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From Abbott & Downing to Zwak, this comprehensive volume combines company histories, innovations and hundreds of photographs to present the story of American fire engine manufacturing. The objective of this book was to compile as comprehensive and complete a list as possible of the known players—the hundreds of companies that produced more than just one or two fire trucks, and which operated as continuous fire apparatus manufacturing and sales enterprises. In the main this book is an alphabetical listing of dedicated motor fire apparatus builders—companies that designed and built pumpers, ladder trucks, rescue and other types of motor fire apparatus in their own factories—from the frame-up on their own custom chassis or on commercially-available domestic truck chassis. Also included are a number of commercial chassis makers such as International, Freightliner, Kenworth and Peterbilt which forged special alliances with various fire apparatus builders, and which sometimes made and marketed fire apparatus under their own names. This encyclopedia is a vital reference source for libraries, fire station, historians, fire apparatus enthusiasts, and anyone involved in or enamored with the fire apparatus industry. ...
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An inventive machinist in the San Francisco Fire Department repair shop, Daniel D. Hayes patented the first successful aerial ladder in America in 1868. At first these heavy ladders were raised by hand, by firefighters furiously turning cranks and handwheels. Early in the new century coil springs took the muscle work out of hoisting the aerial ladder and soon hydraulic power replaced manpower entirely. In the 140 years since they were introduced, aerial ladders have undergone continuous evolution and improvement. In the late 1950s, aerial firefighting in America was revolutionized by the introduction of the elevating platform. Today, firefighters battle major fires with massive aerial towers and telescopic aerial ladders. The only book wholly devoted to the evolution of aerial firefighting, this lavishly-illustrated volume by one of America’s most respected fire apparatus historians and authors covers them all: from long hook-and-ladder trucks drawn by straining three-horse hitches, early aerial ladders and the aerial’s heavy-artillery cousin—the water tower. Included are four-wheel service aerials, glamorous tillered tractor-trailer types, compact rearmounts and versatile quintuple combinations. ...
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