marque AHRENS-FOX modèle model
J-S-4 finitions Piston Pump
Truck année 1 9 2
5 quantité/prix / carrosserie engin de lutte contre
le feu moteur/boite 6cyl
Ahrens-Fox
This is the 1925 Ahrens Fox JS4 from Washington
Courthouse Ohio. It is pictured in the Ahrens Fox album
by Sytsma on page 45, and in Ed Hass' book on page 28. It
was purchased new in 1925 by WCH and in-service until
1978. During that final year, the pumper showed it's true
worth when it pumped for several hours straight at a
large building fire. All that and at 53 years old! The
truck was sold in 1979 to Brent Follweiler from
Coatesville PA. He owned it for more than 20 years, then
it was purchased by it's first Michigan owner in 2001. We
purchased it in 2004.
The truck still wears its original paint, decoration, and
brightwork; which to the advanced collector; is like a
time capsule. The seat was reupholstered in 1988 by
Snyders Auto Restoration in Mount Joy PA, done in leather
and horse hair like it was done originally. The paint has
been preserved with a coat of automotive clear. The gold
leaf decoration is worn in spots and you can see the
silver leaf under the tinted varnish, which shows the age
of a truck of this vintage and makes the viewing of it a
delight. The pump was rebuilt in 2002 with all new
valves, leathers and bearings. All the wiring has been
replaced with the original style cloth-covered wire. It
comes complete with all equipment including the original
Ahrens Fox extinguishers, hand lanterns, one playpipe
(ahrens fox), and three tips. The truck came with two
play pipes (see delivery photo), several other nozzles,
original strainer, pikepole (not Ahrens Fox), ladders,
original hard suction (which we have used and pumped for
hours), original bell, siren, and searchlight, axes, and
soft suction. The Windshield (not on) was purchased from
Ahrens Fox in 1937 and does come with the truck. It also
has its original commission plate for Washington Court
House, Ohio still mounted on the splash apron.
The engine received its HPOF (Historic Preservation of
Original Features) at the AACA meet in Moline IL in 2004.
That show also won the truck the best prewar HPOF vehicle
of any shows that year, and was presented at the AACA
National meeting in Philadelphia PA. It also won best in
class in 2005 at the Cranbrook Concours in Michigan.
If you are looking for a shiny paint truck, this is not
the truck for you. If you are looking for a museum
quality ORIGINAL truck that runs and pumps like the day
it was made, this is the truck for you. This is one of
the few (less than 5) piston pumpers that have been
preserved. It is our hope that the next owner will
cherish this truck for the piece of fire and automotive
history that it is and continue the legacy of care taking
that will preserve it for future generations to see. Fire
engines can be restored many times, but they're only
original once.