keninman Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) I found this picture last night. I am the child on the left on top of the Ford fire truck. The picture was taken at Bicknell Indiana I believe the parade was on Labor Day 1969 for their centennial. This would have been on my 4th birthday or the day after. Directly behind the Ford fire engine is a very unusual fire truck. I wish I could zoom it more but it doesn't get any clearer. Does anyone have any idea what it might be? Edited April 19, 2021 by keninman I am on the left not the right (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 It’s a 1920’s Ahrens Fox four piston pumper. Neat truck, but not unusual.......it was their standard set up. Google it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninman Posted April 19, 2021 Author Share Posted April 19, 2021 I would say that I have never seen one before but obviously I was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) They were a very high end and good machine, particularly cherished by their fans.......they have a unique look. Maybe I should add they consider them the “Duesenberg” of fire trucks. Edited April 19, 2021 by edinmass (see edit history) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninman Posted April 19, 2021 Author Share Posted April 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, edinmass said: They were a very high end and good machine, particularly cherished by their fans.......they have a unique look. Bicknell, IN was a booming community in the 1920s with a population of about 7600. Coal mining and agriculture provided most employment. Of course over the years the coal has petered out and ag doesn't need as many workers as it use to. Bicknell's population when this pic was taken had fallen to abt. 3700, today it is around 2800. BTW the Ford I am on was purchase new by the Sandborn volunteer fire department in 1969. It doesn't even have any lettering on it yet in the picture. I sure appreciate your help in identifying the truck behind us. I would really be interested to know what became of it or the one that is bringing up the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 On the front of the engine was a piston pump to pump the water onto the fire. That chrome ball was an air cushion shockabsorber that softened the punch because of the extreme pressure the pump put out. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) Vandergrift Museum in Vandergrift PA. has a 1925 Ahrens Fox fire truck in the museum. Painted muck colored green. Belonged to the Vandergrift fire department. Steering the thing takes two men and a boy!!! Edited April 19, 2021 by dalef62 (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m-mman Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 7 hours ago, sagefinds said: On the front of the engine was a piston pump to pump the water onto the fire. That chrome ball was an air cushion shock absorber that softened the punch because of the extreme pressure the pump put out. The piston type pump put out extreme pressures that could propel a water stream 4-5 stories (maybe more?) A huge advantage if your community has tall buildings. Other fire pumpers (Not actually "trucks" those carried the ladders) used centrifugal pumps. A good solid stream but not enough for a tall building. The chrome ball evened out the pressure strokes, without it, the hose nozzle would have a kickback like firing a huge gun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3macboys Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I think this video has been posted on here before but here's a similar unit in Chicago running and pumping: 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 There is also one in Allendale, MI in the fire museum there. It is next to West Shore Services. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzcarnerd Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 20 minutes ago, 3macboys said: I think this video has been posted on here before but here's a similar unit in Chicago running and pumping: Chassis flex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 There was one in the Huntington long island area . This is on the north shore on long island sound. They used to drop a line in Huntington Harbor and pump the water out up the hillside to put fires out! Extreme pressures - Yes indeed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 I encountered this 1924 Ahren-Fox T54 receiving its first post-restoration fill-up in Oct 2014. Owned by Doug Klink, who operates the non-profit Reliance Fire Museum in Estes Park, Colorado. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted April 20, 2021 Share Posted April 20, 2021 The day you set aside to shine the chrome on that thing is a day you're not going to get much else done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 10 hours ago, sagefinds said: The day you set aside to shine the chrome on that thing is a day you're not going to get much else done. Chrome or Nickel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagefinds Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 I would say chrome on that one now because of the harder surfacing and it looks like chrome. In 1924 I think chrome was at least starting to come into favor. The 1928 Cadillac headlights were nickeled,1929 were chromed if memory serves. I've been down to Doug Klink's shop and museum just down in Northern Colorado,in fact I bought one of those big chrome? or nickel? balls from him,thought I couldn't live without one,if I see him again I'll ask him. I think mine is nickel. It's brass over heavy steel,pretty weighty and awkward to move around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninman Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 (edited) Oddly enough I discovered a TV series about restorations and their 1st episode is one of these fire trucks. I bought the season on Amazon since it looks good and I don't usually watch TV. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B071GMTCGJ/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s1 https://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/apr/02/ultimate-restorations-ahrens-fox-kansas-city-treas/ Edited June 8, 2021 by keninman (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwells Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 The Ultimate Restorations Ahrens-Fox is the engine Doug Klink restored, the one I showed earlier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) Not unusual for PUMPER trucks to have the equipment mounted on the front. Craig Edited June 9, 2021 by 8E45E (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 (edited) The City of Providence kept their Ahrens fox pumper at the Fire Barn on the south side of the city for years after it had been officially retired. That pump was the only one in the city that would reach the taller buildings. The City of Pawtucket had one also...I would pass it every day on my way to school (this would have been in the late 50s and early 60s). In warmer weather they'd leave the door open so we could always see it. Edited June 10, 2021 by JV Puleo (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobinVirginia Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 Super cool! My Dad was a fireman for 34 years and as a kid I would climb all over the old trucks! I’d never heard of an Ahren so thanks for the education on them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hagy Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 Most likely this is a 1926 Ahrens-Fox that was in service at Vincennes, Indiana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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