Olivetroad Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 I have some way off cousins that own a potato chip factory here in Fulton, MO. Their father was a avid old car collector and they have a museum set up to hold some of his goodies. The blushing bride was about to have a pregnancy related breakdown and needed some nap time, so I took the kiddos out to tour it the other day. They had three firetrucks there (no Mack ones - sorry!). Here are some photos of the firetrucks, two of them are outside unrestored and the one inside looks like it just came off the factory floor and is ready to go fight a fire:Here are the two outside - The ladder truck reads RENO on the side - did it come from Nevada?They have a neat old delivery truck from the 40's they used to use, those are my kiddos:They have a 1947 Diamond T pickup all restored:They have about 80 of his cars on display, no one really knows how many he owned! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 The A-F in restored condition would bring 80-100 K at an auction. They are definitely the most sought after fire apparatus by collectors. Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115199 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 The Ahrens Fox appears to be about a 1922-1924 maybe an R-K-4. Agreed, yes they were certainly the "caddy" of fire apparatus back in their day.The Tiller is a 700 Series American Lafrance, and the pumper is an Anniversary Series Seagrave. Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115202 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Here is a picture I took at the Fire Museum of Maryland's "Gathering of Ahrens Fox Fire Apparatus" held last May 21, 2011. It was the largest (known) gathering of Ahrens Fox apparatus. Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115203 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 For you 2-Strokers out there....(with emphasis on "strokers") here is a 1927 AF that had the original straight-8 AF gas engine pulled sometime in the 1950's and replaced with a lawn-boy. Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115205 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivetroad Posted April 20, 2012 Author Share Posted April 20, 2012 Why were the Ahrens Fox so sought after then and now? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115206 Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarnall Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I want an ahrens fox piston pumper so bad it hurts. I wouldn't mind a diamond t 201 either. Thanks for the pics.MikePeople want them because they are awesome. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115207 Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I want more U models so bad it hurts. I want them cause there awesome. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115209 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Why were the Ahrens Fox so sought after then and now?Olive: back then they were the Caddy, or Mercedes-Benz of firetrucks, built like brick shithouses with pride and love. They built their own engines, drivelines, pumps, bodies, etc and everything was QUALITY. There are many stories of AF's that have pumped water onto huge conflagrations for days on end with refuelings and occasional shut-downs to check oil levels. Nowadays they are highly sought as they are pretty rare. Anyone who finds one though better have deep pockets, due to the fact that they built all their own parts, which of course are now hard to find.AF's were known world-wide for their polished chrome "Pressure Equalization Sphere"or the "giant chrome ball." Due to the physics of piston pumpers, the hoselines can pulsate as the pistons slam up and down. AF developed and patented the spheres- the water would be first pumped into the sphere, (I am not sure of the physics of how it works) which would absorb the pulses, the water would then go to the separate discharges and into the hoselines. Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115210 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I want more U models so bad it hurts. I want them cause there awesome.Wait till you discover girls, especially redheads. "U model? whats a u model?" Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115211 Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Nope. Macks, especially U models. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115212 Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarnall Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Wait till you discover girls, especially redheads. "U model? whats a u model?"I had a red head. I'd rather have a U model than another red head and I don't even like U models(sorry vinny). I'll stick with Macks and my brunette.Mike Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115226 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 That's an amazing collection, the kids don't seem to mind either.Great info on Ahrens Fox, I'd never heard of the name until now. Quote Jim Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115250 Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Yep Mike is right. Brunettes are the best.(if I had to have one) Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115251 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 The dome is an air chamber that dampens the pulsations of the piston pump. Air on one side of the diaphram and the pressurized water on the other. As the water enters the dome it compresses the air.The classic A-F piston pumpers are popular with collectors because they are so unique and extraordinarily beautiful with that big chrome dome on the front. Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/24592-three-old-firetrucks/#findComment-115353 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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