Toy Fire Trucks

If you’re interested in toy fire trucks then you’re going to want to read this post. Whether you’re researching the history of toy fire trucks, looking for a plaything for a child or you’re a collector of antiques, the following post provides some insight into them all.

The history of toy fire trucks follows in line with the development of the full-size fire trucks of the 19th Century. As with the full-size trucks, the toy models were rather crude but developed in sophistication and engineering as time went by. The first toys made were of simple stencilled tin plate construction that were basically two barrels joined together at right angles. It was in the 1880’s that cast iron was used. Now of course the construction consists of many new plastics and metals made with strict child safety standards in mind.

It is of course, the child’s toy that has made these toy fire trucks so popular and a classic favourite for most boys, and many girls. They have not gone out of fashion as you’ll find toy fire engines available in virtually every toy store. Toy manufacturers are producing a huge range of fire trucks from soft spongey toys for babies through to more sophisticated models that include radio control, flashing lights & sirens and intricate moving pieces.

It is the toy fire trucks longevity that has made it such a collectable antique. When looking for an antique it is very difficult to determine authenticity as they have been reproduced for many years and older toys have been restored with reproduction parts. However, there are 3 main manufacturer’s that you should look out for… Dent Hardware & Co started producing their first cast-iron fire trucks in 1898 & in the 1900’s moved to production of the toys in die-cast. Hubley Company started in the late 19th Century and before 1920 were producing cast iron toys. By 1940 they were the largest manufacturer of cast iron toys, but moved to die-cast to compete with rising competition from overseas. Also in the late 19th Century Kenton Lock Manufacturing Co was producing cast iron toys under the trade name of Kentontoys.

So that’s a short history of the toy fire trucks and shows their popularity even to this day. Whether it be a toy for a child, or a special antique for a bigger child (!) hopefully, you’ll now be more informed than when you arrived.

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