Item description for Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co (1918) CATALOG Fire Trucks Engines Chassis + Ladders

Modern Catalog, reproduced from the original trade sample advertisement.

Company:

    Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co. -- Cincinnati Ohio

Catalogue Title:

   1918 Ahrens-Fox : America's Foremost Fire Engine : Catalogue VIII / 8
                              -- A reprint of the original wholesale samples brochure.

Details about this publication:

Directly from the original 1917-18 trade sales catalog commercial continental motor fire trucks, ladders, engines and chassis designs. -- 46 pages, in very good condition. Glossy, flex covers, with cloth binding.
-- Replica/reprint published by Portable Trunk Publishers. (undated) Circa 2005.

Profusely illustrated with rare trucks from the era. Thoroughly engaging.

A delightful look at many different designs of professional motor fire engine designs available in the early 20th century. This catalog shows models and styles available to purchase wholesale for city fire departments.

Ideal catalog for collectors, designers, restorers, prop departments, miniaturists, or antiques dealers of novelty and early fire trucks.

Subject:

Covers the design aspects, specifications and implementation for various industrial use of their fire pumps and engines. Architectural drawings or renderings of each fire engine, and of parts and elements for improving their use. Also shows cross sections of the workings of the designs types.

About the company:

The Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company was an Ohio-based fire truck manufacturer. The company was founded in 1910 by John P Ahrens and Charles H Fox and built its first motorized fire engine in 1911. By the end of the following year production of horse-drawn fire apparatus ceased completely. Since then, over 1500 pieces of fire apparatus were built until 1977. Ahrens-Fox fire engines were recognizable by the chromed sphere above the pump that held air and smoothed the outgoing pressure fluctuations from the piston pump.

During the year 1913 only, Ahrens-Fox built a 44 hp (following then-actual rating practice) automobile. Like at rival American LaFrance, the idea was to sell these cars to bigger fire brigades as a car of duty for their chiefs. Also like at ALF, it was not successful for Ahrens-Fox either, although for Ahrens-Fox the results were more consequential; there was only one model, a huge six-cylinder called the E-C Battalion Roadster. It was guaranteed to go faster than 50 mph, and featured a four speed gearbox. A small pickup bed was added for some items that were thought to be useful for the head of a fire brigade, and was included in the base price. Only six of these roadster-pickups were built during 1913; it seems all stayed in Cincinnati. Ahrens-Fox abandoned the idea and never returned to it. -- Source. Wikipedia --

Paper / Soft cover reprint edition in very good condition, flex covers, bound, a sturdy book with typical slight wear to edges and spine from being moved around the shop, stored flat. Overall wonderful copy, informative resource. It would make a great gift for the fan in your life, even if that's you.    Stored flat.

Firmly readable, ideal for reference and collecting.   Very nice.   Clean Text. Very Good condition. Text is in English.
            Reproduced directly from the original. Modern, undated replica.    -- Facsimile edition

-- Defects: General wear from being moved around the shop.   Minimal
                 ** With any trade catalogs, some of the text may be small, so it could be a little hard to read, or original
                       paper quality was low. ** Please see our photos, that show the quality of the pages.

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Location: from inventory, Ahrens-Fox 1918 Fire Engines