Where's the Fire - Part II

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Where's the Fire- Part II

   When I started to collect images for today's continuation of  the toy fire truck, I realized how big a task this would be. Nevertheless, I figured once I started, I might as well continue. 

   The history of the fire wagon (horse drawn), and later to evolve into the "fire truck", the history of toys,  fire wagons and trucks, and the history of America are all intertwined. To write exclusively about just American toys would be an injustice, without adding the other 3 related topics. Moreover, the history of the fire-fighting wagon or cart moves a bit "slower"than the others.  Don't worry, if you don't understand this last statement, I'll explain later!

   While starting this 3-part series, I  should have realized that cast iron toys moved at a different page from history. In history, Europe had already made and was producing tin toys and pressed steel. They even were producing lithographed tin toys in the early 1900's. America for the most part (there were exceptions) was producing a majority of cast iron toys. And cast iron toys moved with American history for the most part.

    In part I of this "Where's the Fire" series, the late 19th century and the first 15 years of the 20th century, fires were fought with the horse and wagon, hence the term fire "wagon". Also, most of the equipment was simply ladders. In part I, I forgot to include the steam pump, that was developed early in late 19th and early 20th century. As a result, there were fire "wagons" that  changed from exclusively toting ladders to actually being able to use water and hoses to fight fires! Below is a fine example of a fire-powered water pumper. By heating up water, and then using hoses, you could fight fires much better. *I'll have to do more research on actual fire fighting of the time, lest I am writing "incorrectly"! 

Please visit Steve Rich and His Associates Fine Website 

About 2 hours after I posted, I decided to send out several e-mails for permission to use  actual "real" photos of the "real" machines form long ago. Mr. Steve Rich, wrote back, and I got this permission to use the exceptional photo above.

The photo is exceptional from 2 points:

1. It excellently illustrates the fire pumper from a long time ago 

2. It  also excellently illustrates a digial-era technique called HDR*

Without  taking away from the  knowledge, skill, and camera techniques that Steve learned to master this technique,  here's a brief explanation of HDR:

When there is a big difference in the lighting from bright to dark areas, your camera cannot record all of the details through the scene. So what has evolved is something called HDR or High Density Range. Special program software and Photoshop and other image-editing software have the ability to "blend" photos of the exact same scene, but taken with different exposures.  What the program does is select the best exposures for dark areas (shadows) , middle shades intensities (mid-tones), and the brightest areas (called highlights), and then combine them into 1 final well-exposed image. 

There are a few constraints or techniques that need to be followed for this procedure to work well:

1. A tripod is needed to ensure that all images are exactly the same in terms of position and framing.

    A cable release or remote control , or self-timer is needed to avoid any camera shake.

2. The same f-stop must be used,  and only the shutter speed is changed. 

This ensures that the depth-of-field and focus does not change at all!

3. The exposures usually can be anywhere from 3-50 depending on the complexity of thee photo.

You also do not want to vary the exposures too much, so "baby increments" of 1/3-1/2 f-stops are best. However, the camera and software can extend the exposure variables more.

If you click on the link that I positioned under Steve's excellent photo, you will arrive at his and his associates website.  There you'll find an explanation about HDR,  and a lot of excellent commercial and scenic images of HDR applied.

    When Henry Ford  successfully developed the assembly line and his Model T Ford, the history of fighting fires, and the history of toys changed forever.  by the late 1910's, the creation of the "real" truck  had already occurred, and naturally, the fire-wagon evolved into the fire truck. However, the actual  fire truck and fire truck toy, for the most part simply looked like the fire wagon with a motorized front "truck" pulling the familiar long wagon. There were still many horse drawn "fire-wagons, around, but they would eventually be replaced.

I received a note from Mr. Charlie Rosenberg of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts later in the afternoon of July,  6,  2013. He helped by gibing me permission to use this great historical photo from the city . 

Imagine  that this photo is 123 years old!

What's of interest here is the fact that fires with this particular pumper, were fought with chemicals.

I assume that the machine still created a pressure of some sort, and hoses were used to spray the fire.

I received the "OK" from MR 38 on Flickr for the very detailed photo of the above fire pumper.  I did some photo-editing to remove the people and background from this beautifully-restored pumper, which is about 111 years old.

Please click on this sentence to be redirected to MR38's fantastic 

Flickr stream of images of old cars, fire engines and so forth!

I added the final series of photos early the next day of this post. What strikes me most is how this fire-fighting company "LaFrance" became such a success story.  There was a time in America, when making, creating,and inventing new machinery and technology led the USA to become such a great country.  And stories like this would occur almost anywhere in America. 

Sadly,I don't think one can say this now with such conviction!

The Hubley fire pumper shows you an engine-driven vehicle. Even the titles for the toy category refer to these toys as "Pumpers" rather than "truck". Although I have added the "pumper" to today's  post to edit the fire-fighting toy history, the "pumper" was around at the same time as the fire wagon toys.

The red pumper above illustrates the pumper unit.  The unit has a large pumper,  2 large hoses, and I would assume values and taps to open and close the pressure.

Notice the title of this toy -  a "Hubley transitional ladder truck toy". The word transitional is most appropriate, as the fire wagon was still in service to fight fires, but now it was pulled by a "truck" cab., instead of a team of 2 horses or a trio of  3. Although there were no dates to many of these toys on the Bertoia listings, I'm "guessing" that these are mid 1910 toys.

More examples of "Ladder Trucks".

What's interesting to note is the single headlight at the front of the truck.  Also noteworthy is the use of the "American Eagle" incorporated into the wagon design. Notice also, the brass-coloued bell at the front.

What's of interest in the above toy is that the vehicle" is starting to look like a "truck". It now has rubber tires on steel rims, and an actual frame incorporated with the engine. However, the basic "pumper' is still there. 

I'll mention again, that the toys presented in today's and yesterday's post are cast iron, but pressed steel, and lithographed tin were already around. In tomorrow's post, I'll emphasize the pressed steel. In Europe, lithographed tin was well-established as a method of toy manufacture, but I have not included any European fire-fighting toys here. Oh, oh, I see a 4th part to this series, and perhaps writing an outline for my next "series"!

The blue toy above is called a fire "tower". I would think that this would be attached by hoses from the "pumper" , and with a cranking wheel of some sort, water could now be sprayed up to 2 or 3 stories above ground to burning buildings!

Notice again, how the frame is very basic. It's design is very "skeletal" , basically being used to carry the  fire tower.

Here's a 1925 Kenton Water Tower Truck

It's interesting to notice the transition to abetter engineered truck. Now the truck is capable of carrying portable fire extinguishers, and other accessories in the back.

It's too bad there were no dates on the listings. However, I would again guess (poor journalism!) that this toy is an early 1920's fire truck. The frame of the "wagon" toy component  is made of steel compared with early "real" fire wagons made of wood. The stronger engines of the "real" vehicles were now able to pull a heavier load.

Since most of the longer "fire trucks" carried ladders with no room for fire fighters, these men had to travel in a truck, as you see above.

Now the fire truck is starting to look like a more modern fire truck. The toy is still cast iron, which by the late 1920's is starting to wane in terms of toy production. Moving heavy toys across America is costly, and soon the Great Depression will come.  Notice also, the rubber tires mounted on the very nice spoked wheels. There are now 2 headlights at the front of the truck, and 4 smaller lights at the back. There's a tool box/step below the driver, and 3 silver cans - most likely for extinguishing smaller fires with chemicals!

An Arcade Cast Iron Pumper Truck

Again, the truck is now better-designed with an integrated from attached to the engine. Rubber tires on steel rims, the fuel-fed pumper, hoses, and nozzles all are part of the truck. Now 6 firefighters travel together with the truck.

I have to admit, this has not been my finest writing to date. However, with this being a blog, I will be able to edit it in the future. I do know that there are many collectors out there, and perhaps a few firemen and firefighting toy collectors may be following this blog. Perhaps,someone out there can help me with the history of the fire wagon to the fire truck. Of course, if not, I can always edit!

So thanks for dropping by,

and always,

have a great part of the day,

wherever you may be.

Stacey