Fire Engines Photos

Yes, Pete, I have noticed, on this 'Site, that quite a few of the USA Engines of this vintage are Right Hand Drive, including the Aherns-Fox "The Rolls-Royce of Fire Engines" [that's what the book's title says!]
I have wondered if it was to enable the Driver/Engineer to easily spot the rig at the hydrant curb-side, and likely have the Pump Panel on that side, too.
Or was it just a slow change-over, from horse-drawn engines; and the Driving Position was a matter of debate.
Perhaps, our USA contributors can give us the "good gen" on this subject.
Regards,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat_R-B on 23 June 2008.

Before Henry Ford, most cars and trucks were right-hand drive, or right in tye center (like on Christie fire engine tractors 1912-1918); the Model T put the steering wheel on the left, and the auto industry soon followed Ford's example. Truck and fire engine manufacturers took another 20 years to catch up tro left hand steering, and even after WW II, American-LaFrance put the pump operator's panel on the right (curb) side whene everyione else had moved the pump operator's station to the left side.

Added by Ed Hass on 04 December 2008.

Hello there, I belong to the Princeton Fire & Rescue from Princeton Minnesota and we still have the first fire truck that the fire dept. bought along time ago and it is a 1924 Wilcox trux and we are looking for someone near Minnesota that might know something about these old trucks and might know someone that would be able to restore something like this.

Added by Brad Hodgson Princeton Fire & Rescue on 06 February 2009.

Hello, I am FF J Bledsoe from the Casper Fire Dept. Casper Wy. We have a 1918 Type 12 that we are restoring. The problem is that the operators manual and the shop manual have dissapered into the sands of time. Could you tell me wear I mite find any info on these? P.S. your 24 looks great, hope ours turns out as nice.

Added by Jeremy Bledsoe on 18 February 2009.

Hallo.Could somebody tell me what year of manufacture is an American La France manufacture No. 4611. It looka very much like the No.7998 shown on the picture.Thanks

Added by Jorge Ramirez on 18 February 2011.

Regarding the ex-Oshkosh, WI ALF rig you're showing, you might want to change the verbage to 'Triple' Combination rather than 'Trible'. Nice rig, incidentally!

Added by Herb Weyers on 02 April 2013.

In the UK, it was always preferred to operate dual center and rear side controlled pumps from the left side, because this was uaually the kerb side of the truck, and this SOP placed the pump operator out of the traffic. The dual controls also offered the option of the operator maving to the right side if the pumper was facing against prevailing traffic.

Most North American pumpers have a mid mount pump with a single left side control panel - which tends to place the operator right in the traffic flow most of the time. Would it not be safer to have the pump panel on the right side, if not install dual panels?

Added by Rob Johnson on 08 August 2014.

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