Antique and Vintage Toy Model Fire Trucks

Toy fire engines first appeared around 1880, made of cast iron and tinplate. Known as fire wagons, these toys included pumper wagons, horse-drawn chief's wagons, ladder wagons, and other accessories. Interestingly, the toy fire trucks of the 1920's predicted the engines of today. Toy makers combined the traditional horse-drawn wagons with a truck body to create something similar to today's fire engine. The three most famous makers of these early fire-fighting toys are Dent, Kenton, and Hubley, though other companies like Tonka and Marx would later make smaller scale tin and steel engines. Note that cast-iron fire trucks have been frequently reproduced, so it's important to look at authenticity.