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!

A history of the fire appliances operated by the British fire service between nationalisation in 1948 and local government reorganisation in 1974. It begins with the vehicles inherited in 1948 and covers the products of AEC, Bedford, Commer, Dennis, ERF, Ford, Leyland and many others.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the fire apparatus industry saw unprecedented revolution, innovation, and parity. The long admired conventional models gave way to the contemporary archetypes that are the genesis of today’s fire trucks. Just as disco and the lava lamp became all the societal rage, the fire service saw its own fads and trends. A new generation of aggressive fire apparatus manufacturers led by Pierce and Emergency-One began to overtake their forefathers and the pool of builders producing high quality apparatus in numbers became considerably more populated. This volume highlights the fire trucks of the Swinging Sixties and the Groovy Seventies!

In 1938, American LaFrance pioneered the first cab-forward fire apparatus, then revolutionized the concept in 1945 with the classic 700 Series. In the 1950s, legendary names such as Ahrens Fox, Crown Firecoach, Mack, Maxim, Pirsche, and Seagrave began offering their own cab-forward versions. The cab-forward design became the glamour queen of fire apparatus. This volume traces the evolution of cab-forward fire apparatus from its fathering to today’s industry giants, with a brilliant selection of black and white and color photographs with historical commentary and technical data.

After WWII Americans were anxious to re-stoke the economy after a long “make-do with what you have” dry spell. By the 1950s new highways were being built, new trucking companies were being formed and old ones revived. Americans were buying newly-styled cars and the latest technologies once again. Semi-trucks helped pave the way for this huge growth spurt in America with dependable trucks built by Mack, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, International, White Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Diamond T, Reo, Autocar, Brockway, Sterling and others, many using the increasingly popular diesel engines made by Buda, Hercules, Waukesha, and Cummins, which helped their heavy loads haul quicker. Ron Adams portrays this booming era with over 300 superb photos of trucks hauling cement, fuel, and a variety of goods to enthusiastic Americans.

While famous for their trucks, Mack Truck also built many fire trucks, holding a prominent position as a fire apparatus manufacturer for over 80 years. This history, combined with high-quality images of the trucks, tells the complete story of the Mack fire truck line-up. All models are covered with images from the archives of Mack, including a color section. Many books about Mack Trucks have been written, but this is the only book available that focuses on the full line-up of Mack's durable fire trucks. An essential reference for both Mack Truck enthusiasts and fire apparatus enthusiasts.

For Kenworth, the 1950s were some of its most exciting years. A financial windfall started out the decade, with a special truck built for ARAMCO that became a standard at oil sites around the world. In the mid 1950s Kenworth began building trucks in Canada and developed a new design with the cab beside the engine, upping the cargo capacity by 1,000 pounds and offering greatly improved visibility for the driver. In 1956 the company became a subsidiary of the Pacific Car and Foundry Company and under new ownership the 900 model, with a lighter, shorter chassis, was introduced. And, in 1957 the first tilt cab over engine was introduced with easier access to the engine and transmission for servicing. See the huge variety of Kenworths moving goods to Americans at the start of boom times.

The vehicles and other firefighting equipment of the Milwaukee Fire Department, like the department itself, are unique among the fire service. It built more of its own apparatus than any other American city and few can match the scope and character of apparatus used to serve and protect life and property in Milwaukee. Through detailed research, firsthand narratives, and captivating photos, the author walks the reader through the fascinating history of the incredible machines that served Cream City from the mid-nineteenth century to modern times. This volume traces the ever-changing face of Milwaukee's fire-fighting and life-saving equipment in parallel with the city's own history and growth. The fire department workshop's reputation for ingenuity is shown through its adaptations to disastrous fires that brought about changes in laws, economic growth and decline, the establishment of Milwaukee's ethnic neighborhoods, the difficult transition from horses to motorization, the wartime and post-war experience, the corporate world of apparatus manufacturers, and Milwaukee's fireboat fleet.

Re-create the fantastic '50s in your model railroad setup! This book, compiled from articles published in Modern Railroader magazine, provides historical information and photos covering steam and diesel locomotives, passenger equipment, freight cars, and trackside details.

Descriptions of different kinds of trucks and what they are used for.