Ahrens-Fox. The name alone conjures images of long, graceful fire engines, chrome gleaming in the light, water being pumped seemingly effortlessly. Often referred to as the “Rolls Royce” of fire engines, Ahrens-Fox apparatus was known for a high level of craftsmanship and impressive build quality. The other Ahrens-Fox calling card was the large pressure dome, or air chamber, placed in front of the engine. More on that in a moment… Like many fire apparatus manufacturers in the

The Repair Shop, a valuable asset of any fire department, has been a mainstay in many cities for more than a century. Often, the duties of “the Shop” have been replaced by a city garage, or in some cases contracted out to private companies. Whereas the Shop worked only on the apparatus of the fire department, a municipal garage may work on buses, garbage trucks, snow plows, and police cars, in addition to fire department vehicles. During the early to mid-twentieth century, it