire Truck Search Spot Lights 
Franklin Mint Five Alarms Horse Drawn Steam Fire Engine
Vintage 1950s Wm. Doepke Model Toys 28" Long Russmoyne Fire Ladder Truck
Fire Truck Code 3 Arrowstik Fire Truck
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Pumper Fire Truck Engine All Original
6pc Lot 1986 Hess Gasoline Toy Fire Truck Mib Mint In Box
Lot 3 First Gear Fire Truck 1:34 Ward Lafrance Pumper Mack L 1976 Kenworth Nr
Vintage Burns Novelty Pedal Car Fire Truck 
2oz First Responder E-1 Fire Engine .999 Silver Round
2oz 1939 Buffalo Fire Engine .999 Silver Round
Antique Structo Toys Fire Ladder Truck Circa 1940's-50's
Ward Lafrance Fire Engine,emergency Vehicle Namplate,builder's Plate Set (3)
American Signals Action Lite 3 Bulb Vintage Fire Truck Emergency Lite Beacon
1950s Doepke Rossmoyne France Aerial Ladder Fire Truck Engine All Original
Highway 61 1/16 1948 International Kb5 Coburg Fire Dept Fire Truck Nib
Tyco Us1 Trucking Electric Fire Engine Sealed In Card No. 3911 Two Items! 
Vintage Fire Truck Speaker Federal From Electric Unit Model Cp25 Sera3 Nr
Recent News: 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