American Fire Engines Since 1900

Engineering & Transportation

McCall, Walter

Automotive

Crestline Publishing

The most complete, in-depth book on hearses and funeral cars ever! Beginning with horse drawn, highly ornate hearses up to today's motorized vehicles, this book takes you through the complete history of 20th Century hearses. Follow the overall style development from the early carved-panel columned and draped designs, through the limousine-styled Funeral Coach and side-loaders, through the sleek designs that have led to today's hearses.Photos and History on Henney, Eureka, A.J. Miller, Superior, and history of other large and small hearse-builders like Barnette, Economy, Memphian, etc., and the growth and decline of many of these companies. Over 300 high quality photos combined with in-depth text present the most complete history and evolution of motorized hearses ever. A must have book for all automotive enthusiasts.Includes an index of all the important past and present hearse and conversion builders in North America.

American Funeral Vehicles 1883-2003: An Illustrated History

McCall, Walter M.P.

Ertel Publishing, Inc.

From the creation of the American-LaFrance Fire Engine Co. in 1904 through the company's latest deliveries in 2004, McCall provides insight into the company's often complex corporate history with emphasis on the development of ALF motor fire apparatus. Comparisons to its competitors help explain the various development stages in apparatus style and components. Detailed, historic photographs show the wide variety of apparatus produced by ALF over the last century. A color gallery portrays the ALF colorful designs that remain popular for U.S fire departments today. The story wouldn't be complete without a chapter on ALFCO's Canadian Cousin, LaFrance Fire Engine &amp; Foamite Ltd. An appendix explains the various types and series and the time period they were built. An outline of the various names the company went through is also

100 Years of American LaFrance

The 1930s was the decade of style – an era of streamlining and bold, futuristic art deco design that influenced the look of everything from jewelry, furniture and skyscrapers to locomotives, ships, automobiles, and Fire engines. Calendar year 1938 was an epochal one for new product development by America’s largest manufacturer of motor fire apparatus, as the company introduced its first hydraulically-operated all-steel aerial ladder along with the industry’s first compact, cab-forward aerial ladder truck. But the biggest news that eventful year was its ultra-streamlined 500 Series fire apparatus. With its dramatically clean styling the art deco 500 Series suddenly made everything else look old-fashioned.This authoritative, superbly researched and lavishly illustrated book documents the American-LaFrance 500 and 600 Series’ remarkable nine-year production run from the late 1930s through the years immediately following the Second World War. In addition to the big 500/600 Series, the book also covers the lesser known “junior edition” B-500 and B-600 Series. Long overdue, this exciting compendium is the only book ever devoted exclusively to this controversial series and completes another fascinating chapter in American-LaFrance history.

American LaFrance 500/600 Series: Photo Archive

Transportation

Of all the companies that built motor fire apparatus in America in the 20th century, none has acquired the cult-like devotion accorded the unique products of the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. With its front-mounted piston pump surmounted by a gleaming spherical air chamber, the Ahrens-Fox piston pumper projects irresistible aesthetic and mechanical appeal. Fire apparatus aficionados and collectors have all but elevated the truly distinctive Ahrens-Fox piston pumper to a firefighting deity. Noted fire apparatus historian and author Walt McCall has selected the best of the best for this photographic tribute to a legendary nameplate—including the milestone Continental, mighty six-piston Models PS, BT and what is arguably the most beautiful fire engine ever made in America, the classic, semi-streamlined Model HT. A supplemental gallery of 30 color photos showcases some of the finest surviving Ahrens-Foxes.

Ahrens-Fox Fire Apparatus Photo Archive

Throughout history, flowers have accompanied the deceased to their final resting place. At first, flowers were carried in the hearse with the casket, or in a separate carriage. With the advent of the automobile funeral, flowers were transported to the church or cemetery in big touring cars with their tops let down. But in the1930s an entirely new kind of funeral vehicle -- the Flower Car -- blossomed in America. Flower cars were built on all makes of chassis, from luxury Packards, Cadillacs, LaSalles and Buicks to Pontiacs and Chevy El Caminos. The only book ever dedicated to these unique professional cars documents the evolution of the flower car from the 1930s to the long, low coupes de fleur still being built today. A bonus feature includes a section on the other workhorse of the funeral home fleet, the Service Car, which transported the deceased from home or hospital to the funeral parlor and hauled caskets and other funeral service paraphernalia to the church or cemetery.

Funeral Service & Flower Cars Photo Archive

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.

The Evolution of Aerial Fire Apparatus (Illustrated History)

From the late 1930s through the mid-1980s, it was truly the Cadillac of Cadillacs—the car of choice for the titans of American business, government and the entertainment industry. The stately long-wheelbase Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Eight-Passenger Sedan and Imperial Limousine occupied an exalted niche at the very pinnacle of the automotive pecking order in the U.S. and abroad. Whatever the destination—embassy, corporate head office, hotel, airport or Hollywood red carpet—when one arrived in a Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five, one had truly arrived! Introduced in 1937, Cadillac’s new Series 75 included 11 Fleetwood body styles ranging from coupes and convertibles to a seven-passenger touring sedan. In 1938, the restyled Series 75 got what was destined to become its signature body style —a severely formal long-wheelbase sedan and companion limousine. Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five business sedans and limousines quickly won favor with commercial livery operators and funeral directors, challenging rival Packard’s long domination of this small but prestigious market. By 1941 the Fleetwood Seventy-Five name was reserved exclusively for General Motors Corporation’s flagship car—the long-wheelbase formal sedan and companion limousine with glass division.

Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Series Limousines 1937-1987 Photo Archive

McPherson, Thomas

From Abbott &amp; 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.

Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers

Weller Brothers was one of no fewer than four independent hearse and ambulance conversion businesses that flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Unlike most other coachbuilders, Weller designed and fabricated hearses and ambulances on virtually any make of car supplied by the customer. The result was an astonishing variety of one-of-a-kind professional cars on nearly every marque sold by the U.S. big three, including Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile – and at least one Packard!

Weller Brothers of Memphis (American Coachbuilders)

History

Americas

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by McCall, Walter. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by McCall, Walter