Ahrens-Fox Motor Fire Apparatus
Models H and I, 1936-1955

Compiled by Ed Hass

Until 1949, Ahrens-Fox Model H and I apparatus was powered by the Hercules type HXE motor, made in Canton, OH.

“Latest Apparatus for Fire Service. Series H & I, most recent equipment of The Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, includes apparatus of 1,000 gpm, capacity (Series H) and 750 capacity (Series I). They are designed for universal service under the conditions prevailing in the majority of cities, towns and fire districts, and are provided in combination pumping engines, ladder apparatus, hose cars and special-duty units of all kinds.
“As pioneer motor fire-engine builders, this organization has developed many innovations which are now accepted as standards of fire-fighting technique and apparatus design. Being makers of motors and pumps, and builders of component automotive parts especially designed for the particular requirements of fire department equipment, Ahrens-Fox produces real fire apparatus units which give dependable service.
“The motor used in apparatus of the H & I series combines extreme simplicity, a minimum of parts, economy, and extraordinary power at moderate rotative and piston speeds,. Ignition is by two separate systems—magneto and battery—with dual spark plugs.
“The fire pumps furnished are either the Twin-Triple piston or two-stage series-parallel types, with pump pressure ratings up to 600 pounds. Twenty-two Model H pumping engines recently delivered to the city of New York and the New York World’s Fair were equipped with Twin-Triple piston type pumps capable of developing 600 pound net pump pressure.”
Photo caption: “THE TWENTY 1,000-GALLON PISTON PUMPERS RECENTLY DELIVERED BY AHRENS-FOX FIRE ENGINE CO. TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK.”

Registered Number 2065

Model H-85 six-wheel, tractor-drawn tower aerial ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321490, 53/4" bore x 6" stroke, 935 cubic inch displacement, 210 brake horsepower @ 2200 rpm (SAE 79.35 hp). 85-foot wood aerial, air hoist, high-pressure nozzle on bed ladder.

Nov. 5, 1936: Bids submitted to Akron, OH, for 85’ aerial and 100-gpm pumper. All bids were rejected due to controversy over whether these rigs had to have manufacturer’s own motor, or could use commercial motor. Some bidders did not make their own motors capable of 200 horsepower. [Former Ahrens-Fox Chicago salesman Robert R. Johnson told me that American-LaFrance frequently brought legal action in cities whose specifications required features that ALF could not provide, and gave me documents about various such cases in New York, Cincinnati, and elsewhere, but I have no specific evidence that ALF was the cause of the disruption in the Akron bids.]

Feb. 8, 1937: Letter from Fire Chief C.E. Harris, 57 S. Broadway, Akron, Ohio, to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. “Please forward a copy of your latest specifications for 85-foot aerial ladder truck, as we are in the market for one.”

Feb. 11, 1937: Letter from Carl J. Grome, Chief Sales Clerk, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., to Chief C.E. Harris, Akron, OH. “We are referring your inquiry to our representative, Mr. Gordon H. Litchfield, Pittsburgher Hotel., Pittsburgh, Pa.”

Feb. 11, 1937: Letter from Carl J. Grome to Gordon H. Litchfield, asking him to send them aerial specifications as Ahrens-Fox ran pout of them and are awaiting more from the printer. Litchfield replied on Feb. 14 that he would take care of this.

Feb. 17, 1937: Letter from Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., Cincinnati, to Gordon H. Litchfield, Pittsburgh, Pa., quoting bulletin from Ohio News Bureau:
“Revival of the fight over fire equipment specifications are in prospect as Chief Harris began to prepare forms for an 85 ft. aerial [#2065] and 1000 gpm pumper [#9036]. Chief Harris said he would draft specs calling for motor made by the manufacturer of the equipment, as he does not want assembled equipment.” [This requirement must have been dropped, since the rigs they eventually bought from Ahrens-Fox both had Hercules motors. ALF’s actions in New York and Cincinnati opened up bids to commercial motors, which backfired against ALF, allowing Mack to win in New York and Ahrens-Fox in Cincinnati, both with Hercules motors. It looks as if the same happened in Akron!]

Feb. 21, 1937: Letter from Gordon H. Litchfield to John P. Ahrens. Wants to discuss their bids on 1000-gpm centrifugal triple and 85-ft. aerial before he submits them to Akron.

March 10, 1937: Letter from G. McQuiggan, acting purchasing agent, Akron, OH, to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., enclosing specifications for fire apparatus, bids to be opened 1:00 p.m. March 22, 1937.
“85 ft. aerial, tractor type. 200 H.P. motor, 6 or more cyl. 1 spare wheel. Brakes on all wheels power boosted & controlled by driver. 1 flasher warning light. Windshield for tillerman. 1 set tire chains. Mars light. 85 ft. aerial telescoping & extending. Turntable & hoisting device operable by 1 man. Ladders 1 each 50’, 45’, 30’, 25’, 20’, 18’, 16’, 14’, two 35’. 1 Quick detachable ladder pipe with swivel nozzle. 1 life net (Atlas or equal). One 15-ton Duff heavy jack. 2 sledge hammers. 1 pair Port roof ladder hooks. Two McCaa 2-hour oxygen masks. 1 Homelite portable floodlighting generator with two 500-watt & one 250-watt flood lamps. 1 each Davis and E&J inhalators. Parts book.”

March 12, 1937: Letter from John P. Ahrens, vice president sales, Ahrens-Fox, to G. McQuiggan, acting purchasing agent, Akron, OH. Specifications received, preparing bid proposal & specifications, which Pittsburgh representative Gordon H. Litchfield will submit in due time & proper form.

March 12, 1937: Letter from John P. Ahrens, vice president sales, Ahrens-Fox, to Gordon H. Litchfield, subject Akron, Ohio.
“We are in receipt today of specifications and advertisement for subject city. We will go over the specifications carefully and give you our views on same so that you can give it consideration and let us have your views, after which, we will make up proposal accordingly.”

March 15, 1937: Gordon Litchfield’s reply to John P. Ahrens’ March 12 letter. “I plan to be in the Cincinnati office this coming Thursday. Will you please ask Carl [Grome] to make up bids on our Models BC, H4C, and HC, leaving prices blank, and the 3 of us can chew them over when I get there Thursday. Also HD85 & AD85 aerials.”

March 13, 1937: Letter from Carl J. Grome, chief sales clerk, Ahrens-Fox, to Gordon Litchfield:
“Our last copies of bids submitted at Akron were in the flood and have not located same up to the present time. [Ahrens-Fox factory at 8th & Evans Sts. in Cincinnati was damaged in the Ohio River flood of Feb., 1937, and many of their records were either lost or badly stained with mud.] If convenient, please give us a copy of the itemized list of extras and any further information as to bids submitted there last. ... Relative to the parts list as called for, these copies are destroyed.”

Undated: List of extra equipment for Akron, Ohio, 85’ aerial.
1 spare wheel, $24. 1 MotoRay flasher warning light, $7.50 (reduced from $35), 1 set tire chains (normally $15), no charge. Mars light, $50. extra 88’ of ladders, $440. Quick detachable ladder pipe with swivel nozzle, $190 (reduced from $290). Life net (Atlas or equal), $215. extra sledge hammer, $7. 1 pair portable roof ladder hooks (normally $10), no charge. Two McCaa 2-hour oxygen masks, $460. 1 Homelite portable flood lighting generator with two 500-watt & one 250-watt flood lamps, $305. One Davis inhalator, $140 (reduced from $170), one E& J inhalator, $350 (incorrectly priced at $170 initially). Total extras $2188 (originally $2191).

March 22, 1937: Bid proposal from Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co. to Honorable City Purchasing Agent, Akron, Ohio, for one 85-foot double bank aerial hook & ladder truck, tractor type, model B-S, built in accordance with specifications attached, for the sum of $20,038, less 2% discount if two pieces of apparatus purchased, less 5% for full cash payment on delivery. Delivery f.o.b. Akron, Ohio, shipment within 90 to 120 working days after receipt of contract. Proposal subject to withdrawal unless accepted within 15 days.
Proposal and price covered standard Ahrens-Fox 85’ aerial, plus the following exceptional requirements: 1 spare wheel, brakes on all wheels power boosted & controlled by driver, flasher warning light, windshield for tillerman, 1 set tire chains, Mars light, 288’ of ladders (200’ standard), Quick detachable ladder pipe with swivel nozzle, life net, 15-ton jack, extra sledge hammer, 1 pair portable roof ladder hooks, two 2-hour McCaa oxygen masks, 1 Homelite portable flood lighting generator with two 500-watt & one 250-watt flood lamps, one each Davis and E&J inhalators.

Alternative bid Model HS, same specifications & exceptional requirements, except motor 53/4” x 6”, 203 brake horsepower @ 2000 rpm. Certified check for $100 had to be attached to each bid submitted.

March 22, 1937: Bids for aerial, Akron, OH:

Make	Price	Cash	Both Rigs
Ahrens-Fox BS	20,038	5% off	2% off
Ahrens-Fox HC	18,938	5% off	2% off
Seagrave	20,350	5% off	2% off
ALF	20,350	5% off	2% off
Mack type 19	16,000	no discounts (demo)
Pirsch 14H wood	17,500	2% off	no discnt
Pirsch 14H steel	18,000	2% off	no discnt
General 99 wood	15,945	no discounts
General 99 steel	16,534	no discounts
Buffalo	No bid on aerial (pumper only)

March 22, 1937: Letter from Gordon Litchfield to John P. Ahrens, about bids at Akron. “LaFrance & Seagrave evidently got their heads together again, the same as they did last November when they both under-bid us by exactly $90. Apparently they tried it again, but this time the shoe happened to be on the other foot [Ahrens-Fox’s aerial bid was $318 less than the identical ALF & Seagrave bids, and their pumper bid $203 less than the ALF/Seagrave bids.]
“It was a surprise to me that General bid on the aerial. For my part, I never before heard of their bidding on one, let alone building one. Did you? “I guess Mack has quit trying to build aerials. You will notice that they bid only on a demonstrator, which they evidently still have on their hands.”

October 30, 1937: Shipped to Akron, OH. Sale by Gordon H. Litchfield, Pittsburgh, PA, Ahrens-Fox western PA/eastern OH sales agent. Delivery photo #993. In service as Ladder 1.

1951: Replaced by new Mack aerial. Out of service.

Registered Number 2066

Model HS-85 six-wheel, tractor-drawn tower aerial ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321824, 53/4" bore x 6" stroke, 935 cubic inch displacement, 210 brake horsepower @ 2200 rpm (SAE 79.35 hp). 85-foot wood aerial, “bascule” electric-hydraulic raise, high-pressure nozzle on bed ladder. Four 12-volt batteries on trailer for electric raise. No ground ladders (ladders supplied by San Francisco Fire Dept.)

December, 1937: Fire Engineering magazine, pages 642-645, article about proposed fire protection at 1939 World’s Fair (Golden Gate Exposition), Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. Treasure Island is man-made by dredging the bottom of San Francisco Bay; lies 900 feet north of Yerba Buena Island, 8700 feet from San Francisco’s pier-head line, and 4.7 miles from downtown San Francisco. Fair to cover 400 acres, value of buildings and contents $40 million. Two fire stations: one in a hangar at southeast corner of island, other near 3 ferry slips at northwest corner of island. Department to consist of 80 men in two platoons under a Chief and Deputy Chief, reporting to Chief Charles J. Brennan of San Francisco Fire Dept. Equipment to consist of five old spare hose wagons equipped with 100’ of 21/2” hose and 12’ roof ladder, plus two new 85’ aerials with water tower facilities but no rescue capabilities, specially-designed for the 1939 World’s Fair. All of this equipment to be served by a network of 200 standard double fire hydrants (capable of attaching both National Standard and San Francisco Square threads), supplied by a permanently-mounted fireboat manifold capable of delivering up to 5000 gpm @ 150 psi using salt water drawn directly from the San Francisco Bay. All World’s Fair apparatus to be dispatched by an ADT system including 50 street-corner fire alarm boxes, and100 interior fire alarm pull-stations inside the buildings. The various Fair buildings to contain 172 Aero fire detectors, linked into the ADT system by 18 alarm circuits. First alarm to bring 2 or 3 hose wagons and an aerial (from the nearest firehouse), second alarm the bring the other hose wagons and the other aerial (from the other firehouse on the Island), and a San Francisco fire boat. Beyond a second alarm to require a special code signal to San Francisco Fire Dept. for additional equipment (pumpers, aerials, etc.). Fair to close in 1940 and become an airport, reducing the amount of apparatus and personnel required to protect the island.

1938: Ahrens-Fox President Charles H. Fox, and New York District Sales Agent Clarence E. Meek, met with San Francisco Fire Chief Charles J. Brennan, to discuss possibility of Ahrens-Fox winning the contract for the two 85’ aerials for the World’s Fair. Meek pointed out to Brennan that Ahrens-Fox’s “tower aerial”, introduced 8 years earlier, had been the first aerial capable of the double duty as a ladder truck and water tower that Brennan required. Brennan countered that after the Fair closed, both aerials would go in service in downtown San Francisco, and would have to be able to negotiate the city’s steep hills. But so far, no manufacturer with whom Brennan had met could offer a flexible enough fifth wheel arrangement to vertically “bend in the middle” over the hills. Mr. Fox pondered the problem for only a moment, pulled a note pad from his pocket, and sketched in great detail. Then, handing the sketch to Chief Brennan, asked “You mean, something like this?” Astonished, Brennan agreed that this sketch showed exactly what he required. While it is hard to say whether this was the deciding factor that won Ahrens-Fox the contract, Fox’s ability to quickly solve problems clearly helped A-F win the contract.

Sept. 19, 1938: 4 brass spring clip spacers made for LeBlond-Schacht Truck Co. on their Order #17118, for Ahrens-Fox Reg. Nos. 2066 & 2067 for San Francisco. Made by Standard Pattern Works, Spring Grove & Queen City, Cincinnati.

1938: Ahrens-Fox New York District Sales Agent Clarence E. Meek composed the following brochure about Ahrens-Fox Bascule Tower Aerials:

AHRENS-FOX BASCULE TOWER AERIAL
Even this brief outline of the latest Aerial Ladder Truck, would be incomplete without directing attention to the following:

THE AERIAL HOIST AND ITS CONTROLS
The Turn-Table—mounted in the conventional manner—carries the Aerial Ladder and its belongings in a self-contained manner. This includes the several electric motors, their hydraulic pump, and their various connections.
Wonderfully compact and convenient are the provisions made for manipulating the various aerial ladder evolutions.
All that has to do with controlling these maneuvers—such as levers, switches, valves, gauges, etc.—are centralized at the Operator’s station on the Turn-Table.
Every item concerned with control is within easy reach, and a fact that bears repeating is that one person with the hands has full control of all operations.

AHRENS-FOX BASCULE TOWER AERIAL
Newly developed and taking advantage of all available betterments in both materials and facilities for production, “Bascule” Ladder Trucks abound with numerous refinements.
Furthermore, the many major and minor improvements are such as could not possibly be contrived successfully by other than skilled engineers and mechanics, backed by the knowledge gained over a long and intimate association with Fire Apparatus design and construction.
THE PROOF—of the above statement—invites a careful survey of the details involved. Verification of Ahrens-Fox claims calls for a close inspection and carefully weighed comparisons of any and all features.

THE BASCULE TYPE
AHRENS-FOX TOWER AERIAL
MOST ADVANCED OF ALL
MECHANIZED LADDER TRUCKS

Sacrificing none of the recognized essentials, the introduction of the “Bascule” principles—plus numerous other new and original features—represents a distinctive departure in the make-up, operation, and performance of Fire Department Aerial Apparatus.

OBJECTIVES ATTAINED—
Greater Safety. The elimination of hazards, risked by firemen when working aloft.
Speedier Action. Cutting deeply into the time required to place the Aerial Ladder into workable position.
SPower Facilities—for Raising, Extending, and Rotating the Aerial—whereby, exhaustive manual efforts are reduced to “finger touch controls”.
SEFFECTIVE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY LONG EXPERIENCE, THE “BASCULE” FORM OF TOWER AERIAL LADDER TRUCKS ARE SUCH AS CHALLENGE INTIMATE COMPARISONS.
THE AHRENS-FOX FIRE ENGINE COMPANY

BASCULE TOWER AERIAL
THE BASCULE PRINICPLE—as applied by Ahrens-Fox—employs a series of properly-calibrated Coil Springs as a counter-poise against the gross weight of the Aerial Ladder.
The effect is that these springs serve to maintain a state of equilibrium, thereby balancing the ladder at any angle upwards to the vertical position.
A further resultant is that this constant balance nullifies the danger of the ladder falling at any time by force of its own weight.

FORTIFIED AGAINST FALLING—the force which actually motivates the aerial ladder is supplied hydraulically, but obviously, relieved of the ladder weight, it follows that the pressure force is correspondingly small.

A BALANCED LADDER—PLUS LOW PRESSURE—are two factors which contribute safety to Aerials operating on the Bascule principle.
Compared with systems which are wholly “hydraulic”, the Bascule pressures—comparatively —represent but a minor fraction of the other greater requirement.

BASCULE TOWER AERIAL
THE MORE MODERATE HYDRAULIC PRESSURES—employed by Ahrens-Fox to motivate the Bascule Aerial Ladder is produced by a small pump of the centrifugal type—mounted upon the Turn-Table. This pump is driven electrically and “peaks” at about 100 pounds pressure per square inch, and interposed in the hydraulic circuit, no relief valve nor other governing device is required.
Pressure Force—derived from the pump—passes through a “Control Valve” and by which, the non-freezing fluid is caused to flow against the pistons, which in turn actuate the aerial ladder.
The function of the pump is to transfer the hydraulic fluid from either one to the other end of the actuating cylinders, and by means of a single small lever, attached to the Control Valve, the operation is reversible—VIZ.—
Directed against one side of the piston, the ladder is raised. In its neutral position, the ladder halts and is automatically locked by the fluid.
In reverse position, hydraulic pressure returns the ladder to its horizontal position by overcoming the opposed force of the balancing springs.

BASCULE TOWER AERIAL
ELECTRICAL FEATURES—The simplicity which attends the distribution of Power—”electrically”—justifies its substitution for the further functions involved. Therefore, aside from the hydraulic method provided for raising and depressing the Aerial Ladder, the additional demands for power are served electrically.

SOURCE OF CURRENT—Standard Bascule Aerials are fitted with an Electric Generator—driven by power derived from the engine which propels the apparatus.
Voltage and capacity are suitable and adequate to supply all electrical auxiliaries, with current to spare for operating a reasonable number of Flood Lights together with such electrical tools as may be adaptable to the Fire Service.

ELECTRIC MOTORS—Standard Equipment includes:
Motor for driving the hydraulic pump.
Reversible motor for extending the Aerial.
Reversible motor for rotating the Turn-Table.

Collectively—the foregoing electrical units, exceed the aggregate force that might be mustered by a crew of not less than fifty able-bodied men.

BASCULE TOWER AERIAL BRIEF OUTLINE OF CHARACTERISTICS
SENIOR TYPE—upwards from 75 feet—are in the generally accepted form, i.e., comprising:

FOUR-WHEEL TRACTOR WITH SEMI-TRAILER ATTACHED.

FRAME STRUCTURES—for both tractor and trailer are more than ordinarily well-proportioned to their loads.

TRAILER FRAME—is of pressed steel. Drop type, with a maximum channel section of 12 inches. The frame is strongly re-enforced, with five-inch tubular cross members at the most vulnerable points.

FRONT AND REAR STEER—The tractor “cuts under” and the steering range is such as affords desirable advantage in close situations.

TILLERMAN’S STATION—A new and unique feature. The seat is so placed as to afford clear vision. Moreover, the tillerman sits well behind the rear wheels—leaving but a short overhang at the rear. Pitched toward the man at the wheel, the steering column “breaks” to permit the semi-automatic tipping of the entire seating unit when the Tillerman leaves his station.

COMFORTABLE AND ALSO MUCH MORE PRACTICAL AND SAFE ARE THE NOVEL ARRANGEMENTS PROVIDED FOR THE BETTER GUIDANCE AND CONTROL AT THE REAR.

June 26, 1939: Shipped to World’s Fair, San Francisco, CA. Reg. Nos. 2066 and 2067 were the last new vehicles that would ever roll out of the combined LeBlond-Schacht Truck/Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine factory at Eighth & Evans Sts., Cincinnati. By the time #2066 and #2067 were completed in the downtown Cincinnati plant and ready to ship, LeBlond-Schacht was no longer making commercial trucks, and the entire operation had moved into the LeBlond Engineering plant, 4932 Beech St., Norwood (a suburb north of Cincinnati). The five Ahrens-Fox employees who drove and tillered the two aerials out of the factory, locked the 8th Street doors behind them for the last time, and drove to the freight yards to send the rigs west, were: Richard Frank, foreman of the sheet-metal shop (who resigned that very day rather than transfer to Norwood); Ray Morath (the sheet-metal fabricator who had hand-hammered much of the body on these two rigs); Emil Graf (delivery engineer); George Gross (service mechanic); and Johnny Miller (who was one of the assemblers of these rigs). It is most likely that Graf and Gross (being the most experience in operating Ahrens-Fox apparatus) drove the tractors, while Morath and Miller were probably tillering, leaving experienced people-manager Richard Frank the likely role of navigator to help these massive rigs dodge downtown Cincinnati traffic.

July 28, 1939: In service at Fire Station 1 (Southeast Station), World’s Fair (Golden Gate Exposition), Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. SFFD Shop #41 (old style straight bumper).

1941: Was in service as Truck 3, San Francisco.

1963: Tractor attached to 1901 Gorter 76-foot water tower of Water Tower 1. Trailer attached to 1948 Seagrave tractor (waterfall grille) and to Truck 3.

1966: Fox trailer #2066 with 1948 Seagrave tractor running as Truck 18.

March 21, 1975: Tractor & trailer of #2066 were reunited, and sold to Art Bowen, Home Finders, Inc., 1834 First St., Napa, CA 94558.

November, 1980: Sold to Craig Waterous, Sacramento, CA (Sacramento Fire Dept. dispatcher).

December, 1980: Sold to Mary Haseley, Mount Aukum, CA.

To M. Schnetz, Plymouth, CA, son-in-law of Mary Haseley.

July 22, 1986: Donated by M. Schnetz to Plymouth Fire Dept., Ione, CA. But first he stripped off serial number plates from tractor, and axe, pike pole, & ladder brackets from trailer, then moved to Las Vegas and became a police officer, taking this hardware with him.

1993: Wendell Joost, Guerneville, CA (1937 Mack tractor-drawn service ladder truck, ex-San Francisco) saw & photoed #2066 in field at Plymouth fire station. Still in good, restorable condition.

Fall, 1995: Letter to editor in Enjine!Enjine! magazine (National SPAAMFAA): We have one of two Ahrens-Fox fire trucks built for San Francisco in the 1930s. A small town of about 1,000 currently owns this Ahrens-Fox which runs but is rapidly decaying. We would like to find a good home for it—in California if possible. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please contact: Wayne Prince-Davis, Mayor, City of Plymouth, P.O. Box 429, Plymouth, CA 95669, or telephone the City clerk at 209-245-6941. [Wayne Prince-Davis home phone is 209-245-4002].

1995: Las Vegas police officer M. Schnetz of Las Vegas sold the ladder-mounting hardware and serial number plates from #2066 to SPAAMFAA member Dave Larson of Las Vegas, NV.

Photos of #2066 in 1995:
right side
left front

January, 1996: Ed Hass sent letter in behalf of himself, Wendell Joost of Guerneville, and Jack Nealon of San Francisco, seeking to acquire this rig as a trio of co-owners.

May, 1996: Ed and Barbara Hass, Marc Goldman, and Jay & Lois King went to Plymouth to see and photo this rig. Also tried to purchase it for Ed Hass, Jack Nealon, and Wendell Joost, without success. It was parked outside beside firehouse, rusting. Someone removed the upper electric motor from the right side of the ladder hoist.

June 13, 1996: Disposal of this rig on agenda of Plymouth city council, but no decision made.

December, 1996: Plymouth notified Wendell Joost that he, Jack Nealon, and Ed Hass could pick up this rig in June. Wendell planned to haul the trailer home using tractor of his ex-San Francisco Mack tractor-trailer service ladder, and have the Fox tractor commercially towed home. But 3 months later, Plymouth changed their minds and decided to keep this truck, with the plan of eventually restoring it (if it doesn’t rust into the ground first). But first they need to restore a 1937 GMC pumper that is also sitting out by the firehouse, and there is no plan yet to start on its restoration.

June 7, 1997: Dave Larson of Las Vegas sold the serial-number plates and ladder-mounting hardware from #2066 to Ed Hass, Sunnyvale, CA, for $150. If and when this rig is ever restored, these parts will go back on it. Meanwhile, they are stored in a clean, dry place so they will not rust as the rest of this truck is doing.

October, 2002: #2066 is being restored for Plymouth at Folsom Prison, Folsom, CA. Plymouth purchased all of the parts for #2066 from Ed Hass.

Registered Number 2067

Model HS-85 six-wheel, tractor-drawn tower aerial ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321821, 53/4" bore x 6" stroke, 935 cubic inch displacement, 210 brake horsepower @ 2200 rpm (SAE 79.35 hp). 85-foot wood aerial, “bascule” electric-hydraulic raise, high-pressure nozzle on bed ladder. Four 12-volt batteries on trailer for electric raise. No ground ladders (ladders supplied by San Francisco Fire Dept.)

June 26, 1939: Shipped to World’s Fair, San Francisco, CA. (see #2066 for story of its shipment).

July 28, 1939: In service at Fire Station 2(Northwest Station), World’s Fair (Golden Gate Exposition), Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. SFFD Shop #42 (new style bumper with curve in center).

1941: Was in service as Truck 13, San Francisco.

c-1968: Tractor attached to c-1903 tillered service ladder trailer (originally horse drawn). Circa-1954 Seagrave tractor (Century Series) attached to trailer.

1966: Fox trailer #2067 with circa-1954 Seagrave tractor running as Truck 19.

1976: Tractor & trailer of #2067 reattached to each other, and sold to Saint Francis Hook & Ladder Society. Moved into outdoor storage.

1983: Owner is Saint Francis Hook & Ladder Society, c/o William Koenig, 260 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102.

1993: Rick Zoebelein, San Mateo, CA, photoed this rig, it is rough, a lot of rust on trailer, wood ladders badly rotted after 17 years outdoors. Tractor still in restorable condition. Trailer numbered from Truck 19, evidently its last assignment before its 1976 retirement.

August, 1994: Moved to a barn in Santa Rosa, CA. Front of tractor and rear of trailer stick out, but most of the rig is finally under a roof.

Registered Number 5061

Model UH-60-4 quadruple combination rotary gear pumper, hose car, and service ladder truck with booster tank. 253” wheelbase. 36” x 8” pneumatic tires. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #320030, 53/4” x 6”, 935 cubic inch, 210 brake horsepower.

May 8, 1931: Bid proposal from Gordon H. Litchfield, Pittsburgh sales agent, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., to Borough Council, Borough of Avalon, PA, for one 600 Gallon Quadruple Rotary Type Pumping Engine, Hose Car, Ladder Truck, and Booster Equipment. Delivery f.o.b. to Borough of Avalon, PA. Shipment from factory in 90 days after receipt of contract.

August 11, 1931: Shipped to Avalon, PA.

1967: To a city park, Avalon, PA. Tires removed.

Junked.

Registered Number 5063

Model HRU quadruple combination rotary gear pumper, hose car, and service ladder truck with booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor.

December 3, 1935: Shipped to Louisville, KY. In service as Quad 6. Price $13,184. While this rig was under construction, Bob Johnson, Ahrens-Fox Chicago agent, visited the Ahrens-Fox plant in Cincinnati, was surprised to find this the ONLY fire engine then on the construction floor. Delivery photos #927 & 928.

1951: To Auxiliary Quad 6.

1958: To Auxiliary Quad 9.

July 16, 1962: Letter from Tom Tallentire, 2552 Madison Rd., Apt. 51, Cincinnati 8, OH, to Bill Hass. “Curt Nepper...runs what is left of Ahrens-Fox. He has had an operation recently, but I think he goes to the shop part-time now. A 1937 A-F quad of Louisville is being rebuilt now, with new motor (Waukesha 145-GZB) and transmission, power steering and brakes.” Also installed a new 1000-GPM Hale centrifugal pump.

1972: Loaned to camp ground at Otter Creek Park, KY. In service.

August, 1994: Vintage Truck & Fire Engine Monthly, page 44—2 Ahrens-Fox Quads [5063 and 8019], selling complete units as parts, $1,300 for both. Louis Fenchel, 454 Fox Lane, Lancaster, SC 29720 (803) 285-7627.

October 14, 1994: Owner is Louis Fenchel, Lancaster, SC. No radiator or pump, surface rust, no dents, no equipment, stored in Salem, IN (near KY border), for sale, $650.Motor is free, could be made to run, but not easily. Fenchel bought #5063 and #8019 to save them from being scrapped, but does not want to spend the money to ship them to SC and restore them.

October 15, 1994: Spoke to Wendell Joost, Guerneville, CA, phone (707) 869-9507. He owns a 1937 Mack six-wheel, tractor-drawn service ladder truck (ex-San Francisco, CA) and just bought a 1924 Seagrave pumper, and is interested in buying and restoring this rig. He has long wanted an Ahrens-Fox, wants a quad to complement his pumper and tillered ladder, and likes the flat-front radiator style. As I will probably buy #8019, we might load both on a 90-foot railroad flatcar and ship them to California.Might have Bill Darrow take them to his farm at 530 Fairground Rd., Xenia, OH, and store them until we can arrange to ship them to CA. Bill still has the radiator from 1930 UP-100-4 #5042 which is the same as the radiator missing from #5063, and can also supply Seagrave trussed wood ground ladders for one or both of these quads.

October 20, 1994: Received photos of #5063 and 8019 from Louis Fenchel, and spoke to him on phone. Neither rig ever had a title or registration, but Fenchel can provide bill of sale to get them. #5063 has no radiator, old radiator shroud now in use in Louisville as speaker’s podium. Tattered upholstery on driver’s seat and side crew seats. Front fenders and seat risers are in relatively-new primer but already some surface rust. Windshield intact, red cowl lights but left light missing lens. Both rear red flashers intact. Original L.F.D. lettering on hood (double-green left shading). One ladder, one pike pole, some hose. Side-view mirrors, front and side suction holders. No pump, but pump from Bill Darrow’s 1930 UP-100-4 #5042 will probably fit and is similar to the original pump. No headlights. Chrome trim strips on hood. No Registered No. plates.

October 25, 1994: Discussed purchase of #5063 with Wendell Joost of Guerneville, CA, again. As it would cost $650 to buy this rig, plus about $2,000 to ship it west, plus $1,000 for the radiator, pump, and panel from Bill Darrow, plus $800 for the trussed Seagrave wood ground ladders from Chip Lyttle (8 ladders @ $100 each), he would be into the rig about $4500 before he even began restoration. This does not count the cost of flying to Ohio, and renting a truck to haul the motor, pump, and ladders to Salem, IN, to put on the quad before shipment, which brings it closer to $6,000 plus restoration cost. As he already has a 1924 Seagrave pumper and 1937 Mack ladder truck under restoration, this is just too much additional cost for him to take on. Need to find someone in the midwest who wants #5063, so they eliminate the flying and shipping cost. Cost of just buying the rig, pump, radiator, and ladders would then be only about $2,500, which makes it economically feasible.

Nov. 9, 1994: I sent Fenchel the following letter: I regret to inform you that after analyzing all of the costs involved, my friend Wendell Joost and I have decided not to buy your two ex-Louisville Ahrens-Fox quads. Wendell was planning to buy the 1935 HRU #5063, and I would take the 1937 IRU #8019.

While the initial $650 purchase price for each is very attractive, the other costs are not.

On the 1935, we found that Bill Darrow of Xenia, OH, has a radiator, pump, and pump panel to fit it. The radiator is on what’s left of his 1930 Fox quad #5042 ex-Hillsboro, OH, and the pump and pump panel off his 1938 EC pumper #9034, ex-Covington, KY. He wants $1,000 for the radiator, pump, and pump panel, but Wendell would have to fly out (at least $500 round-trip airfare) and remove the parts from the rigs himself, then rent a truck ($200?) to haul them to the quad. Also, Bill’s friends has the needed ladders at $100 each, or $800 for the 8 ladders that a quad typically carried. Then everything would have to be loaded on a truck and shipped west for another $2,000. So just to get all the needed parts and get everything home, he would already be into it $5,200 before even starting a restoration. Then it would need a professional paint job (at least $2,000 for a rig this big) and replating (about another $2,000), plus re-equip the hosebed with hose (about $500). Now we’re up to $9,700, plus his time to rebuild the motor, pump, and drive-train (which is not a direct outlay of money, but his time is worth something, too). This is more than the rig is worth in terms of resale value, and what you have for all that time and expense is a huge truck that is nearly impossible to maneuver on city streets to, from, and in parades. Wendell currently owns and is restoring a 1924 Seagrave pumper and 1937 Mack tractor-trailer service ladder truck, and right now he simply cannot afford to lay out nearly $10,000 to buy, ship, and restore a THIRD rig!

The situation on the 1937 that I wanted to buy is not much better. I would not have the $1700 to fly to Ohio, buy parts from Darrow, and truck them to where the quads are, but all of the other shipping and restoration costs would be the same, making my investment $7,000 plus my time to sand off the rust, and do all the mechanical repairs, plus the costs (at least $500) to weld in new sheet metal patches to replace the rust-through in the cowl. Frankly, this rig is not worth an investment of $7,500 cash and a few hundred hours of my time. I have the added problem that unlike Wendell, I do not own a ranch on which I can park the rig, I would have to pay for the additional storage space at about $150 a month every month for as long as I would own the rig. As it is now, it costs me over $200 a month to store my 1953 Ahrens-Fox, two hand-drawn hose reels, and my fire alarm system, and I also have on-going maintenance costs on my ‘53 now that it is restored. So it really is not economically feasible for me to take on another rig for so much, either.

Another drawback to these rigs is their lack of identification. California Motor Vehicles Dept. says they would accept a bill of sale from you, and a statement from me that there never was a title or registration before, to issue a title and registration, as long as they can verify the identity of the rigs, but with no serial number plate on either of them anymore, and no longer having the original motors to match motor numbers, verification could be a real problem. If we could not gain clear titles and registrations, these rigs would not be worthwhile for that reason alone, let alone for the steep shipping and restoration costs.

I have contacted a few people in the midwest about buying these rigs from you, where the costs to get things home aren’t as steep as to California, I have found some mild interest but not great enthusiasm. But I have a few leads on people who might want them, and I’ll see what I can do to find them good homes. I would hate to see them parted-out or worse, junked outright. The 1935 is the only one of its kind ever built, and the 1937 is one of only 3 of its basic design still existing (the other two are in Everett, Wash., and Hampton, Va.).

Again, I apologize for stringing you along on buying the 2 quads from you, but it took Wendell and me that long to investigate all the costs and logistics before we could determine that they are just not worth it to us (and we both started out with a great deal of enthusiasm for these rigs, so it was painful for us to have to decide to walk away from the deal).

Registered Number 5064

Model HR rotary gear pumper and hose car with 100-gallon booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #320746, 53/4” bore x 6” stroke, compression ratio 4.50 to 1. Rotary cam pump with air dome, rated 1000 gpm @ 120 psi, 500 @ 200, 333 @ 250. Engine-to-pump gear ratios, 1.67 to 1 capacity, 2.811 to 1 pressure.

March 26, 1936: Tested at Cincinnati, OH, from 5’ lift by C.D. Lehman, Engineer, National Board of Fire Underwriters.
First Test, 6 hours. Two 50’ lines of 21/2” hose, 2” nozzle. 1001 gpm @ 127 psi. Engine 1192 rpm, pump 715 rpm. Displacement 1.40 gpr. Second Test, 3hours. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 13/8” nozzle, discharge throttled. 507 gpm @ 209 psi. Engine 1249 rpm, pump 444 rpm. Displacement 1.14 gpr.
Third Test, 3hours. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzle, discharge throttled. 339 gpm @ 256 psi. Engine 954 rpm, pump 339 rpm. Displacement 1.00 gpr.

April 15, 1936: Shipped to Newcastle, IN, to replace wrecked J-S-4 #1241. Delivery photo #933.

1963: Sold to Blue Ash Life Squad, Blue Ash, OH. In service.

1966: To a city park in Blue Ash, OH.

July, 1971: My father & I photoed this rig in park at Blue Ash, OH. Rusty, badly stripped of body parts and equipment, and radiator had been hit with a bulldozer blade.

Registered Number 6006

Model H-444 four-wheel, double-banked service ladder truck. 253” wheelbase. 34” x 7” pneumatic tires. 6-cylinder Hercules HXB motor 5” bore x 6” stroke, 707 cubic inch, 140 brake horsepower @ 1800 rpm (60 hp NACC rating). 238’ of ground ladders.

April 6, 1931: Bid proposal from Frederic E. Bensen, NY District sales agent, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., to President & Members Town Council, Bloomsburg, PA, for on City Service Truck Model H-444. Delivery F.O.B. at Bloomsburg, PA. Shipment from factory in 90 days after receipt of contract.

August 31, 1931: Shipped to Liberty Hook & Ladder Co. #4, Bloomsburg, PA.

September 1, 1931: Delivered to Bloomsburg, PA.

1966: Body and equipment remounted on new Ford cab-forward, tilt-cab chassis.

1981: Still in service.

Registered Number 6007

Model H-44 four-wheel, double-banked service ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #320120, 53/4” x 6”.

May 14, 1932: Shipped to Elkins Park, PA. Painted tampa beige.

Dec., 1953: Ad in Fire Engineering magazine, page 1148—SACRIFICE For Quick Sale - Ahrens-Fox City Service Ladder Truck - Excellent Condition. Rebuilt Hercules 6 cylinder motor. 6 new tires. Full compliment of ladders. Portable lighting system. $3,000. Elkins Park Fire Co., 7818 Montgomery Avenue, Elkins Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

March, 1954: Ad in Fire Engineering magazine, page 272—SACRIFICE For Quick Sale - Ahrens-Fox City Service Ladder Truck - Excellent Condition. Rebuilt Hercules 6 cylinder motor. 6 new tires. Full compliment of ladders. Portable lighting system. Will consider a reasonable offer. Elkins Park Fire Co., 7818 Montgomery Avenue, Elkins Park, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [Note that price changed from $3,000 to “any reasonable offer.”]

August, 1972: Fire Engineering page 144: Elkins Park selling 1963 & 1965 American-LaFrance pumpers. 7818 Montgomery Ave., Elkins Park, PA 19117, phone (215) 635-9937.

Registered Number 6008

Model H-444 four-wheel, double-banked service ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules motor #320054.

June 11, 1932: Shipped to Maghogomock Hook & Ladder Co. #1, Port Jervis, NY.

1954: Sold to Washington, NJ.

1960s: Sold.

Registered Number 6009

Model H-6 four-wheel tractor for ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321172.

April 14, 1937: Shipped to San Francisco, CA. Attached to formerly horse-drawn 1903 service ladder truck trailer. In service as Truck 8.

Tractor junked. 1903 trailer to Saint Francis Hook & Ladder Co., San Francisco, CA.

Registered Number 6010

Model X-H-D-4 four-wheel, double-banked service ladder truck. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321494.

April 19, 1937: Ordered by Pawtucket, RI.

October 30, 1937: Shipped to Pawtucket, RI. Sale by Ira A. Ballou, East Providence, RI, sales agent for Ahrens-Fox New England office, Taunton, MA. Delivery photo #992. In service as Ladder 2.

1967: To Engine 1.

1970: Sold to an auto parts dealer in Pawtucket.

June 15, 1990: Ira A. Ballou Jr., told me at the Ahrens-Fox Fire Buffs’ Association 20th anniversary celebration (SPAAMFAA National muster, Lynnfield, MA) that the reason this rig had an enclosed body was to hide the kick-backs to the politicians. Like many municipalities in those Depression days, Pawtucket would not award the contract for fire engines unless the mayor and councilmen could make a little profit on the deal. Since Ahrens-Fox did not normally make enclosed-body rigs, nobody could be sure what the actual production cost of the extra sheet-metal was, so the kick-backs could be conveniently hidden in this price. In fact, Ballou says that the "X" in this model, and in earlier models such as M-X-4-X, indicated special features that deviated from standard specifications, usually to hide just such bribes and kick-backs in the final fire apparatus price.

Registered Number 8019

Model IRU quadruple combination rotary pumper, hose car, and service ladder truck with booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor, 53/4" x 6".

November 22, 1937: Shipped to Louisville, KY. In service as Quad 8.

1950: To Auxiliary Quad 8.

1960s: Curt Nepper of Ahrens-Fox rebuilt with new Waukesha 145-GZB motor, new transmission, 1000-GPM Hale centrifugal pump.

July, 1978: Bill Hass photoed this rig, still in reserve at Louisville.

October 14, 1994: Owner is Louis Fenchel, Lancaster, SC. Surface rust, body cancer in dash-cowl area, no dents, no equipment, stored in Salem, IN (near KY border), for sale, $650. Motor is free, could be made to run easily. Fenchel bought #5063 and #8019 to save them from being scrapped, but does not want to spend the money to ship them to SC and restore them.

October 15, 1994: I will probably buy this rig, and Wendell Joost of Guerneville, CA, will buy #5063, possibly load both on a 90-foot railroad flatcar and ship them to California. Might have Bill Darrow take them to his farm at 530 Fairground Rd., Xenia, OH, and store them until we can arrange to ship them to CA. Bill still has the radiator from 1930 UP-100-4 #5042 which is the same as the radiator missing from #5063, and can also supply Seagrave trussed wood ground ladders for one or both of these quads.

October 20, 1994: Received photos of #5063 and 8019 from Louis Fenchel, and spoke to him on phone. Neither rig ever had a title or registration, but Fenchel can provide bill of sale to get them. #8019 has small sealed-beam headlights with turn signals atop, in place of original Corcoran-Brown type, right one missing lens, both tail lights intact. Front wheel of top booster reel missing, has both booster hose rollers. Tattered upholstery on driver’s seat. Surface rust except on radiator grille, body cancel in cowl. Windshield intact. Non-original L.F.D. lettering on hood (right shaded), QUAD No 9 and Louisville FD log on seat risers, QUAD No 9 on rear of frame. Side-view mirrors, front and side suction holders. Still has battery in box on left running board. Pump complete except suction & discharge blinder caps. Wire mesh equipment basket atop hose bed and ladder racks, has some red booster hose still in it. Diamond-plate catwalks beside ladder racks. No ladders or hose. A-F logo and trim strips on hood. No Registered No. plates.

November 5, 1994: Through John Bergquist, Loveland, CO (who has owned 153 antique fire engines to date, including Ahrens-Foxes #1215, 1664, 7018, and 1728), found Leon Hart of Auto Express in CO, phone 800-364-3084, who can truck this rig from Salem, IN, to San Jose, CA for me for $1,750. Basically, can have an intact, one-of-a-kind fire engine purchased & delivered for just $2,400, then restoration and storage costs.

November 9, 1994: I sent Louis Fenchel a letter (see Reg.#5063).

Registered Number 9009

Model IC centrifugal pumper and hose car with booster tank and two-door enclosed cab. Hercules 6-cylinder HXC motor #320798, 51/4" x 6", 166 bhp @ 2250 rpm, compression ratio 4.5 to 1.Two-stage parallel-series centrifugal pump, rated 750 gpm @ 120 psi, 375 @ 200, 250 @ 250. Engine-to-pump gear ratio 1 to 1.94.

May 15, 1936: Tested at factory cistern from 3’ lift by E.H. Markle, Engineer, Ohio Inspection Bureau.
First Test, 6 hours. Two 25’ lines of 21/2” hose, 13/4” nozzle, discharge gate throttled. 761 gpm @ 125.7 psi. Engine 1606 rpm, pump 3116 rpm. Second Test, 3 hours. 25’ line of 21/2” hose, 13/8” nozzle, discharge gate throttled. 380 gpm @ 202.9 psi. Engine 1489 rpm, pump 1889 rpm.
Third Test, 3 hours. 25’ line of 21/2” hose, 1” nozzle, discharge gate throttled. 256 gpm @ 253.8 psi. Engine 1537 rpm, pump 2982 rpm.

May 23, 1936: Shipped to Long Beach, CA. In service as Engine 1. Delivery photo #937.

Registered Number 9019

Model HC centrifugal pumper and hose car with booster tank and two-door enclosed cab. Hercules 6-cylinder HXE motor #320838, 53/4" x 6", compression ratio 4.5 to 1. Hale ZM two-stage parallel-series centrifugal pump, rated 1000 gpm @ 120 psi, 500 @ 200, 334 @ 250. Engine-to-pump gear ratio 1 to 2.22.

March 2, 1937: Ordered by Salt Lake City, UT. Sale by Howard Cooper Corp., Portland, OR.

June 30, 1937: Tested at Ahrens-Fox factory from 4’6” lift by E.H. Markle and H.L. Krieger, Engineers, Ohio Inspection Bureau.
First Test, 6 hours. Two 50’ lines of 21/2” hose, 2” nozzle tip, gates throttled. 1019 gpm @ 128 psi. Engine 1438 rpm, pump 3192 rpm.
Second Test, 3 hours. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 13/8” nozzle tip, gates throttled. 508 gpm @ 205 psi, Engine 1685 rpm, pump 3741 rpm (in parallel). 512 gpm @208 psi, Engine 1282 rpm, pump 2946 rpm.
Third Test, 3 hours. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzle tip, gates throttled. 341 gpm @ 257 psi, Engine 1337 rpm, pump 2968 rpm

July 15, 1937: Shipped to Salt Lake City, UT. In service as Engine 1. Delivery photo #977.

1959: Junked.

Registered Number 9024

Model ICU quadruple combination centrifugal pumper, hose car, and service ladder truck with booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #320916, 53/4" x 6".

February 23, 1937: Ordered by Everett, WA. Sale by Howard Cooper Corp. Portland, OR.

June 8, 1937: Shipped to Everett, WA. In service as Quad 1.

1978: To Everett Firefighters Museum, Everett, WA.

1986: Motor replaced with another 1937 Hercules motor #321529.

Photo at Fire Museum.

1987: I photoed this rig at main Everett firehouse downtown. Enclosed sides on ladder racks, chain-driven hand cranks to roll ladders out of racks.

Registered Number 9030

Model IC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321369, 53/4” x 6”.

May 1, 1937: Ordered by Chester, PA.

Sept. 28, 1937: Shipped to Franklin Fire Co., Chester, PA. Sale by Charles E. Wood, Chester, PA. In service as Engine 2.

1956: Traded-in on new Mack pumper.

August, 1956: Ad in Fire Engineering magazine, page 708—FOR SALE, 1936 Ahrens-Fox with 750 GPM Hale 2-stage midship-mounted centrifugal pump. Mack Trucks, Inc., 2647 East York St., Philadelphia 25, PA.

Mack sold to PA State Fire Training School, Lewistown, PA.

1982: Sold to Firemen’s Museum, Erie, PA.

Registered Number 9036

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 1861/2” wheelbase, 36” x 8” high-pressure tires.6-cylinder Hercules HXE special high-compression motor #321492, 53/4” x 6”, compression ratio 5.46 to 1, 203 brake horsepower @ 2000 rpm. Dual ignition: Auto-Lite battery, Bosch MJB-6 magneto, twelve 7/8” Champion spark plugs. Stromberg model SFG-5 updraft carburetor. Hale ZM 2-stage parallel series centrifugal pump, rated 1250 gpm at 120 psi, 625 gpm @ 200 psi, 417 gpm @ 250 psi, with Ahrens-Fox governor-type relief valve, vacuum pump, and booster pump. Engine to pump gear ratio. 1 to 2.22. 40-gallon gas tank at rear of driver’s seat, 18” above carburetor, with mechanical fuel pump. Brown-Lipe type 7440 clutch. Differential gear ratio 4.8 to 1. Transmission gear ratios: high 0.77 to 1, third 1.00 to 1, second 2.04 to 1, first 3.72 to 1, reverse 4.84 to 1, lever & plunger lock on gear shift, plunger lock on pump shift.

This rig was ordered at same time as model H-85 aerial #2065. For details of the bids and the contract for both rigs, see #2065.

Feb. 22, 1937: Letter from John P. Ahrens, vice president sales, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., to Gordon H. Litchfield, sales representative, Pittsburgh, Pa. Cannot provide Akron with test results on 1000-gpm centrifugal pump from hydrant, because on recent test at Covington, KY, the fire hydrant failed to supply sufficient water. However, on factory test at draft from 4’ lift, pumped 1344 gpm @125 psi, 508 @200, 335 @350. When throttle opened wide, pumped 615 gpm @250 psi. For all tests, engine rpm never exceeded 1500, and usually in the 1300-1400 rpm range. Expect to have test results from hydrant soon.

March 10, 1937: Letter from G. McQuiggan, acting purchasing agent, Akron, OH, to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., enclosing specifications for fire apparatus, bids to be opened 1:00 p.m. March 22, 1937.
“1250 gallon at 120# taking water from hydrant. 200 or more H.P. motor. Dual tires rear—pneumatic. 1 spare rim. 250’ of 3/4” hose. Centrifugal pump. 1 flashing warning light. 2 axes. 1 lantern with red globe & bracket, 2 plaster hooks (one 8’, one 6’). 1 hose shut-off & door opener Pirsch. 1 set tire chains. One 3” hose leak stop. 1 Foamite foam generator for F.D. service. 2 Style #1 Grether electric hand searchlights. Three 3-way small hose siamese for 3/4” line (A.B. Co.). 1 McCaa 2-hour oxygen mask. One 21/2” Copper hose leak stop. One 12’ pony suction (White Anchor). 1 M&M siphon (P.B. Mfg. Co.). Parts Book.”

March 15, 1937: List of extra equipment for Akron, Ohio, pumper provided by Gordon H. Litchfield, Ahrens-Fox Pittsburgh sales agent, to Carl J. Grome, Ahrens-Fox chief sales clerk.< BR> B&M siren, $45. Two extra rims, $48. Extra axe $7.50. Fire lantern with red globe, $12.50. Two plaster hooks, 8’ and 6’, $24. One hose shut-off & door opener (Pirsch), $22.50. Two chain tire grips for rear wheels, $15. 250’ of 3/4” hose (standard 150’ of 1”), $30 extra. One reducer 4” to 21/2”, $14. Three 3-way small hose siamese for 3/4” hose lines, $24. One McCaa oxygen mask (1/2 hour), $175. One Copper 21/2” hose leak stop, $45. One 12’ pony rubber suction hose, $30. Total for extras, $492.50, which was about $90 more than LaFrance & Seagrave. Added to $13,675 base price for 1000-gpm centrifugal pumper, this brought the bid price to $14,167.50.

No date: Final list of extras for Akron, OH, pumper.
1 spare rim, $12. 250’ of 3/4” hose, $30. 1 MotoRay flashing warning light, $7.50 (reduced from $35), 1 extra axe, $7.50. 1 lantern with red globe & bracket, $12.50. 1 extra plaster hook, $18. 1 hose shut-off & door opener (pirsch), $22.50. 1 set tire chains, normally $15, no charge. One 3” hose leak stop (Akron), $8. 1 Foamite foam generator for F.D. service, $285 (reduced from $475). 2 extra electric hand searchlights, $33. Three 3-way small hose siamese for 3/4” hose lines, $24. One McCaa oxygen mask (2 hour), $230. One Copper 21/2” hose leak stop, $45. One 12’ pony rubber suction hose, $30. 1 M&M siphon (P.B. Mfg. Co.), $90. Total of $1087.50 in extras to Akron for $855.

March 22, 1937: Bid proposal from Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co. to Honorable City Purchasing Agent, Akron, Ohio, for one Model B-C triple combination centrifugal pumping engine, hose car, and booster equipment, built in accordance with specifications attached, for the sum of $14,347, less 2% discount if two pieces of apparatus purchased, less 5% for full cash payment on delivery. Delivery f.o.b. Akron, Ohio, shipment within 60 to 90 working days after receipt of contract. Proposal subject to withdrawal unless accepted within 15 days.
Proposal and price covered standard Ahrens-Fox 1000-gpm centrifugal pumper, plus the following exceptional requirements: 1 spare rim, 250’ of 3/4” hose (instead of standard 150’ of 1”), flashing warning light, extra axe, lantern with red globe & bracket, extra plaster hook, hose shut-off & door opener, 1 set tire chains, 3” hose leak stop, Foamite foam generator for F.D. service, two Grether #1 electric hand searchlights, three 3-way small hose siamese for 3/4“ line, 1 McCaa oxygen mask, one 21/2” Cooper hose leak stop, 12’ pony suction with couplings, M&M siphon (P.B. Mfg. Co.).
Standard features included 2-stage centrifugal pump (1250 gpm @ 120 psi, 1000 gpm @160 psi, 1/2 capacity @200 psi, 1/3 capacity @250 psi), two 6” x 10’ hard suctions, four 21/2” discharge gates, combination primer/booster pump, 6-cylinder motor (1103 cubic inch, 6” bore x 61/2” stroke, 220 bhp @1800 rpm, 86.4 hp NACC rating, dual overhead intake & exhaust valves, 5-ring pistons, 14” connecting rods), magneto & battery ignition systems, four-pole starter with Bendix drive. Standard lighting: headlights, tail lights, search light, side cowl flashers, rear hose pick-up lights, under-hood service light. 101/8” channel frame, 5/16” thick. 3” semi-elliptic springs, 42” front, 50” rear. Left-hand drive, Ross cam & lever gear. Timken worm-drive full-floating rear axle. 4-wheel hydraulic brakes, 868 square inch braking surface. 16” 4-shoe disk parking brake. 38 x 9 pneumatic or 9.75 x 20 balloon single tires, or 36 x 8 pneumatic or 9.00 x 20 balloon tires if single front & dual rear. 190” wheelbase. 19” single-plate dry friction clutch. Transmission 3 speeds forward & reverse, gear ratios 3.03 to 1, 1.62 to 1, 1.00 to 1, and 4.01 to 1 for reverse. Rear axle ratio 4.00 to 1. Hose body capacity 1200’ of 21/2” hose. Ladders 24’ rapid-hoist extension, 14’ roof with folding hooks. 10’ pike pole, 3’ crow bar, 6-pound pick-point fire axe, two electric F.D. lanterns. Two 21/2-gallon extinguishers, one each soda-acid & foam. 100-gallon booster tank, 150’ of 1” booster hose.

Alternative bid Model HC, same specifications & exceptional requirements, except motor 53/4” x 6”, 203 brake horsepower @ 2000 rpm. Certified check for $100 had to be attached to each bid submitted.

March 22, 1937: Bids for pumper, Akron, OH:

Make	Price	Cash	Both Rigs
Ahrens-Fox BC 14,347	5% off	2% off
Ahrens-Fox HC 11,847	5% off	2% off
Seagrave	14,450	5% off	2% off
ALF	14,550	5% off	2% off
Mack type 21	14,800	no discounts
Pirsch 14-BM	12,500 2% off	no discnt
General 18C	12,842	no discounts
Buffalo	12,500	5%	no discnt

March 26, 1937: Letter from Gordon H. Litchfield, Ahrens-Fox Pittsburgh sales agent, to Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co., Cincinnati:
“I need something that looks like a pump test on our Model BC in my work at Akron. Of course, we have no actual test report [since Ahrens-Fox never actually built a Model BC], but will you please figure out about what such a job would do & fill in the Engine to Pump ratio that we would use, and also the Engine & Pump RPMs for the 4 tests shown on the attached form.
“Please shoot this back to me in a hurry. Better still, please type 3 copies on the blank forms enclosed. (I imagine your supply of forms went “down the river.”) [Reference is to the Feb., 1937 Ohio River flood that damaged the Ahrens-Fox factory.] You can then send 2 copies back to me & keepthe other yourself, just in case.”

March 27, 1937: Letter from John P. Ahrens to Gordon H. Litchfield:
“We are in receipt of a Fire Bulletin giving us advance information which indicates that our bid at Akron for the 1250 gallon pump was the lowest which is $11,847. This is lower than any of our competitors. While I remember speaking to you that our Model HC would meet these requirements, nevertheless, I overlooked entirely that the Akron requirements were for 1250 gallons at 125# pressure. This price you must admit is extremely low, and if we should continue to make this quotation it would jeopardize our standard 1250 gallon pumper. So in the future we do not want to submit a bid again like the one we submitted at Akron.
“Some changes will be made in our price list, as the material is increasing in cost every day, and we must meet this increase. We are working on this now and expect to have the revisions of our prices in your hands within the next few days, but which is not to take effect until April 15th.
“We are indeed sorry that we did submit such a low bid at Akron, but now that it is done, we will have to abide by same.”

March 28, 1937: Gordon H. Litchfield’s reply to John Ahrens’ March 27 letter:
“As things turned out, our bid here on our Model HCV might better have been several hundred dollars higher, but beforehand, of course, there was no telling what the competitive bids might be.
“Our HC bid was principally a protective bid against Mack, Pirsch, Buffalo & General. I was particularly worried about Mack, who has a local Branch in Akron & are usually strong there. Last Nov., you may remember, they bid a net price of only $11,300 on their Model 21, 1000 gal. triple, & I expected they’d bid a similar figure this time. Lord knows why they had the highest bid of all of $14,800 net, unless they figure on spending plenty [in bribes/political favors] to get an order.
“Anyway, Mr. Ahrens, I don’t believe you need worry particularly about this HC bid of ours, be-cause if we get this pumper order, it will doubtless be for our BC rather than our HC.”

March 29, 1937: Letter from Ahrens-Fox Engineering Dept. to Gordon H. Litchfield, about Akron Model BC:
“In answer to yours of the 26th, the engine to pump ratio will remain 1 to 2.22. On your last visit, we worked out a 1250-gallon test on a Model HC and I have no record of same. Now rather than have one test on the BC with lower engine & pump RPM and the next one higher than the HC test sheet, subtract 20 to 25 Engine RPM on each test, and then multiply these new specs by 2.22 for the new pump RPM.”

April 10, 1937: Ahrens-Fox Model HC pumper ordered by Akron, OH.

September 8, 1937: Tested at Ahrens-Fox factory, Cincinnati, OH, by H.L. Krieger, Engineer, Ohio Inspection Bureau. 5’ lift on capacity test, 3’ lift on pressure test.
First Test, 6 hours, three 50’ lines of 21/2” hose siamesed into nozzle with 21/4” tip, gates throttled. 1275 gpm @ 126 psi. 1447 engine rpm, 3212 pump rpm.
Second Test, 3 hours, 100’ lines of 21/2” hose siamesed into nozzle with 15/8” tip, gates throttled. 632 gpm @ 201 psi. 1331 engine rpm, 2955 pump rpm.
Third Test, 3 hours, 100’ lines of 21/2” hose siamesed into nozzle with 13/8” tip, pipe with throttled gate between hose lengths. 426 gpm @ 255 psi. 1343 engine rpm, 2981 pump rpm.

September 10, 1937: Shipped to Akron, OH. Sale by Gordon Litchfield, Pittsburgh, PA. In service as Engine 1.

1971: On my visit to Akron, they no longer had any Ahrens-Foxes. Did not know when this one was retired or when it went.

Registered Number 9051

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank with two-door enclosed cab. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321801, 53/4” x 6”. Rated 1000 gpm @ 120 psi, 500 @ 200, 333 @ 250.

August 8, 1938: Shipped to Stamford, CT. Sale by Gordon Litchfield. Delivery photo #1025.

August 12, 1938: Tested at 10’ lift in Stamford, CT by Mr. Platt, National Board of Fire Underwriters.
First Test, three 100’ lines of 21/2” hose, 2” nozzle, 74 and 65 pitot. 1023 gpm @ 125 psi. Engine 1310 rpm.
Special Second Test, three 100’ lines of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzle, 100 pitot. 1340 gpm @ 130 psi. Engine 1500 rpm.
Third Test, 100’ line of 21/2” hose, 13/8” nozzle, 82 pitot. 507 gpm @ 200 psi. Engine 1218 rpm.
Fourth Test, 100’ line of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzle, 81 pitot. 335 gpm @ 255 psi. Engine 1286 rpm.
Special Fifth Test (for reserve capacity of pressure side), 100’ line of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzle, 125 pitot. 418 gpm @ 400 psi. Engine 1680 rpm.
Special Sixth Test (for reserve capacity of volume side), six 100’ lines of 21/2” hose, 11/8” nozzles. Pitot readings 52, 51, 65, 74, 64, and 74 psi at nozzles. 1783 gpm @ 105 psi (individual streams 268, 270, 302, 322, 299, and 322 gpm). Motor 1340 rpm. Hydrant pressure 70 psi.

1967: To reserve.

September, 1973: My father and I photoed this rig at Stamford, CT. It was still in reserve. Original motor had been replaced 6 or 7 years earlier. Had been in original paint (including Indian head log on cab doors) until repainted about 1971.

July 20, 1974: While at the New York City antique fire engine show, I learned that Stamford recently sold #9051 to O.B. Maxwell, a Maxim fire apparatus salesman in Hamden, CT.

Registered Number 9053

Model ICU SPEC quadruple combination centrifugal pumper, hose car, service ladder truck, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules RXCM motor #124007.

September 14, 1938: Shipped to Hampton, VA. Delivery photo #1026.

1981: Hampton still owns.

Registered Number 9055

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank with two-door enclosed cab. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor, 53/4” x 6”. Seagrave 4-stage centrifugal pump, 1000 gpm.

December 6, 1938: Delivered to Cincinnati, OH. Delivery photo #1034 (shows 9055-6-7 lined-up). In service as Engine 38.

1960s: Sold to Point Pleasant, KY.

circa-1970: Sold to Clay City, KY.

1981: Still in service at Clay City, KY.

Registered Number 9056

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank with two-door enclosed cab. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #321831, 53/4” x 6”. Seagrave 4-stage centrifugal pump, 1000 gpm.

December 6, 1938: Delivered to Cincinnati, OH. Delivery photo #1034 (shows 9055-6-7 lined-up). In service as Engine 37.

To Engine 7.

1960s: Sold to Point Pleasant, KY.

May, 1980: Sold for $3,000 to Dale Moone, Holley, NY.

June 19, 1980: At Point Pleasant firehouse, new owner Dale Moone, Scott Warthman of Brockport, NY (1916 M-2 #811), Ed Hass of Plainfield, NJ (1953 EC #9160), and Ahrens-Fox Co. owner Curt Nepper removed old #6 cylinder, which had spun a bearing and slightly scored the crankshaft. New piston and rod installed out of Ahrens-Fox parts stock, so Dale Moone could drive #9056 home from KY to NY. Chief at Point Pleasant is Bernard J. “Bernie” Marshall, 3618 O’Hara Rd., Erlanger, KY, phone 371-7302. Firehouse phone 283-2798

August 13, 1988: One of 4 Ahrens-Foxes at SPAAMFAA National muster, Rochester, NY.

Registered Number 9057

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank with two-door enclosed cab. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor, 53/4” x 6”. Seagrave 4-stage centrifugal pump, 1000 gpm.

December 6, 1938: Delivered to Cincinnati, OH. Delivery photo #1034 (shows 9055-6-7 lined-up). In service as Engine 49.

1960s: Sold to Lischkge Motors, Aurora, IN.

1976: Sold to Bill Clark, Cincinnati, OH.

1980: To junkyard, New Baltimore, OH. Rough, rusty, no front grille.

Registered Number 9062

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor, 53/4” x 6”.

January 27, 1939: Shipped to Quincy, IL. In service as Engine 2. Named Leo M. Leman. Delivery photo #1039. Sale by Robert R. Johnson, Peoria, IL.

Registered Number 9068

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor m#321865, 53/4” x 6”.

January 27, 1939: Shipped to Quincy, IL. In service as Engine 3. Named George W. Simon. Sale by Robert R. Johnson, Peoria, IL.

August, 1986: For sale. 1939 HC centrifugal pumper #9068, original owner, recently retired. Still fully-equipped and operable, original paint, one-of-a-kind hose body. Make offer. Chief James E. Doellman, Quincy Fire Dept., 906 Vermont, Quincy, Ill. 62301, phone (217) 228-4459.

Registered Number 9096

Model IC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank with two-door fully-enclosed all-steel 6-man cab (3 men in forward-facing front seat, 3 in rear-facing back seat, catwalk through hose body to rear seat). 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #347209, 53/4” x 6”, 238 bhp @ 2100 rpm, compression ratio 6.4 to 1, cast iron cylinder heads. 12-volt electric system, positive ground. Auto-Lite MR-4108 starter, GEH-5001-P2 generator #AO-19558, IGC-4064 distributor, and CM-4007 coil. Bosch MJA-6C-106 magneto. Voltage regulator #9A-001722. Willard DRG-15-6E 12-volt battery with battery-charging plug, 7/8” Champion #1 spark plugs (18 plugs, triple ignition). 13/4” Zenith 29-W-14 carburetor, AC 152208 fuel pump. Spicer/Brown-Lipe 7840 transmission #T377375. 14” Spicer 2-plate clutch. Timken axles: 26452-H front, #T-164839, Q-100-DPH rear #C164410 (52/7 to 1 axle ratio). Lockheed 173/4” x 3” brakes, Wagner FF-2980 master cylinder, B-K 374229 hydrovac. 3” Mather semi-elliptic springs. Ross TA-72090-DU steering #24054, 22” steering wheel. 11.25” Budd 32742-S 10-stud wheels. Firestone 10.00 x 20 tires, standard tread front, traction-lug tread rear. Dietz 6009-P searchlight and 709 rear hose pickup lights. Guide 528-F cowl flashers and 492-V tail lights. Federal 6-G siren. Vacuum windshield wipers. Two inner-control spotlights.

Hale ZMHD 2-stage centrifugal pump #11626, rated 750 gpm @ 150 psi, 525 @ 200, 375 @ 250. Engine-to-pump gear ratio 1 to 2.22. Two 5” x 10’ hard suction hoses, one on each side. 24’ extension and 14’ roof ladder on right side, 16’ extension ladder on left. 10’ plaster pole above left suction, 11/8” crow bar, pick-point fire axe. One each Foamcrest and Seotoo extinguishers. Two Carpenter J-24 electric hand lamps. 150’ of 1” booster hose, rear reel.

June 3, 1946: Ahrens-Fox construction list.

August 24, 1948: Certified by George W. Booth, Chief Engineer, National Board of Fire Underwriters, as able to meet the following performance criteria. This certification given without actually testing this rig, based on previous performance records of this rig and similar rigs.
First Test, in Parallel. 750 gpm @ 150 psi. Engine 1384 rpm, pump 3072 rpm.
Second Test, in Series. 525 gpm @ 200 psi. Engine 1220 rpm, pump 2708 rpm.
Third Test, in Series. 375 gpm @ 250 psi. Engine 1270 rpm, pump 250 rpm

September 27, 1948: Shipped to Salt Lake City, UT. Sale by R.K. LeBlond. Delivery photo #3048. In service as Engine 5.

circa-1972: To Spare.

July, 1978: My father photoed this rig. Stored at Fire Station 14 (drill tower).

1984: Junked.

Registered Number 9101

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and 150-gallon booster tank with 70”-wide two-door (3 man) semi cab, real leather upholstery. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #347211, 53/4” x 6”, 238 bhp @ 2100 rpm, 6.4 to 1 compression ratio. 12-volt electric system, positive ground; Auto-Lite MR-4108 starter, GEH-5001-P2 generator #AO-19907, CM-4007 coil, and IGC-4064 distributor; Stewart-Warner 659-K distributor drive; American Bosch MJA-6C-106 magneto with ICB-2A-20 40o impeller coupling; Willard 12-volt DRG-15-6Z battery. 18-mm Champion #8 spark plugs. 13/4” Zenith model 29-W-14 carburetor. Two fuel pumps, AC #1522208 and Auto-Pulse 521-D Duplex electric. Spicer-BL #7840 transmission, 14” Spicer 2-plate clutch. BK #D-64 release power cylinder with #370472 valve. Timken axles, 26452-H front #C308153, Q-100-DPM rear #B-169521 (52/7 to 1 rear axle ratio). 10-stud Budd #32742-5 steel disk wheels, 10.00 x 20 tires, single front, dual rear. Lockheed brakes, 171/4” x 3” front, 161/2” x 5” rear, 13/4” Wagner FF2980 master cylinder, BK #374229 hydrovac. Mather semi-elliptic springs, 3” x 48” front (3000 pound), 3” x 56” rear (5000 pound). Ross TA-71 steering, 22” steering wheel. Hosebed 66” wide, capacity 2000’ of 21/2” hose, single partition in center, two 21/2” suction inlets art rear. Rear reel with 200’ of 3/4” booster hose and Rockwood SG-40 fog/straight-stream nozzle. Inner body compartments on each side for 150’ of 11/2” hose. Dietz 6009-P spotlights on both sides of cowl; two Guide 528-F cowl lights; two Dietz 709 rear hose pickup lights; two Guide 492-V tail lights; chrome-plated Federal 77 siren with flasher light. Two American Bosch 12-volt electric windshield wipers. Battery charging plug left rear of hosebed. Duo-Safety 525-A aluminum 3-section 35’ extension ladder and 14’ roof ladder on right, 10’ plaster pole, two 6” x 10’ hard suctions, and two 21/2” x 10’ hard suctions on left. 11/8” crow bar, pick-point fire axe, two Carpenter WS Master electric hand lamps. One each 21/2-gallon pump can and DuGas T-30 chemical extinguishers. Peerless 21/2” hose clamp. Two 3” x 20’ soft suction hoses.

Hale ZMHD 2-stage series-parallel centrifugal pump #11973, 101/2” impeller, 2.22 to 1 gear ratio, rated 1000 gpm @ 120 psi.

October 24, 1946: Ordered by Boise, ID. Sale by R.K. LeBlond.

February 9, 1947: Letter from D.D. Peters, District Manager, Universal Safety Appliance Co., to Ahrens-Fox. Changing type of Akron nozzles to furnish (no longer want style 400). Mr. Niederheldem wrote to Akron Brass on March 12, to change the order. Now to be two Akron style 409 deck gun asemblies of style 414, easch assembly to have one 3/4”, one 7/8”, and one 1” beaded tips, and style 422 direct connection base with rocker lug couplings.

May 17, 1947: Ahrens-Fox construction list.

December 4, 1947: Shipped to Boise, ID. In service as Engine 5.

1977: Traded-in on new American LaFrance pumper to John Howell, Boise, ID.

Registered Number 9102

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and 200-gallon booster tank with two-door, 5-man fully-enclosed all-steel cab (731/2” cab width). 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #347516, 53/4” x 6”, 238 bhp @2100 rpm, cast iron cylinder heads, 6.4 to 1 compression ratio. 12-volt electric system, positive ground. Auto-Lite MR-4108 starter, GEH-5001-P2 generator #90025546, IGC-4064 distributor, and CM-6001 coil. American Bosch MJA-60-106-RH magneto. Willard BRG-3B-102 12-volt battery,18-mm Champion #8 spark plugs. Two 13/4” Zenith 29-W-14 carburetors, AC 1522208 fuel pumps, 45-gallon gas tank. Spicer B/L 7840 transmission #T-406232. 14” Spicer 2-plate clutch. Houde A-14728 and A-14729 hydraulic front shock absorbers. Timken axles: 26452-H front #C-408352, Q-100-DPH rear #C-953406 (52/7 to 1 axle ratio). Lockheed 171/4” x 3” brakes, Wagner FF-2980 master cylinder, B-K 374229 hydrovac. Mather semi-elliptic springs, 3” x 48” front, 3” x 56” rear. Ross TA-71 steering, 22” steering wheel. 11.25” Budd 32742-S 10-stud wheels, U.S. Royal 10.00 x 20 12-ply tires, single front, dual rear. 66”-wide hose body, capacity 1500’ of 21/2” hose, rear battery charging plug. 200’ of 1” booster hose on reel at top front of body. Cadmium-plated diamondette steel tread plate running boards and rear platform. Trico vacuum windshield wipers.
Guide lights: 612-P sealed-beam headlamps, 528-F cowl flashers, 492-V tail lights. Dietz 709 rear hose pick-up lights. 12-volt light under hood. 10’ plaster pole on left under suctions, 11/8” crow bar, pick-point fire axe, 2 Carpenter J-24 electric hand lamps. 2 Unity 100 12-volt inner-control spotlights. Two 6” x 10’ hard suction hoses, one 4” x 12’ soft suction hose.
Hale ZMHD 2-stage series-parallel centrifugal pump #11969, rated 1250 gpm @120 psi, 625 @200, 417 @250. Gear ratio 1 to 2.22, 101/2” impeller, Hale 63686 relief valve, rear 41/2” suction inlet, 6” suction inlet left side.
Fire extinguishers: 5-gallon General Quick-Aid PC-909 Fire Guard pump tank (copper body, chrome plated); 20-pound CO-Two PSH-20 portable (painted red). Duo-Safety aluminum ladders: 525-A 35’ 3-section extension on right, 775-A 13’ roof with folding hooks, 700-A 22’ 2-section extension. Federal 77 double-tone coaster siren with grille (no light), at front, behind radiator grille. Federal 17 Beacon Ray light at top of cab, high enough for light to be seen 360-degrees. Bell under hood.
Painted KEM Ahrens-Fox 101 red enamel. Hood lettered CITY OF RIVER ROUGE. No letters or numbers on cab doors.

July 13, 1946: Ordered by River Rouge, MI.

December 16, 1947: Was to be shipped to River Rouge, MI.

December 3, 1948: Ahrens-Fox construction list. Last engineering change order appended to this list dated Feb. 8, 1949, so this rig was obviously not shipped to River Rouge until at least late Feb., 1949, not Dec. 1947 as promised. Chief was Philip L. Goneia.

1974: Out of service.

1982: Sold for $4,000 to Dennis A. Allenbaugh, 334 Goodell St., River Rouge, MI 48218.

1987: Owner is Dennis A. Allenbaugh, P.O. Box 6246, Lincoln Park, MI 48146.

Registered Number 9104

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank.189” wheelbase, 96” width. Weight 15,750 pounds (8500 pounds on rear wheels), 10.00 x 20 balloon tires. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #347210, 53/4” x 6”, 238 bhp @ 2100 rpm, compression ratio 6.4 to 1. Dual ignition, Auto-Lite distributor, American Bosch magneto, Willard 12-volt battery (168 ampere hours). Two Zenith 29-W-14 down-draft carburetors, 40-gallon fuel tank under seat, with mechanical fuel pump. Transmission gear ratios 0.77 to 1 overdrive, 1.00 to 1 high, 2.06 to 1 second, 3.72 to 1 first, 4.84 to 1 reverse. Differential gear ratio 5.28 to 1. Hale ZMHD 1000-gpm centrifugal pump #11968.

July 17, 1946: Ordered by Live Oak Engine Co. #1, Elmsford, NY.

September 16, 1948: Shipped to Live Oak Engine Co. #1, Elmsford, NY. Price $12,987 plus $175 trade-in of 1923 R-K-4 #1143 (which Griesser sold for $875 to Clifton Heights, PA). Sale by Frank Griesser, Bogota, NJ.

October 4, 1948: Delivered to Elmsford, NY.

October 23, 1948: Griesser received payment in full from Elmsford, NY.

June 23, 1973: One of 18 Ahrens-Foxes at Fairchester Hose Haulers muster, Kensico Dam, Valhalla, NY.

1980: Sold.

1991: Owner is Mike Kelleher, 39 Belleview Drive, Derby, CT 06418.

2002: For sale as parts rig, by Bob Sullivan, Haverstaraw, NY.

Registered Number 9109

Model HC centrifugal pumper, hose car, and 150-gallon booster tank with four-door enclosed cab. 6-cylinder Hercules HXE motor #347212, 53/4” x 6”, 238 bhp @ 2100 rpm, compression ratio 6.4 to 1. Hale ZMHD 2-stage, Parallel-Series centrifugal pump #12988, rated 1000 gpm @ 150 psi, 700 @ 200, 500 @ 250. Top speeds 59 m.p.h. overdrive, 46 m.p.h. high, 23 m.p.h. second gear, 13 m.p.h. first, and 9 m.p.h. in reverse.

May 23, 1946: Bid proposal from Frank X. Griesser, representative, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Corp., to Friendship Fire Co. #2, Royersford, PA, for one Ahrens-Fox Model H-C Special 1000 Gallon per Minute, Centrifugal type, triple combination pumper, Hose Car, and Booster Apparatus. Price $16,670.28, of which $4,000 to be paid upon acceptance of this contract, and $12,670.28 to be paid within 30 days after delivery & acceptance of apparatus. Delivery f.o.b. Royersford, PA. Shipment from factory within 200 working days after receipt of contract.

May 31, 1946: Ordered by Friendship Fire Co. #2, Royersford, PA. Contract signed by John H. Keiter, President, and Thomas W. Thompson, Secretary. Also signed by Frank X. Griesser for Ahrens-Fox.

August, 1946: Contract accepted by R.N. Smith, vice president, Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Corp.

June 8, 1950: Tested from 12’ lift at Pigeon Creek, near Parkerford, by R.P. Wentzel, Engineer, Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters, 401 Walnut St., Philadelphia 6, PA.
First Test, 2 hours. Two 50’ lines of 21/2” hose, 13/4” and 11/4” nozzles, throttled. 1000 gpm @ 159 psi. Engine 1471 rpm, pump 3266 rpm.
Second Test, 30 minutes. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 13/4” nozzle, throttled. 704 gpm @ 206 psi. Engine 1664 rpm, pump 3694 rpm.
Third Test, 30 minutes. 50’ line of 21/2” hose, 11/4” nozzle, throttled. 514 gpm @ 2596 psi. Engine 1385 rpm, pump 2074 rpm.

June 10, 1950: Delivered to Friendship Fire Co. #2, Royersford, PA. Price $16.958.80.

July 20, 1950: Griesser received payment in full from Royersford, PA.

1966: Sold to Soddy-Daisy, TN.

November 30, 1974: Dr. Thomas H. Scott, 26 Montclair Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37820, writes that #9109 is sitting outdoors behind Soddy-Daisy city hall.

1982: Repowered with GM diesel motor.

Registered Number 9118

Model IC SPECIAL centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Waukesha model 145-GZ motor #715029.

April 27, 1948: Shipped to Dallas, TX. In service as Engine 6. Delivery photos #3032 & 3033.

April, 1953: Fire Engineering magazine, page 282 (also September, 1953 page 710; August, 1954 page 636; December, 1954 page 1110; February, 1955; September, 1955 page 813; October, 1955 page 971; February, 1956, page 113; and June, 1956, page 473)—Photo of a 1948 Ahrens-Fox IC SPECIAL of Dallas, TX in Waukesha motors ad.

To Spare Engine 7.

November, 1975: Sold to ARO Company, Dallas, TX.

Sept.-Oct., 1979: Firehouse magazine—For Sale. 9 good working fire engines, 500-1,000 GPM. Write ARO, 9816 Angora, Dallas, Texas 75218.

Registered Number 9119

Model IC SPECIAL centrifugal pumper, hose car, and booster tank. 6-cylinder Waukesha model 145-GZ motor #712675.

June 9, 1948: Shipped to Dallas, TX. In service as Engine 9.

December, 1956: Fire Engineering magazine, page 1157—Show 4 Ahrens-Fox centrifugal pumpers at a fire in Dallas, TX. Three of these were Engines 9 (#9119), 1 (#9154), and 35 (#9156), fourth one unidentified.

To Spare Engine 16.