Fire Engines Photos

I remember this appliance. It was an attempt for US manafacturers to enter the UK market. It was one of the first american appliances to have the locker arrangement and ladder stowage as we know it to be.
I wonder where it went?

Added by Simon Gunning on 16 February 2010.

I have never seen or heard about thin machine...any further info please

Added by Barrie Green on 16 February 2010.

picture #21909 shows another 'Spartan' idea.

SMI, Spartan Motors Inc, as it is known now; got its start in 1976 in Michigan state, USA, as Spartan Chassis.

Since then, it has grown and bought out other manufacturers - now builds chassis and bodies for specialty vehicles such as Fire Engines, Ambulances, Armoured Vehicles. 'Crimson Fire' is one of their brands.

Sure would love to see more pics/info on this model; wonder if they tried the continental Europe market, as well?

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B



Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 18 February 2010.

@Pat

Indeed they did. There is one Spartan pumper from 1992/1993 still on the run in Cracow, Poland. It spent most of its 'working life' at Cracow's Station 1 (Old Town), but last year it was moved to FS 3 (in the north-western part of the city). Another Rosenbauer-bodied Spartan was on the run in Czestochowa, but according to my info it was withdrawn from service, further details unknown.

E-One, on the other hand, enjoyed a temporary success in 1993. It sold 3 Hurricane quints (2x for Cracow, 1x for Warsaw), 3 Hush pumpers (1x Cracow, 2x Warsaw), 2 Ford L8000 heavy rescues (Gniezno, Lidzbark Warm.) and 3 Ford SuperDuty 4x4 light appliances (Poznan, Warsaw, Grodzisk Mazowiecki). One 'American-style' Ford Explorer SUV was also delivered to the Main Fire Service College in Warsaw. E-One were planning to start assembling its machines in Mielec, PL, but, as there were no further orders for the American monsters, this never happened. Many of the appliances listed above had already been withdrawn from their original stations, mostly ending up at volunteer units.

I'll try to get some photos of the E-One machines in Poland posted on F.E.P. soon ;)

Added by Konrad Nowak on 21 February 2010.

Konrad, thanks, as ever - you have the info.

Sounds like, in above; that you have experienced the classic aggressive sales-men seeking "The Global Market".

These big American fire-engines would not be able to work in so many of your very old villages and towns; due to narrow streets and cramped areas....

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 24 February 2010.

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