The American Fire Engine (Enthusiast Color) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Describing the evolution of the fire engine from hand pumpers to steamers to the elaborate rigs of today, Halberstock points out all the interesting intricacies of the machines, takes readers along to fight real fires, and tells how to purchase a fire truck for $2,000, or less. Illus.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879387505
• ISBN-13: 978-0879387501
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,495,478 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Elemental, August 16, 2001

By A Customer

This is an extraordinary book. A great mix of photos and text, which includes not only bios of some of the famous truck lines, but information on technological progressions in fire fighting, and how this impacted the work of the individual fire fighter. Unless it's an action shot of an actual fire, with smoke and flames, each photo is taken on a beautiful, sunny day, on which each truck is also immaculate. This is a lot like each of our categorical memories of these trucks from earliest youth. There's just some kind of intense coolness factor that surrounds fire trucks, even as they became boxier and more industrial looking, especially after governmental rules were changed to require all personnel to ride inside, no longer allowed to cling to the back or ride on the running boards.

For years I kept this book in the lobby of our firm, and everyone loved it. Especially the fire dept. inspectors making their rounds to see if our fire extinguishers were at the proper height on the walls, and our "Exit" signs illuminated. Seeing them fixated on this book suggested that they'd rather be riding in the wind, with one of those emblematic Dalmations, then writing me up for having too many extension cords snaking back to a single outlet.

So why only 4 stars? Because the author missed including any W.S. Darley fire trucks, made right here in Illinois without interruption for almost 100 years. Add a Darley, and I give it 5 stars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The American Fire Engine, June 11, 2000

By A Customer

Great general reading / coffee table material on the fire engine and the fire services. Wonderful historical material and some great real life stories. This book covers the complete history of the fire service from the earlier horse drawn fire apparatus to modern equipment. Details what equipment has been used for over the years and how it has evolved to become what is is today. BEAUTIFUL Photography throughout. My only complaint is it is a bit slanted towards west coast fire departments (I believe the author is from California). Nonetheless, Highly recommended by this reader.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The American Fire Engine, April 5, 2001

By A Customer

I really like this book, Mr. Halberstadt did and excellent job in describing the San Jose Fire Dept. and many other departments on the west coast of the USA. I think the Damaltion in the from cover is a very cute dog and the pictures of real action firefighters are great. The historic pictures are rare and some of the modern piece of apparatus are also depicted very well. You can tell that the author went through great lenght is researching his material and documenting it prior to publishing it.