As World War II drew to a close, America's premier fire apparatus builder--the American-LaFrance Foamite Corp. of Elmira, N.Y.--bet the company's future on its radical new cab-ahead-of-engine 700 Series fire engines. In a spectacular gamble to capture the superheated postwar market, all of the company's existing products were discontinued and its customers were essentially told to "take it or leave it." This bold gamble paid off and 700 Series rigs soon filled firehouses across the nation, sweeping aside all competitors and ultimately defining the breakthrough 700 as "America's Fire Engine." This is the first comprehensive history of the game-changing 700. Individual chapters detail not only each of the eight major vehicle types but also the origins, design controversies, manufacturing, and marketing of the 700 and short-lived transitional 800 Series. The book includes a meticulously researched registry of every 700/800 series apparatus delivered, supported by many interpretive tables detailing production, specifications and major fire department fleets.

Describing the evolution of the fire engine from hand pumpers to steamers to the elaborate rigs of today, Halberstock points out all the interesting intricacies of the machines, takes readers along to fight real fires, and tells how to purchase a fire truck for $2,000, or less. Illus.

From the creation of the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Co. in 1904 through the company's latest deliveries in 2004, McCall provides insight into the company's often complex corporate history with emphasis on the development of ALF motor fire apparatus. Comparisons to its competitors help explain the various development stages in apparatus style and components. Detailed, historic photographs show the wide variety of apparatus produced by ALF over the last century. A color gallery portrays the ALF colorful designs that remain popular for U.S fire departments today. The story wouldn't be complete without a chapter on ALFCO's Canadian Cousin, LaFrance Fire Engine & Foamite Ltd. An appendix explains the various types and series and the time period they were built. An outline of the various names the company went through is also

A visual survey of fire stations and equipment since the 18th century across the country. Discusses the technology and sociology of the designs, and such political influences as candidates for local office needing an issue, and the New Deal programs for providing jobs by building fire stations. Anno

Powered by the company’s industry-leading V-12 engine, the 400 Series Metropolitan with its long, gracefully tapered hood, skirted fenders, classically-proportioned gabled radiator and oversized wheels, was a triumph of industrial design—an eye-pleasing blend of form and function, and the industry’s first truly styled fire engine. This authoritative, thoroughly-researched and richly illustrated book documents the big 400’s relatively short, but spectacular, production life from its introduction in late 1934 through the last two assembled from the parts bin in early 1940.

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.

American motor fire apparatus design reached its high-water mark in the 1950s. Every one of the nation's major fire apparatus manufacturers boasted uniquely individual custom fire truck designs. Unlike the look-alike cookie-cutter shoeboxes of today, back then a fire fighter could instantly identify these makes a block away. From conventional Fords to the custom rigs of fire apparatus manufacturers, all the most popular, unique, and industry-changing designs and innovations are featured in this long-overdue tribute to the fire trucks of the Fabulous Fifties!

This book is for everyone who wonders why fire engines are red, why a chief has five "bugles" while a captain has two, why fire hydrants are sometimes called "fire plugs" and why we toll bells and play bagpipes at firefighter funerals.

Meet Flynn, the red fire engine who races to the rescue whenever Sodor is in need. Read about his jobs, his adventures and his friends! With a young rhyming text and bright colourful pages, this is the perfect first Thomas book. My First Railway Library is a great way to pass on the tradition of Thomas. With bright colourful pages and rhyming text, children aged 2 and up will love meeting classic characters such as Percy, James, Gordon, and Toby down on The Fat Controller's railway. Have you collected all of My First Railway Library? Bertie the Helpful Bus Gordon the Big Strong Engine Henry the Smart Green Engine Percy the Cheeky Little Engine Thomas and the Easter Egg Hunt Thomas and the Winter Rescue Thomas the Really Useful Engine