Brightly coloured, with lights, ladders, and various doodads to grab and hold visual interest. Not to mention the cool things these various gizmos do! Extendable ladders, powerful water pumping engines, whirring sirens… Also, they’re just plain exciting! They race into the face of danger, carrying real-life superheroes - It’s no wonder children and adults alike are fascinated by these machines, and an abundance of toys have been modelled after them throughout the 20th century. Enjoy this gallery of vintage fire truck toys from our permanent collection, and check out our vintage toy shop for other fire trucks we have for sale.
Who doesn’t love fire trucks? They have a kind of allure that is hard to resist… why is that? Well, you can’t argue with their undeniable aesthetic appeal.
Written and photographed by Shauna Taylor
Schuco 6080 Elektro Construction Fire Engine, made in Germany ca.1950-1960.
Schuco 6080 Elektro Construction Fire Engine, made in Germany ca.1950-1960.
Schuco 6080 Elektro Construction Fire Engine, made in Germany ca.1950-1960.
Friction-powered Emergency Trailer Squad Car by S.S.S. Made in Japan, ca. 1950.
Friction-powered Emergency Trailer Squad Car by S.S.S. Made in Japan, ca. 1950.
Box for Friction-powered Emergency Trailer Squad Car by S.S.S. Made in Japan, ca. 1950.
Tin-litho Bump Go F.D. Ladder Truck manufactured by T.P.S. in Japan, ca. 1950.
Tin-litho Bump Go F.D. Ladder Truck manufactured by T.P.S. in Japan, ca. 1950.
Wyandotte hook & ladder truck. The 27 inch extension ladder raises and extends with a crank and pulley system. Made in the U.S.A. ca. 1940.
Wyandotte hook & ladder truck. The 27 inch extension ladder raises and extends with a crank and pulley system. Made in the U.S.A. ca. 1940.
Wyandotte hook & ladder truck. The 27 inch extension ladder raises and extends with a crank and pulley system. Made in the U.S.A. ca. 1940.
Wyandotte hook & ladder truck. The 27 inch extension ladder raises and extends with a crank and pulley system. Made in the U.S.A. ca. 1940.
Assortment of Renwal plastic fire truck toys.
Renwal model 113, friction motor pumper fire truck with extension ladder and water reservoir, ca. 1950-1952.
Hubley Kiddietoy plastic fire chief sedan, made in U.S.A ca. 1950.
This plastic wind-up Fire Chief car was made by the Reliable Toy Company right here in Toronto, ca. 1950.⠀
Auburn Rubber fire truck, 4 inches long, made in Auburn, Indiana, ca. 1950.
Auburn Rubber fire truck, 4 inches long, made in Auburn, Indiana, ca. 1950.
Auburn Rubber fire truck, 4 inches long, made in Auburn, Indiana, ca. 1950.
Friction powered Aerial Ladder Truck by K Toys, made in Japan, ca. 1950.
Friction powered Aerial Ladder Truck by K Toys, made in Japan, ca. 1950.
Marx "Electrically Powered Emergency Truck", made in the USA ca. 1950.⠀
Marx "Electrically Powered Emergency Truck", made in the USA ca. 1950.⠀
Marx "Electrically Powered Emergency Truck", made in the USA ca. 1950.⠀
Marx "Electrically Powered Emergency Truck", made in the USA ca. 1950.⠀
Tin-tho, battery-op Fire Chief car was manufactured by Sanshin ca. 1950s. When turned on, the car runs in a "mystery" bump-and-go action, and the search light and light on the hood blink on and off.
Tin-tho, battery-op Fire Chief car was manufactured by Sanshin ca. 1950s. When turned on, the car runs in a "mystery" bump-and-go action, and the search light and light on the hood blink on and off.
This 35 inch long No. 9 Hook & Ladder fire truck was made in the USA by Marx, ca. 1950.
This 35 inch long No. 9 Hook & Ladder fire truck was made in the USA by Marx, ca. 1950.
Marx No. 9 Hook & Ladder fire truck, 35 inched long, made in the USA, ca. 1950.
Marx No. 9 Hook & Ladder fire truck, 35 inched long, made in the USA, ca. 1950.
Colourful steel hook & ladder fire truck by Wyandotte, made in the USA ca. 1950.
Colourful steel hook & ladder fire truck by Wyandotte, made in the USA ca. 1950.
Colourful steel hook & ladder fire truck by Wyandotte, made in the USA ca. 1950.
This ca. 1950s pressed steel Marx fire truck has a seat on the back, steering wheel, removable ladders, plus a siren with blinking lights on either side.
This ca. 1950s pressed steel Marx fire truck has a seat on the back, steering wheel, removable ladders, plus a siren with blinking lights on either side.
This ca. 1950s pressed steel Marx fire truck has a seat on the back, steering wheel, removable ladders, plus a siren with blinking lights on either side.
This ca. 1950s pressed steel Marx fire truck has a seat on the back, steering wheel, removable ladders, plus a siren with blinking lights on either side.
This ca. 1950 Rossmoyne ladder truck by Doepke Mfg. Co was authorized by American LaFrance (ALF) features the cab-forward design popularized by ALF Fire Trucks.
This ca. 1950 Rossmoyne ladder truck by Doepke Mfg. Co was authorized by American LaFrance (ALF) features the cab-forward design popularized by ALF Fire Trucks.
This ca. 1950 Rossmoyne ladder truck by Doepke Mfg. Co was authorized by American LaFrance (ALF) features the cab-forward design popularized by ALF Fire Trucks.
Matchbox 1:63 scale model of the Shand Mason Horse Drawn Fire Engine. Produced by Lesney, in England, ca. 1960-65.
Matchbox 1:63 scale model of the Shand Mason Horse Drawn Fire Engine. Produced by Lesney, in England, ca. 1960-65.
Avon "The Red Sentinel" decanter of Wild Country aftershave and talc (still full!). Made in Quebec, ca. late '70s to '80s.
Schuco Varianto Elektro 3117, made in Western Germany, ca. 1950.
31" long Packard pumper fire truck, made by Keystone in Boston MA, ca. 1920s. Complete with a bell, siren, water tank, high pressure pump (under the hood) and adjustable sprayer.
31" long Packard pumper fire truck, made by Keystone in Boston MA, ca. 1920s. Complete with a bell, siren, water tank, high pressure pump (under the hood) and adjustable sprayer.
31" long Packard pumper fire truck, made by Keystone in Boston MA, ca. 1920s. Complete with a bell, siren, water tank, high pressure pump (under the hood) and adjustable sprayer.
31" long Packard pumper fire truck, made by Keystone in Boston MA, ca. 1920s. Complete with a bell, siren, water tank, high pressure pump (under the hood) and adjustable sprayer.
31" long Packard pumper fire truck, made by Keystone in Boston MA, ca. 1920s. Complete with a bell, siren, water tank, high pressure pump (under the hood) and adjustable sprayer.
Smoky Sam the Wild Fireman, manufactured by Marx in the USA, ca. 1950.
Smoky Sam the Wild Fireman, manufactured by Marx in the USA, ca. 1950.
Marx wind-up ladder truck, made in the USA ca. 1940s.
Ca. 1950 Hardy plastic horse-drawn fire engine.