1925 Ahrens-Fox  J-S-4 Pumper - Preservation

Ahrens-Fox has long held great respect amongst firefighting apparatus collectors and has long been considered the “Rolls-Royce of Fire Trucks.” They fall into the enviable position of rolling works of art while being remarkably capable apparatus. This was the best equipment to have for the firehouse and as such, the Ahrens-Fox brand has become the envy of collectors worldwide.

This 1925 Ahrens-Fox JS4 Pumper was purchased new by Washington Courthouse, Ohio Fire Department and remained in-service until 1978. During that final year, the pumper showed its true worth when it pumped for several hours straight at a large building fire. The truck was sold in 1979 to Brent Follweiler from Coatesville, PA. He owned it for more than 20 years. It was purchased by its first Michigan owner in 2001 who traded it to another Michigan collector in 2004. Following a decade-plus long stint in the RM stable (as a favourite parade vehicle) it entered a private Firetruck collection in 2021.

This truck, with the Ahren-Fox’s signature polished ‘Pressure Ball’ up front, 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 horsehair as original. 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 is correct for a truck of this vintage and fascinating to see preserved.  The water pump was rebuilt in 2002 with all new valves, leather sealed, and bearings. All the wiring has been replaced with the original style cloth-covered wire. It comes complete with equipment including the original Ahrens Fox extinguishers, hand lanterns, one playpipe, and three nozzle tips, original strainer, pike-pole, ladders, original hard suction lines, original bell, siren, searchlight, axes, and soft suction line.  It is pictured in the Ahrens-Fox album by Sytsma on page 45, and in Ed Hass’ book on page 28. A binder of original correspondence, delivery photo, and period invoices accompany the truck.

This truck received its HPOF (Historic Preservation of Original Features) at the AACA meet in Moline, IL in 2004 and won best prewar HPOF vehicle of any shows that year. A final endorsement was the trucks inclusion at the annual AACA National meet in Philadelphia, PA. This is an important piece of American Fire Fighting history preserved as it was 101 years ago.