The Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company was an Ohio-based

fire truck A fire engine (also known in some places as a fire truck or fire lorry) is a road vehicle (usually a truck) that functions as a firefighting apparatus. The primary purposes of a fire engine include transporting firefighters and water to an i ...

manufacturer. The company was founded in 1910 by John P Ahrens and Charles H Fox and built its first motorized fire engine in 1911. By the end of the following year production of horse-drawn

fire apparatus A firefighting apparatus describes any vehicle that has been customized for use during firefighting operations. These vehicles are highly customized depending on their needs and the duty they will be performing. These duties can include firefigh ...

ceased completely. Since then, over 1500 pieces of fire apparatus were built until 1977. Ahrens-Fox fire engines were recognizable by the chromed sphere above the pump that held air and smoothed the outgoing pressure fluctuations from the piston pump. During the year 1913 only, Ahrens-Fox built a 44 hp (following then- actual rating practice) automobile. Like at rival

American LaFrance American LaFrance (ALF) was an American vehicle manufacturer which focused primarily on the production of fire engines, fire aerials, and emergency apparatus such as ambulance and rescue vehicles. Originally located in Elmira, New York, the fi ...

, the idea was to sell these cars to bigger fire brigades as a car of duty for their chiefs. Also like at ALF, it was not successful for Ahrens-Fox either, although for Ahrens-Fox the results were more consequential; there was only one model, a huge six-cylinder called the ''E-C Battalion Roadster''. It was guaranteed to go faster than 50 mph, and featured a four speed gearbox. A small pickup bed was added for some items that were thought to be useful for the head of a fire brigade, and was included in the base price. Only six of these roadster-pickups were built during 1913; it seems all stayed in Cincinnati. Ahrens-Fox abandoned the idea and never returned to it. Today, Ahrens-Fox and all of its assets, parts, and paper is owned by W. Kenneth Menke III, president of the Fire Products Company (Powerarc),

Webster Groves, Missouri Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the main campus of Webster University. Geography Webster Groves is located at ( ...

. The Ahrens-Fox name is licensed to

HME, Incorporated HME, Incorporated (Hendrickson Mobile Equipment) is a custom fire engine manufacturer in Michigan. The company was founded in as the ''Hendrickson Motor Truck Company'' by Mangus Hendrickson. Hendrickson Motor Truck Company was purchased by T ...

, which also manufactured Hendrickson Trucks. The old Ahrens-Fox factory at 214 East 14th Street in

Over-the-Rhine Over-the-Rhine (often abbreviated as OTR) is a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Historically, Over-the-Rhine has been a working-class neighborhood. It is among the largest, most intact urban historic districts in the United State ...

has been converted into luxury condominiums.

Notes

References

External links

Official Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company website
{{Authority control Fire service vehicle manufacturers Emergency services equipment makers Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Ohio Defunct companies based in Cincinnati Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1868 1868 establishments in Ohio